From Arkansas to Australia

At the moment, I'm sitting at the kitchen table with the windows open, enjoying a beautiful, breezy 78 degree day.  The only bummer about this wonderful spring weather is the unwelcome reminder that I have allergies...and they're REALLY bad in Nashville (I'd go into detail, but it would only be a passive-aggressive plug to get your sympathy).  So...I guess I'll just have to move back to Portland where allergies are non-existent!! ;)

Anyhoo...I wanted to give you a lil' update on my end.  I'm still applying for jobs and have had a few interviews (which has been encouraging!!) but no offers...yet (there's my faith statement: YET!)  :)  I had an interview last week for a Church Ministry Assistant position that I want so badly, and I have (literally) been begging God for it!!  Shameless, I know.  Hey...I just don't want to be guilty of "having not because I asked not", ok? ;)  So...we'll see what the LORD thinks.  I'll keep ya posted.

Along with praying for a job, friends, church, etc...I've also been praying for opportunities to use my musical gifts, right?  Right.  And when I remember to look for God's answers, I find that they are often creative & outside of the box...uniquely "His".  Well...the LORD has recently been surprising me with outside-of-the-box opportunities to lead worship!  A couple weekends ago, I led worship for a House Church in Mayflower, Arkansas.  There were 5 of us...and as we sang praises to the LORD in their living room, He met us intimately.  It was sincerely sweet.

When I first moved to Nashville, I felt an urgency to get my passport.  I didn't know why...but I believed there was a reason.  About a week ago I got an email from one of my best friends, Andrea, inviting me to come for a visit, attend a conference with her & do some ministry (now keep in mind...doing ministry together has been a dream of ours for a few years now).  The Catch??  Andrea lives in Australia :)  And I am tellin' ya...the LORD is sweet, sweet, sweet.  I don't know why He opened wide the doors for me to go, but...He did...and I am!! :)  I leave for Sydney, Australia on March 18th and will be there for 2 weeks!!  We'll be attending the Hillsong Colour Conference (ladies only!) ;)  doing a few touristy things, and then traveling to a few different places where Andrea will be speaking & I'll be leading worship.  We are both delighted & still in shock that this is all happening!!  God is so F-U-N and full of surprises.  "Thankful" does not begin to describe it.  But I'll still say it:

THANK YOU, LORD!!!!!!!!!  What an amazing gift.  Thank You.  It still blows my mind that You love to give Your kids good gifts...just because.  You are such a great Dad.  I love You!!!!!!!!