Friday, November 17, 2006

CTI Update: Since Life Team Transition

Shortly after we moved from the Young Marriage Senior Life Team leadership role, our baby girl was born. We knew that even in the naming of our daughter, some things were about to change in our marriage and our future. The Lord had spoken to me at the beginning of the year, that I needed to step back in trying to figure out names for our daughter and that instead, Jeoff would name this child. He said this would be a turning point in our relationship and it would represent a new season of leadership in his life. Shortly after her birth, we finished up year one of CTI and spent the summer resting some (from classes) and preparing for the internship year. That was a long process.

We initially thought we would intern in separate departments, Jeoff in Worship-Arts-Media or Education, and me in Children's Ministry, AHA or Education, but after meeting a few times with Andy Yonas, Director of CTI, we made the decision to intern together, with CORE Music. It was a little rocky getting to that decision because there were so many areas that we were interested in and felt would be good places to serve, but ultimately we made the internship decision based largely on the fact that music is deeply ground in both our hearts, and is a very large part of our passion. CORE Music was not something that had ever entered into our minds but was actually presented to Jeoff from Andy, as an opportunity to tailor the internship specifically to what his interests are. How cool is that?!

Since we made that decision, the Lord has opened up so many doors of opportunity, not positionally but just doors that have enabled us to serve and create together; and through this it has allowed Him to show us how closely he desires us to work together as a couple. For this season it's in the area of the arts.

Someone made the statement which has become a common saying that goes - "If mama ain't happy, ain't no body happy." I don't disagree with that statement but there is another side to it. While mama's happiness, contentment, and security is directly related to the atmosphere in the home, Daddy's purpose, fulfillment, and success is directly related to the couple's overall obedience to God's will and the effectiveness and legacy of the family. Jeoff said the other night that sometimes it's takes more faith to sit back and let things happen than it takes to "do something." That was mostly for me. There are times, of course, when it's appropriate to go out aggressively after something but in this season, as I've shared before, the biggest lesson I'm learning is to let the Lord move through my husband. There are things that I'm seeing in him regarding his passions, that I have never seen. The last two years of marriage have probably been the toughest, but they have absolutely been the BEST! Making the decision earlier this year to follow my husband's heart and trust what the Lord is doing through him was one of the best decisions I have ever made. and I know without a doubt that it is making lasting impressions on our effectiveness, unity and legacy.

We can't thank the Lord enough!

As mentioned earlier, our baby girl was named by Daddy. Her name Jadyn Ja'el, means "God has heard our prayer to ascend." That's what we believe. He has heard our prayer to ascend. It took courage to lose our fears and to embrace his call. But because we took this step of faith we are able to see things spiritually we were never even aware of.

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