The Heart of God

 A Prophetic Picture- Keep Reading for Details!

God is doing a mighty work in my husband and me.  I always knew I had a calling.  God called me in to children's ministry during an experience at Centrifuge in Glorieta, New Mexico, when I was 13 years old.  I thought through high school that I would follow my mentor's footsteps (Gayle Haywood) and minister in a church.  Well, God had different plans.

Gayle encouraged me to study Elementary Education (and at Samford if you majored in that you also double majored in Early Childhood Ed).  She said I should get a good foundation in child development and then go on to seminary for a religion degree.  So, those were my plans.  Isn't it funny when we make plans?  I'm sure God laughs!

My Sophomore year of college I began my field experiences in the elementary schools in the Greater Birmingham area.  I fell in love!  With school children, with teaching, with lifelong-learning!  I did my student teaching in an inner city school and a suburban school and knew I would go into teaching when I graduated.  I could clearly hear God say (as clearly as one can), "You can minister to my children in the public schools that you could never reach in a church."  Up to that point, I was not sure that's what I would do.  I even visited Southwestern Seminary in Dallas-Fort Worth during the fall of my Senior year at Samford.

Prior to graduation, I interviewed with Jane Franks of Williamson County Schools in Middle Tennessee where I had grown up.  I didn't know Jane until that meeting, but boy, it was a divine appointment!  She videoed the interview as required by the county (My very first interview, mind you!  Talk about scared!).  But we realized we had some mutual friends and mutual experiences (my family owned a small cafe.  Her in-laws and husband/her owned a small store/cafe).  She told me to call her in June or July.

I was so eager to teach!  I don't know if she had caller ID, but I wore her phone number out that summer!!!  Well, my persistance paid off!  She called me in for a second interview at her new school, Heritage Elementary, in a tiny little town I'd heard of, but never visited-- Thompson Station, TN.  I went in for the interview and it went something like this:
      Jane:  "Well, how would you like to teach 3rd grade?"  Me:  "Yessss!  I'd love to.  (Stiffled squeals of delight).  Um, can I hug you?!!"
Anyone who knows Mama Jane knows she gladly hugged me and shared in my delight!

Fast forward 11 years to today-  I stayed with that school until this past summer when I resigned to stay at home with my daughter, Maggie.  I told Jane early in my career that I wanted to retire from Heritage Elementary.  I really wish I could have.  I don't think I could have physically and mentally kept the pace required (that's another story for another day), but God is calling me back to my true calling.

As I figure out how to provide income for my family and help my husband, God has laid on my heart that desire I had as a teenager to go to Seminary.  He is opening doors I would have never dreamed (He's just so awesome, isn't He?!).  It may be a couple of years down the road but I hope to get my M. Div. or something similar from the Southern Seminary extension in Franklin, TN.

Now to the Heart of God-  what's that all about you say?  Well, I'll tell you.  Mark and I went on a mission trip to Zambia in June of 2008.  I had done mission trips before all over the US, to Canada, Trinidad, the United Kingdom (Scotland and England), and Brazil, but this was different.  The love of my life, my life partner, was with me.  And he mourned for those sweet children we worked with just as I did.  He rejoiced for them just as I did.  Well, God is calling us back.  We don't know when, but we will be back there on a more permanent basis.  He is saying, "Go. . ." and we will obey.

The organization we traveled with in 2008 (Family Legacy Mission International) has built a children's village for the oprhaned and vulnerable children of that country called, "The Tree of Life Children's Village."  It has cottages for orphans, a huge school, and a medical facility.  Between my teaching skills and experience and Mark's skills and experience in media and technology, I know without a doubt that God can use us there.   Please pray for us.  The Tree of Life is a reference to Revelation which means, "The Heart of God".  We want to share the heart of God with the orphans of that country.

We ask for your prayers in the coming days, weeks, months, and years.  That's all we need right now.  It's so great to be in God's will and know it!  How can I pray for you on your journey?  Please leave a comment below.

Thank you for reading this and sharing my delight.  God is good- all the time!  All the time- God is good!

Mark's Boys in Zambia- June of 2008

Praying with and Holding One of My Girls after 

Blessing her with a Brand New Pair of Tennis Shoes