God's Mighty Hand

Monday, April 12 Greg had an interview in Michigan. The hiring manager said that Greg would hear from her by the end of the week. Friday morning came and we heard nothing. As I was in the shower I was overwhelmed with the feeling that I needed to call Greg and tell him that we should send an email to the company and let them know that relocation was not an issue for us. So I stepped out of the shower, hair fully lathered with soap, dripping wet, to call Greg and as I was reaching for the phone it rang. It was Greg and he was telling me that we should send the email stating what I was just thinking about. God was working in us again. We sent the email saying we did not need relocation. Then on Saturday we got a phone call from the head hunter saying that the company did not have Greg’s application (which he knew he left – mostly because we made such a big deal out of it). We just printed out another one and sent it to them on Saturday. Then we waited. Monday, when Greg came home for lunch, he talked to me about what God had been telling him. Mostly – that he needed to “tell his story” and that he needed to tell it soon and to his family. They have heard things from me, but to them I am the “holy one”, the one who is always praying. THIS needed to come from him. So he showed me where he had been taking notes and had a bullet point list of all that had happened to him, starting with the move here. Clearly, you know that God has been working in my life through the move here. But, in His incredible, awesome, amazing, perfect time, God has also been working in Greg’s life. And oh, the transformation that has been and is being made!!! Oh, praise His Holy Name!!!! I mean, this is the most exciting time in my life…..and I have had 4 babies!!!! My husband is in love with the Lord and has turned his life over to Him and I am beside myself. But I am digressing again……but it is so crazy cool!!!! So Greg told me he had to tell his story and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My husband evangelizing? Can you see my smile even now as I type? It is so cool! So, later in the day I had to go up to my room to fold laundry. Usually when I fold laundry I watch TV – the Food Network. Well, I decided to talk to God instead. And really what it was was a praising session. I was just thanking God for all He had done, and was doing, all the ways He was changing us and making us good for Him. Then it hit me! I could not even take a breath in. Exciting and scary all at the same time. I knew God was speaking to me – I knew He was telling me. Friday Greg was going to Encounter at church. I knew that everything would be settled by Friday. We would know whether we would head back to Michigan or not by Friday. How, you ask? Well, back in January when I was heading into Encounter I remember reading that we needed to get rid of any distractions, things that would keep our mind off God. At the time, the BIG thing in our lives was the selling of our house in Hartland. Wouldn’t you know that in God’s perfect timing we closed on our house on that Friday? Well, that’s how I knew. God would have that distraction off our plates by Friday. Guess what? The offer was in on Thursday and signed by Friday. But again I am getting ahead of myself. Monday night, Greg was talking with a man he used to work with to let him know that he may be getting a call as a reference check. Larry and Greg used to carpool together to ALPS. During the course of the conversation, Larry mentioned that one of his old neighbors had their house up for rent – to be ready for new renters on June 1. Greg came in and told my mom and me this, but also told us that earlier in the evening as he was sitting on the front porch (praying, I think) he heard the words “Big Boy”. Guess where this house for rent is? In the subdivision by Big Boy. By this time Greg was kind of freaking out. He was hearing from God left and right and was getting scared. Thursday morning Greg received a call from the head hunter saying that an offer letter was in his email. So we dashed to the computer to take a look. The salary was right on, and remember before when I said we told them that relocation was not an issue – we did not need it? Well, they did not offer us relocation, but they did offer us a signing bonus (which would cover relocation). Praise God again!!!!! Then there was the vacation. They did not offer what we were looking for – but clearly vacation was not a deal breaker in this case. Greg talked to several people who advised him to just accept it. I, however, was not one of them. I reminded Greg that he had been saying for at least a year that he was at a point in his career that he should have a certain amount of vacation. I encouraged him to at least ask – I mean, he is the one always telling me that you don’t get what you don’t ask for. Be very gracious and thankful for the offer and just ask. No big deal, right? A few hours later we received a Federal Express package with the offer and some other documents. Oh how the Lord was blessing us!! On Thursday, I decided to call the preschool that Jacob and Grace went to and see if, perchance, there were any openings for Jadyn. When I was signing Jacob and Grace up, the parents were lined up in the snow of January at 6:00 in the morning to get a spot, so I was nervous about there being a spot for Jadyn. When I spoke to Mrs. Sue, she said there was plenty of space and that the economy had been very hard on them. Not so good for them, but YAY for us!! Another way that God was opening doors for us. Friday morning Greg made a phone call and asked for more vacation. A couple of hours later we received an email stating that they would do that, we signed and now we are moving. Praise the Lord for over-blessing us and taking care of us in ways that we never could have thought possible. All of this wrapped up just in time for Greg to go to the Encounter distraction free. God and His infinitely perfect timing are more amazing to me than there are words. And the Encounter? Greg is a new man and to God be the glory. He is even getting baptized on May 16.

He is reminding me of something that happened at Encounter. Prior to going to Encounter, he was asking me what was going to happen, what he should expect. And although I had gone and knew what was going to happen, I honestly could not remember to tell him. Weird. About 10 minutes into the Encounter, Greg wrote on the paper that covered the table where he was sitting "forgive". He was not exactly sure why he wrote it, but he did. Then, the course of the night focused on forgiveness - not just your own forgiveness, but also the forgiving of other in your life.