I don't normally do this, but...

[bobznew]

I have a request for prayers of agreement on something. This is the subforum where I feel the closest to others theologically and doctrinally, so I just felt like this was the place I felt most comfortable posting something like this (even though it's technically not a "prayer request" subforum). Please bear with me.

My wife is a schoolteacher by training -- she teaches 6th and 7th graders. She is blessed by her job, and is quite competent and gifted with children. In the past year however, she has started a new small "on the side" business -- photography. Since last August, she has seen her business grow from doing a few photo sessions here and there (FREE sessions at first), to being completely booked up on Saturdays and on Sunday afternoons, EVERY weekend. She's booked up nearly 2-3 months in advance now. It's really been incredible to watch, and the feedback she has gotten from clients has been phenomenal. In short, "word is getting around". It's been a huge blessing.

She has told me for the past few months that she is just in love with doing photography. She has shown a lot more passion about this than she has about teaching for a while now. She's recently said quite often that she would give up teaching in a heartbeat if she knew that she could make as good of a living doing photography as she does teaching. We've done the numbers, and if her business continues to be as successful as it is now (if she did it full time, that is), then she would make just as much as she would teaching.

We're praying about whether God would have Mandie quit teaching after this schoolyear, and devote herself full-time to her photography business. Since we started praying specifically for God's will on this matter, she's had several more sessions scheduled. It's really encouraging. But we're just hesitant to take a leap until we feel confident that this is God's will.

That's why I'm asking you guys to pray with me in agreement that God will reveal His will for us in this particular situation. Will you guys agree with me that God will answer our prayer regarding revealing His will for us regarding Mandie's career?

Thanks to all in advance. I really appreciate it more than you know.

 

[Shepherd1]

Praying:

It is with great joy that I pray this prayer for you and your family.

"Father, we come to you with praise and thanksgiving in the mighty name of your Son Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world! Hallelujah! We give this situation in its entirety over to you now, and we thankyou in advance for your perfect will to be done here. Lord, give them the grace and favour that they need in order to move ahead with their plans, all according to your will for them in their lives. For it is by living according to your will that great things can and will be accomplished, and may the seeds that they have sown in times past, and in times to come, reap them a bountiful harvest in your Kingdom, for your glory alone. Amen!"

This stood out for you:

Beneath the winters' snow lie seeds of summer flowers. John Greenleaf Whittier. God bless...

 

[KingZzub]

School teachers have a lovely long summer. Maybe she should go full time over the summer and see what happens.

If someone is doing what they love, I say go for it. Timing is the only issue. I am going through the same thing - teacher by day, pastor by night... cannot wait until I can live from the gospel and devote every day to building up the church of Jesus Christ.

 

[Jedi.Kep]

I have a request for prayers of agreement on something. This is the subforum where I feel the closest to others theologically and doctrinally, so I just felt like this was the place I felt most comfortable posting something like this (even though it's technically not a "prayer request" subforum). Please bear with me.

My wife is a schoolteacher by training -- she teaches 6th and 7th graders. She is blessed by her job, and is quite competent and gifted with children. In the past year however, she has started a new small "on the side" business -- photography. Since last August, she has seen her business grow from doing a few photo sessions here and there (FREE sessions at first), to being completely booked up on Saturdays and on Sunday afternoons, EVERY weekend. She's booked up nearly 2-3 months in advance now. It's really been incredible to watch, and the feedback she has gotten from clients has been phenomenal. In short, "word is getting around". It's been a huge blessing.

She has told me for the past few months that she is just in love with doing photography. She has shown a lot more passion about this than she has about teaching for a while now. She's recently said quite often that she would give up teaching in a heartbeat if she knew that she could make as good of a living doing photography as she does teaching. We've done the numbers, and if her business continues to be as successful as it is now (if she did it full time, that is), then she would make just as much as she would teaching.

We're praying about whether God would have Mandie quit teaching after this schoolyear, and devote herself full-time to her photography business. Since we started praying specifically for God's will on this matter, she's had several more sessions scheduled. It's really encouraging. But we're just hesitant to take a leap until we feel confident that this is God's will.

That's why I'm asking you guys to pray with me in agreement that God will reveal His will for us in this particular situation. Will you guys agree with me that God will answer our prayer regarding revealing His will for us regarding Mandie's career?

Thanks to all in advance. I really appreciate it more than you know.

Lord, I set myself in agreement with Bobznew and Mandie. You said in your Word that your sheep know your voice and the voice of a stranger they will not follow. So I trust that Bob and Mandie can and will indeed hear the clear voice and leading of your Holy Spirit in thier hearts and minds. I pray that you enlighten the eyes of their hearts to see and to know your will. And that Your peace Lord will be their guide. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Decisions are tough. Thank God for the leading of the Spirit. I'm at a crossroads of decision myself and would appreciate prayers for my wife and me as well. God Bless and Thank you.

 

[bobznew]

Thank you all so much for your prayers and words of advice. I really do appreciate it.

KingZzub, she is planning to do just what you mentioned this summer. We'll see how she likes it and how things go. I think she's going to go ahead and make sure she has a teaching position in place for next year just in case we feel that it isn't God's will for her to leave teaching just yet. But we are still praying diligently that God will give us a definite word about the matter, one way or the other.

Thanks to everyone again. We will keep everyone posted. One way or the other, we KNOW that it is God's will to do us good, and not to harm us.

 

[KingZzub]

That's what I would recommend if you were in my church Bobz... have a plan for next year if it doesn't work.

I tell all my church when planning the future to think and prepare three dimensionally...

1. What if it doesn't work (I call this the "I'm Still Going to Heaven" thought). If it never works and it all goes horribly wrong, you tried and you are still going to heaven. In this case, get work for next year just in case. I tell people not to meditate on this, but to stay here until they get rid of fear. Most fear of stepping out in faith is actually fear of failure, but if you face failure before you start and realize that it matters nothing in the light of eternity you can kill that fear and make the second dimension of faith thinking much easier.

2. What if it does work. Get ready and prepare for it to work. I call this "Faith" thinking. Imagine it working, so what will you need? A better camera? Find out where to buy one and how much it costs. Put some money by for it. Or whatever. If a studio is necessary, go and start looking. Get ready.

3. What if it works beyond my wildest dreams. I call this "Hallelujah" thinking. Have standby plans for if it works exceptionally well. Will you need help, then where will you advertise, start planning for BIG.

So for example, we are moving our church to a hall on Easter Sunday. I have the funds in the bank to pay the hall for the next 2 months, then we need about another 10 people and a little more in the offering or it will be too much of a financial burden. So I think three dimensionly:

1. Heaven thinking. Well if it fails, my hope and life are in the Lord. I did what He said and I gave it my best shot, when I die and spend eternity with the Lord it won't matter that it didn't work. I am a great teacher in school, and I do enjoy it, and it is only for another 30 years anyway which in the light of eternity is nothing. Now I have faced my fear and it has no power, I move on to faith thinking.

2. Faith thinking. What if it works? I need sound systems so I start pricing them up, I need copyright notices so I have bought them, I have written a robust children's policy that lines up with the Home Office guidelines, I have started training 5-6 cell leaders for the 5-6 cells we are going to need.

3. Hallelujah thinking. The hall only seats 120, what if we fill it in the first couple of weeks and some really mighty miracles occur and we have revival crowds. Well, I have spoken to the local cinema and they have a cinema hall reserved for us when we need it and we can move in there on the drop of a hat, that seats 250. I have spoken to the local high school which sports hall seats 300 and I have told them I have an interest and they have a Sunday slot. So even if something huge happens, we have somewhere to meet. I will then have to (or get to) quit my day job at a moments notice, so I have taken a role supply teaching so I literally have 24 hours notice.

Hope this helps.

 

[heatherfb]

@bobznew - really praying for you and your wife that you will know God's peace about the right decision.

@Kingzzub - that is really practical and useful advice for any situation - thanks for sharing!

 

[KingZzub]

Hi Bobz,

Would be really interested in any update!

Cheers,
Ben

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Lord Jesus, be unto Bobz and his wife as you have been unto I and mine. A blessing and joy falling from heaven, a receiving of the expected end, and a prospering as the tree by many waters.
The Lord is great and wonderful. He takes pleasure in the prosperity of His people.
Be this unto the Lord for a testimony of His goodness and abundant supply toward us in all things spiritual and physical.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.

 

[Shepherd1]

Lord Jesus, be unto Bobz and his wife as you have been unto I and mine. A blessing and joy falling from heaven, a receiving of the expected end, and a prospering as the tree by many waters.
The Lord is great and wonderful. He takes pleasure in the prosperity of His people.
Be this unto the Lord for a testimony of His goodness and abundant supply toward us in all things spiritual and physical.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.