Happy New Year!

A New Year, a new thing! – A new year is the perfect opportunity to establish something new or to begin again. That’s what I’m doing, starting something new, a blog.

A couple of  years ago my husband and I were considering another new thing, moving from the comforts of a corporate world to the uncertainties of entrepreneurship, an idea we approached with prayerful trepidation. After all, who in their right mind gives up pursuing a regular paycheck and a 40 hour work week? Well, after a bit of soul searching, we did. We executed considerable research, calculated the risks, and found ourselves at a crossroads: to move forward or stay behind?

Up until that point my husband could see the new thing quite clearly but his poor wife, she could not. We became stuck hanging in the balances between “maybe,” and “no, not yet.” We remained there until a verse was spoken over me that promptly moved us forward. “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and cut rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 (ESV) Seriously, have you ever heard a clearer word from the Lord than that? Those words held a message meant just for me, “Woman, get a move on it!”

We did, we got a move on it. The road was really tough, I shed some big tears and pitched even bigger tantrums along the way. The process took way longer than expected but when God does a new thing, He really does it up right. He makes a way in the wilderness and cuts rivers through the desert. In July of 2014 we entered the world of entrepreneurship and a year later we opened our first store. As I look back on the journey I realize it took releasing my grip on the familiar thing in order to grasp the future.

 Now, what does starting a business have to do with starting a blog, everything, especially Isaiah 43:19!

Life happens, changes and all, and I write about it. I have found that God uses change to pour out His love, provision and direction upon our lives. He turns our fears, tears and tantrums into opportunities to trust Him. 

Blogging was a fearful thing for me. It hosts an audience much larger than the familiar places I tend to write, but I did it. Initially I resisted but not for long because once again I was prompted to get a move on it when I read the same precious words as before but this time on a blog site.

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and cut rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)

Guess what? I got a move on it, I launched a blog and you are reading my very first post.

TWENTY-TWENTY (3)

From both of these experiences I learn a valuable lesson: I cannot hold on to two things at one time; In order to grasp the future, I must release the limits of the familiar.

3 thoughts on “Happy New Year!”

  1. I am so glad that you are on this new journey, and love your testimony and transparency about your own inner struggles going through the process of getting on with the new things God brought into your life.

    What a needed reminder…He does make a way in the wilderness! thank you for the much needed reminder!

  2. Aunt Lora! This is so perfectly amazing. I was talking to Gram just last week about my struggles with identity and trying to figure out what my next path will be once we move back to the states. The months are closing in on me and my anxiety is quickly rising. She mentioned to me that you had started a blog with the baseline of your faith (which I have always admired) so I scribbled it down in my notebook. I honestly forgot about it with all my other thoughts controlling my brain. This morning, as I was reading through Exodus (as I have been for about one week), the common theme of signs dawned on me. God gave pharaoh and the Egyptians countless signs to what would come if they didn’t release the Israelites from slavery. They refused to see these signs and now we know how that story ends. I’ve always been a believer of signs, even posted on Instagram about it less than 30 minutes ago. Then I happened to remember your blog. So I searched for it, found it, and read this first post. Dare I say it was yet another sign that I need to stop worrying and just trust that He has everything under control…The verse from Isaiah was my #1 clincher. #2 was your boldness to step outside of your comfort zone and just go for it, which I am severely struggling with as I have always had that controlling gene where I need to have everything planned out before taking any action. #3 was at the end when you said “He turns our fears, tears and tantrums into opportunities to trust Him.” All I can do is say thank you! And I am SO proud of you guys for taking this step (which I hear all the time how well it is going and I’m not one bit surprised!), and for you beginning this blog as I know you’ve already spoken straight to my heart and I’m sure I’m not the first and certainly won’t be the last! LOVE YOU!!!!

    1. Ashley,

      I’m so glad to see you here on the blog and sharing alongside the rest of us. I’m convinced it’s in community, our tribe, where we have an opportunity to build one another up. Please know that when you look back upon this time in your life, especially the past two years, you will clearly see how important they are in preparing you for what’s next. One day you will sit dumbfounded in the “aha” moment as you put the pieces together. He certainly does turn our tears, fears and tantrums into opportunities to trust Him, and then into testimonies. His word is ever faithful and I’m thrilled to hear that you are turning there for wisdom. Love you-

Leave a Reply to Lora Leftwich Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *