If you’re a regular visitor here at the Cottage Blog you already know that my posts for the garden and the kitchen have taken a backseat lately.

Our focus has been elsewhere.

At the end of June we were invited to visit a small church in southeastern Arizona for an interview. Unfortunately, what we thought was an opportunity to fulfill our dream of shepherding a small church turned out to be nothing more than another ‘end row.‘

At the end of July we received what seemed to be another promising response to a resume we sent to northern California.  Turns out that church wanted a “theological degree” even though the job description they posted online only mentioned a “college degree.”

That’s two “no thank you” notices within 40 days!

What’s wrong with this picture?  For years we’ve held tightly to the following verses:

“Here’s what I’m saying:

Ask and you’ll get;
Seek and you’ll find;
Knock and the door will open.

“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?”¹ 

Luke 11:9-13

What are we doing wrong? We’ve done everything we can do!  We have knocked and knocked – no doors have opened.  Even though we seek and seek – we find nothing.  Asking and asking has done no good – the answer is always, no!

Right now most of my answers seem to be coming through The Message Bible. “This is not a cat-and-mouse game we’re in.” But, trying to reconcile “How well He understands us and knows what is best for us at all times.“²  with “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.”³ is giving me a major headache.

Tonight the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, “Rest in ME when you need perfect understanding and tender loving friendship.”

So, dear friends…I’m going to take a bit of a break – to rest in the Lord and try to understand what needs to be done.

¹Luke 11:9-13 The Message Bible)
²Ephesians 1:8 The Living Bible
³Psalm 37:4 The Amplified Bible