I have felt led to write today in response to those who have said that “the way that I am living my life is not pleasing to God,” “that He wants me to live a different way,” “that I should go out and get a real job instead of doing the type of work that I do.” Over the years I have always believed that I have been led by the Lord by His word, by His Spirit, and by His children, but according to some it may have been just the food that I had eaten, or me living in the flesh. As I read my Bible, I read verses that bring clarity in an unclear way, like what is written in *Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.* Over the past few years I have praised God for how He has blessed my family and I. When the younger two children were identified as being on the Autism spectrum, my daughter and I were available to be their advocates and learned how to get them whatever help we could. During that time we were blessed to be able to share Jesus with all who came through our door, until it was taken away due to staffing problems. For me, with having four children with specific special needs in my home, I have felt privileged to be a part of the village that raised these children in a godly home and be available to them consistently, but now due to certain reasons that may go by the wayside. It was also nice being available to minister on the spur of the moment to any in need, do counseling, and encourage people in their moments of despair, but even that seems to have come to pass due to an overwhelming circumstance. I love going to church and ministering, but in recent months I have had to take a hiatus from Sunday morning service due to having to clear up some things and find a way to make provision for my family, because I don’t have a full time job. We have had multiple health concerns cursing our home and I have been battling my own mental health issues. Even earlier this week our dog Happeny was in such severe discomfort that he needed to be put to sleep. My heart is broken with all that is going on and that is why I relate more personally today that ever before to what is written in *Job 1:20 Then Job arose and rent his robe and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshiped 21 And said, Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother’s womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord! 22 In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly.* To be clear to all who don’t see my response but only hear my situation, I praise God for the blessings and the challenges no matter what I go through. So, to all those naysayers who present me as the problem, maybe you are right, maybe I am the problem, but maybe, just maybe I am just where God wants me to be today. I like what Charles Spurgeon said, “There is no university for a Christian, like that of sorrow and trial.” pastord.blog