Proud Wifey...

Ryan's Licensing from ryan thompson on Vimeo.

Another First Step

Around this time last year, Ryan felt like it was time for him to enroll in seminary. Obviously, a miracle from God, I was totally okay and on board with this decision.

Ryan told me about his calling on the way to our friends wedding!

He decided on Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He toured the Dallas campus and I got to join him at the Houston campus. He is currently only taking online classes though! Once he started classes we thought "This is the first step!"

Houston Campus

I already talked about here, how Ryan had to get endorsed by our church to enroll at SWBT. Again, we thought this is the first step!

Fall and Spring semester passed by and Ryan has been busy, busy, busy! He not only does seminary, engineers full time, but also leads a college bible study every week.

We have had several opportunities were we know God is working on a path for our family. We have had doors open and doors close. We don’t know what his future looks like as a pastor at the moment, but we are trusting that God has the perfect place for us!

I am one super proud and thankful wife!!

Last night, Ryan was recognized at our church as a licensed minister.
Another first step :)

 

Licensed Minister-

“Licensing is a way for the local church to give recognition, authorization and affirmation of a person's gifts and skills for ministry. Licensing is looked on favorably by other churches, which adds further evidence of the person's gifts and abilities throughout the Covenanting Transformation Ministries Churches.
Licensing is usually granted through the recommendation of a church board to the membership of the church. Licensing is recognition of a number of different ministry specialties and does not need to be limited just to preaching pastors. Like ordination, it is the local church that grants the license, not Transformation Ministries.
A license is typically provided to lay persons who have the gift and ability to preach, teach or minister as defined by the church that grants the license. The license may either be a step toward ordination or an endorsement of a gifted lay person for ministry within the church. “- Licensing and Ordination
 
 

So we have had several first steps along the way of becoming a pastor. Can’t wait for the next first step!!

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Big Week!

Last week was a HUGE week for my little family. We had lots of exciting things happen. Most of which I can't share yet! Here's how it all went down. I decided to do my first ever fast. I know lots of important people in the bible (Jesus-helllo?!) practiced fasting, but it always seemed too hard for me to accomplish. I mean its  incredibly ridiculous how much I love to eat.  Anyway, I had made the decision for no specific reason. Well let me tell you God works through fasting! It was seriously amazing the weird "coincidences" that occurred last week. One of the random things that happened was Ryan had also secretly decided to do a form of fasting. I  decided to tell him I was fasting because I started praying about whether or not we should sell our house. I have been struggling with our house situation for as long as I can remember living here. I'm not going to go into details, but I had basically detached myself from this house. Well as it turns out yesterday Ryan and I started talking randomly about the house. We both decided that it was best if we stay put. We have room to grow and room to host. I can't begin to tell you how great it felt to have a final decision. I didn't even realize until way later in the day that -duh!- God had answered my prayer! I was in shock because I couldn't believe I didn't realize when we were having the conversation about the house that it was the answer to my prayers!! That is just one of the many, many cool things that happened this week. I would like to leave you with this... If you have a big decision and can't seem to find peace about it, give fasting a try. I didn't get every single answer I was looking for, but I got a lot things I did not expect.The way I felt during the week was weird, it was like I was full in the Lord. I mean I was really hungry, but not empty. I don't know how to explain it. It was a neat time and I don't think I have ever felt closer to God.

The bible is pretty clear we are to fast. In Matthew it says when you fast, not if you decide to fast.

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. -Matthew 6:16-18

Training and Books

Not much to update! Things have slowed down and we are at our first of many waiting periods. We are waiting for our homestudy interviews! We have two scheduled and I guess the last ones will happen after those are complete! We have finished a little over half of our online Hague Training. I have almost finished my third adoption book!

Update on Seminary:
When we started *this* journey back in July we had no idea what we were getting into! We both went to his advisement in Houston and asked his advisor if he should take six or nine hours. I was all game for him taking nine hours because taking six is a slooooow rate to get finished. His advisor was very ambivalent about it and didn't really give us an answer.  Ryan ultimately decided to start slow with six hours. That has turned out to be one of the best decisions! The amount of reading involved in these classes is intense. Ryan is constantly having work to do. I feel bad for him because he is working a full time job, leading the Cellar, school, and being a husband to me :) He has a lot on his plate, but still has a happy face :)  I can only imagine how awesome of a Pastor he will be one day!