This verse keeps going through my mind over the last couple of days. If you have read my last blog post, you know that Matt and I have been pretty down. I don't even know where to start.....but I will start with a little background.
Most of you know that I am a singer. I grew up wanting to record Christian music and heard that Franklin, TN. was the place to be if you wanted to record. I even tried to go to a college and major in Contemporary Christian Music. Thankfully, in God's Sovereignty, I went and majored in Music at The Master's College, married Matt, adopted 2 beautiful children and the rest is Elliott history.
THEN, one of my best friends moved to Franklin. I was like...get me and these girls on a plane so I can see this place. (AND Kelli and her family of course!) Well.... I loved it there but more importantly, I knew Matt would L.O.V.E. it. I came home and told him and we started to pray about looking for a job there,etc. Fast forward a year, Matt losing his job, we frantically tried to find a job there but the Lord was clearly moving us to Washington to live with his family and find work.....somewhere....anywhere. By this time, I had surrendered to the Lord, leaving my friends, church family, my sister, my own home. I was at the point where I was praying, "Lord, I will move where ever you want us, just please give Matt a job." I was really starting to feel like Matt was never going to get one. He had been diligent to apply for jobs for 15 months straight. I saw him humble himself in ways that no man wants to, but my man was doing all that it took to find a way to provide for his family. I saw a side to Matt's character that made me love him even more. I respected him more. He never gave up.
Last month we had talked about Tennessee with some sadness. Both saying that it was clear that the Lord had closed the Tennessee door. Then the NEXT DAY changed our course of life. Matt found out through Facebook of all things, that the restaurant chain Waffle House was looking for people with BA's to be a manager of their restaurants. There is a lot of room to move up to District Manager,etc... Matt applied, had an interview on Skype by the end of the week and flew out to work with another manager for 3 days to make sure that it was something that he wanted to do. ( This was unheard of because they have never hired anyone that did not live in the South.) While this job is really "thinking outside the box" and not in his purchasing field, I knew he would love it. Who wouldn't want to work with/ for Matt? I like working for him! haha. It is really hard work, but nothing for a man who hasn't worked in 15 months and is ready for a job.
God has answered so many prayers along the way. Answers that we thought were too much of a blessing that we didn't even ask for them but God is working ABUNDANTLY more than we could ask or think. My cup is beyond full of God's kindness.
During all of this excitement, my heart is still aching for some people who are still out of work, some people that I know even who want to move to Tennessee themselves. I am begging the Lord on their behalf.
I have listened to a sermon by my future, soon to be pastor Byron Yawn, so many times that I have parts of it memorized. He said that the only way out of a trial is through it. He also said, "Good will come, God delivers!" I honestly thought that might not happen for us in this lifetime, it had been so long. He has deliver us. It brings tears to my eyes as I type. He is so faithful to hold our hands through it. Byron is right, the only way out is through it. But praise Jesus that I am coming out on the other side. Can't wait to blog to Y'ALL about Tennessee. Kel, I'm coming! The Kelli's will be together again!
