Employment!

I got the job at Children's Memorial! Praise God!

I am so thankful for each day, even each hour of waiting. Really. Just last night I was listening to a sermon that Piper preached a while back about "Why a Recession" and how God uses it to root our joy in His worth, not our wealth. Am I more joyful today because I got the job that I wanted? Would I be less joyful today if I had not gotten the job? This time of waiting, for what it was, really helped me to see where my joy was located, in part, and where it needed to be rooted, and grounded. Only when my joy is rooted in God is it secure. And the times of plenty or times of less will not touch that joy. I know I will needed to be reminded of this lesson over and over, but I praise God that I can say my affection for Him grew just as much or even more while waiting on Him than when all was provided for us.

I am SO excited to see what is in store at Children's Memorial!

The best is yet to come

I listened to a Piper sermon toady about the book of Ruth. At the conclusion, he talks about how the blessings of a kinsman redeemer, a baby, of taking care of a mother in law are enfolded in the cosmic plan of God for the salvation of his people. These seemingly small mercies of God play into the lineage of Christ himself. He said:

"God wants us to know that when we follow him, our lives always mean more than we think they do. For the Christian there is always a connection between the ordinary events of life and the stupendous work of God in history. Everything we do in obedience to God, no matter how small, is significant. It is part of a cosmic mosaic which God is painting to display the greatness of his power and wisdom to the world and to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places (Ephesians 3:10). The deep satisfaction of the Christian life is that it is not given over to trifles."

To me, a seminary wife who does not have a job yet, whose days have been more calm, and seemingly trivial as of late, this was fantastically encouraging. God is displaying his power in my life as I learn to wait well, as I fight sin in my life, as I do the dishes and clean the floors to honor my husband. God is glorified in the smallest acts of my obedience, and thus they are not trivial at all. May God make me more faithful in the little things, so that He might accomplish His will on earth!

Therefore I will wait for Him

I interviewed for a job last Wednesday. At the interview, the manager told me that she would get back to me "by the end of the week." I'm certain that she did not realize that it was already Wednesday. So, come Friday, I waited in great anticipation for a call. I knew there was the possibility that I would not hear anything Friday, but I had such reason to hope. Andrew and I fasted and prayed Thursday about the job. Friday passed by, and no call came. At 5:00 PM on Friday, I was faced with a battle for my thoughts. Did God not answer our prayers? Did He not want me to rejoice that day at getting a job? Why must I wait longer? Oh but what a God I serve! "I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for Him.'" Lamentation 3:24. The Lord is indeed my portion, not having a job. And it is good to wait on the Lord. I though to myself, "Lord, I'm flattered that you think I can wait through the weekend and on to hear back about this job. Really. But I don't want to wait." At 5:00 pm on Friday, I ran into Claire, a friend at Trinity, who prayed with me, and I got to talk to Theresa, a dear friend in Arizona. And I got to wait on the Lord, because that is what he deemed best. And he answered our prayers with more waiting, more learning to trust him and have faith in His promises, and have joy in these circumstances since they are from the Lord. I have yet to hear anything, and continue to battle my own sad or hopeless thoughts with truth, and by grace, since the Lord is working out my sanctification. And my hope is in Him.

An interview

I had an interview today at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. It was an interesting experience, and I blog about it so that those who prayed for me would know how it went!

I left super early to be able to spend time at a coffee shop across the street call The Bourgeois Pig :) before the interview. The last thing I wanted was to end up anxious about being lost and late. So I left, and got into the Downtown Chicago traffic. Even at 9:30 AM there was traffic, that was not moving at points. Sheesh! Once I got to the intersection where the hospital was, I was super confused because 3 streets cross and I went down the wrong one. All these city people know were they are going, and honk at you if you don't. I turned right on the first street I could past the hospital, only to notice all the cars parked on the street facing the opposite direction, and a car coming directly at me. Oops. Three point turn it back to the main road, and find a street I can turn on. Ok, try again to get back, turn right. Nope, back up, it's another one way. Oops.

Finally I find the parking garage. I see all these cars in line behind the cars that are actually parked in spaces, and get in line. *Honk honk*, not a line, these are parked cars! Oops. Move along, and find out that they park cars behind other parked cars, and move them by 3 to the roof. What? Never seen that before.

Make my way to the coffee shop, order a pot of tea and a scone. Downstairs it was crowded, so I grab a table tucked in a cramped corner. I manage to block out the noise with music, and manage to almost spill my pot of tea on my nice pants (oops). As I am about to leave the busy, noisy shop I venture upstairs to see what's there. Oh look! I beautiful, quite, airy floor of tranquility up here. Good to know. Sigh.

I start walking in the direction I think the HR office is in. I get to another 3 way intersection where one street is labeled, and the other two are a mystery. Great. I go in the Starbucks on the corner, and ask for some help. Praise God there were two nurses in there who knew exactly where I needed to go. And I find out that they work on the floor that I am applying to!

I made it to the HR office, early (praise God) and interview with a polite woman named Jodi. She was nice, and explained the hiring process, which is pretty long and involved. She then walked me to the hospital, where I interviewed with the manager of the cardiac/surgical floor. This woman, at first, gave me the impression that she seriously questioned why I wanted to work there at all, and who in the world was I anyway? I had prayed that the Lord would give me confidence, and maturity, knowing that however I came off, He would be in control of the results. After the first few questions, the manager seemed to soften, and told me lots about the unit, the staff, and the type of patients that they get on the floor. She then gave me the tour. This hospital looks old from the outside, but was new on this floor, and had a fun looking staff and a great family room for the patients. I was told that I would hear back from the manager by the end of the week, which sounded good, but it's in the Lord's hands.

My car had been relocated to the roof of the parking garage, and as I wondered around to find it, I got to see a stunning view of the city. And that's really how I felt the whole day went. The Lord brought me down here, one step closer to the city, out of my element, but where there is an exciting view.

So thanks a lot if you prayed for me. After feeling lost most of the morning, I felt calm, collected, and at ease while the interview was going on. We will see what the Lord does, but I know that the peace and assurance of the Lord made this day an enjoyable one, not a stressful, all the eggs in one basket kind of day.

This season

Andrew and I had a great conversation yesterday. Things haven't gone the way either of us expected here in Illinois. Nothing huge has happened that would indicate to us that the Lord does not want us here, but we also haven't just clicked into place. We haven't found a church home yet, and the churches we want to be a part of are too far away to really be in fellowship with them. I don't have a job yet, though I have applied to a number of hospitals. The nanny job hasn't really worked out yet. And I don't have an official Illinois nursing license due to a few hang-ups in the process. We have met some other couples where God has provided for them so very richly, in their financial support, in their church support. Things still feel a bit off for us.

Andrew told me that CS Lewis wanted to be a poet, but never really got there. However, he wrote many rich, instructive, beautiful works that have blessed God's people richly. What is God doing with us in this time where things aren't what we thought they would be? We certainly are growing, because it has been difficult at times. I have learned much about worry and anxiety, and how to trust the Lord and rest in His providence and care. And Andrew is learning how to work hard at something, even when he's not exactly sure what the Lord is going to do with it in the end. We both have learned a lot about fighting discouragement with truth. But I'll be honest, it's been hard.

This time has also made me think of missionaries, who go into new situations not knowing exactly what to expect and what the situation will be like. A lot of times there is not fruit or relationships that happen right away, and perseverance is required to continue on faithfully for the sake of the gospel.

I thought that if you go to seminary you know what God is doing with your life, and He paves the way. Not so, self. It's just like the rest of life. Walking by faith, serving the Lord, and submitting to his will humbly. There's uncertainty, there's long days of waiting on the Lord. And all to the end of being more like Christ for His glory.

This used to be my day

I used to be Stacy Labor, and always considered Labor day as something of my day. The privilege of such a last name. Ah well, no longer. I do like the fact that our country has days of the week where we all can agree not to go to work as normal and get to have an extended weekend. I mean, we willingly suspend the pace of the week for a few selected days of the year. That's pretty great.

Andrew is enjoying classes, working hard, and learning some great things. We DID get to eat lunch at D.A. Carson's house today. I had an interview at a Pediatric clinic last week, and won't hear anything for a while about that job. I am starting to nanny for a family that lives close by. I am excited to be able to spend time with the three girls that are in the family, and am looking forward to some good conversations with them about the gospel.

I have had a decent amount of time for reading, and enjoyed Shadow of the Almighty and Lords of the Earth. Andrew also suggested listening to a sermon by Steve Saint on suffering, sovereignty, and missions, which I definitely would recommend. All these things have impressed upon me the importance, and even necessity of suffering for the gospel, and how I cringe and avoid the thought of suffering, while it really is one of the primary tools the Lord uses to further His work on this Earth. Steve Saint talked about how suffering people want to be ministered to by those who suffer, and that the Lord uses suffering to open hearts for the gospel. We really must consider our view of suffering, and our aversion to it, and what that does to our message and ministry to a suffering world.