God's Goodness

THE SHORT VERSION:
Kevin is starting a new job on Monday as an Operations Manager at Chase Bank in downtown Houston.

THE LONG VERSION:
We are just so humbled by God's goodness to us throughout Kevin's eleven year career.

The brief background is that he began working at a computer company out of college, which is were we met and later married.  Then, seeking better opportunities for our family, he switched career paths and began working in mortgages for a bank.  It was an opportunity that served us well and brought several promotions which eventually landed us in Houston where we couldn't be happier.  God's provision was evident as we narrowly missed a few layoffs while Kevin was being promoted through some different positions.  But all the hoopla of the mortgage industry finally caught up to us four years ago and the layoff came.  Through it all though, God was still providing for us.  We even managed to pay for Hurricane Ike repairs during that time.  Through an old contact at the computer company, Kevin ended up back there in the Houston location and has been serving there with his amazing technical knowledge for the last three and a half years.

Still not a company that provided good opportunities for our family, we prayed and worked on seeking other employment back in the fall and winter.  But in the end, we submitted to the other benefits of the job and sought to see how God's current will for us was so much better for our family.  That was the big way that God changed my heart.

Then, a little over a month ago, God began showing us the plan He had in store for us.  It first started when God changed Kevin's heart about going back into the banking industry.  He's always been firmly against it anytime it came up in conversation, but he was now pondering how he had enjoyed it.  Then, that Friday, Kevin had Jury Duty downtown.  He was tweeting to Facebook all day, but it was all going private and only one post made it through... one post.  An old co-worker, who works downtown at Chase, saw the post and remembered working with Kevin.  She messaged Kevin, not knowing what he was doing now, but offering that there were some really great opportunities going on right now at Chase.  It spoke volumes to the amount of respect she has for Kevin as a leader to have such great things to say about him over three years later and I'm so proud of him for that.  Meanwhile, my best friend, Jennifer, was doing some driving that Friday and was going through her prayer cards and was specifically praying for a better job opportunity to come along for Kevin.  It gives me chills to think about that.

Even though we didn't want to get our hopes up, I think we both knew from that first moment, that this was God's plan unfolding for us.  He interviewed a week and a half later and then got an offer the following week.

I've been thinking of Jeremiah 29:11 a lot lately.  "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. "

God's plan for us has been so clear and I am so thankful to be part of seeing it unfold and share this testimony with you.  God has been glorified as we can see His hand in every step of Kevin's career and I'm so excited about this new chapter.

But when I really reflect on that verse, this is not the HOPE and FUTURE that God has ultimately planned for us.  Our HOPE and our FUTURE that God has given us is that our sins are forgiven and one day we'll have the ultimate promotion to be with Him.  We'll see Him in His full glory!  We'll praise Him face to face!  What a future that will be!

I know there are others in our life that are struggling in their jobs and the current economy.  Please be encouraged that God sees your struggle and He does have a plan for you.  If all this had happened in my timing, I couldn't share this testimony today.  God is so very, very good!  He knows your needs (Mt 6:32).

On a side note: Yes, we find it very funny that having a new baby is never a big enough life change for us, but we always have it coupled with some kind of job change.  And as only God's timing would have it, our new insurance will start 10 days before my due date!