Hey Friends and Family,
Many things have transpired over the last month! We aren't starving to death, so that's good. We are still living in a house and not out of our van or on the streets, so that's good too! :-) I'm sure you're dying to know how Jesus came through for us, hey? I'll give you three guesses and give you a hundred bucks if you can guess (if you haven't heard the story yet). :-) Just Kidding. I'll give you a short version for those who like cliff notes. I'll follow it up with the mini novel, for those of you who like details and drama!! Thanks for taking time to read and for your friendship, encouragement, and following our journey.
SHORT VERSION:
Heath and I feel the Lord has said it's time to move again. Yes, physically move to another city. So, as of right now, we are planning to move to Redding, California at the beginning of July of this year. In light of this move, Heath feels it isn't worth the effort to build the business here only to leave potential clients and opportunities in 3 months. Soooo, he is back at his 9 to 5 job for the next 3 months. He is considering attending the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry up in Redding this fall, but this is not set in stone yet. That's the short of it folks!
LONG VERSION: (Grab your coffee, diet coke, or cupcake and enjoy the wild journey!)
In January, Heath and I both had an overwhelming feeling that the faith step of quitting his job to pursue "Covert Purpose" business was a "God set up." After he was done with his job, we knew Heath needed to be faithful to pursue and put all his effort into Covert Purpose (career and financial coaching). But the whole time, we've been waiting for the curve ball. While he was making "good contacts," we were fully covered financially for the month of February because of a videography job Heath finished up. But his stress about the business and our finances kept mounting.
That's what led Heath to fast and pray for a week at the end of February. He specifically took Wednesday through Friday to be alone with the Lord and wrestle things out. He came home a different man. . . and I'm not even kidding. I have not seen and felt such peace on Heath for over 2 1/2 years (ever since Mozambique). So here's the crazy curve ball part:
On Thursday early morning, the Lord woke me up at 4:44 and told me to read Luke 4:44. I wasn't even sure there was a Luke 4:44 but figured the Lord would know!! Verse 43 and 44 says, "I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other places, too, because that is why I was sent. (v.44) So he continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea."
Ok, that was wild to me because Heath and I have known this year is about travel through other words from the Lord. And though Heath has thought it was connected to his business endeavors, I have had an underlying feeling that it was related to prayer meetings and more overt discipleship "ministry" (for lack of better terminology). But I didn't know how that would look or fit with what Heath was pursuing. I just let it be an underlying feeling. After reading the verse, I felt more sure that the travel this year is related to preaching the Good News and discipling people in the Body. Hmmm. Still not sure how this will look or transpire.
Flash back to a week prior to waking up at 4:44 AM: out of the blue, I told Heath, "I really love it here. I love the people, I love our prayer group, I love the area, I love our house, I love everything about living here and never want to leave." Heath said, "I like it too. I don't plan on going anywhere."
Flash forward: Later in the morning (after the 4:44 incident) I was worshiping and heard the Lord say to me, "Emie, what if it's time to move? Would you be ok with that?" I didn't shut him down with an "absolutely not," but I wasn't excited about it either. He didn't say anything else. He just let me ponder it all morning and occasionally brought things to mind to confirm that he had just asked me that.
Meanwhile, Heath was alone at a friend's empty house praying and worshiping and asking the Lord why he was feeling like there wasn't any breakthrough, and why he was spiritually feeling disconnected from faith and believing that God was going to come through financially. As he was worshiping, the Lord, out of the blue, said to him, "What if you're in the wrong place." So Heath asked, "Do you mean it's time to move?" "Yes." Heath's response was, "Emie isn't going to like this idea." (there was more, I just can't remember it).
SO he called and said, "Ok, I have something I feel like Jesus dropped in my lap to pray about. It isn't for sure, we just need to pray. I think Jesus said it's time to move."
My response? "I know." Heath about dropped over dead. Sooo, that began the conversation about moving. Heath felt the Lord wasn't giving a specific place to move. But Heath mentioned that Redding, CA would be a place he would like to be around for awhile. He loves Bethel's heart and focus on supernatural influence in the world (Business, education, government, etc.) When he shared that with me, I felt total peace and excitement. Right now we really sense we are to move forward in this direction. We are strongly considering Heath going to the School of Supernatural Ministry at Bethel Church in Redding as well. He is also planning to implement his business ideas and make contacts once we get there. We wouldn't move until after June because of Abiel's ballet recital and Heath is facilitating a Dave Ramsey "Financial Peace University" course for 13 weeks. We are open to the Lord redirecting or changing the plan, but for now, our hearts, spirits and minds are in complete unity and peace about this direction.
As for Heath and Covert Purpose? Has he, have I, been hearing God wrong in this direction? Neither of us feel that. For Heath, he knows that everything he learned and pursued will come full circle . . . in God's time and way. Heath loves business stuff and longs to see it done supernaturally, yet has never been part of business done this way. He desires to be around more like minded men/women who can teach him how. He feels the last few months have been striving to make it happen verses allowing the Holy Spirit to move it (hence the fast). It can be exhausting to continually live from day to day, week to week, or generous gift to the next generous gift. Part of his business endeavors were designed in hopes to give us a little financial breathing room. He knows it has to be about dependence on God and being connected to other people. And, he knows deep within his heart that he is called to preach the gospel. . . overtly. Neither of us feel like his work, time, effort, or money put into Covert Purpose is wasted or lost or that he's giving it up to go in a completely different direction. All of this has better equipped Heath and I to see individuals freed up to radically obey the Lord. Heath's heart is for people to become debt free so they can "more easily" go where the Lord directs.
For me, I felt the whole time that Heath needed to pursue this avenue as hard as he could and as far as the Lord would let him. I haven't really been concerned about whether or not it was what we were ultimately supposed to do, because I don't see life as finding the one thing we're supposed to do and then buckling down for the rest of our lives to do it. (Our "one thing" is loving, worshiping and co-laboring with Jesus. Other than that, our "one thing" is playing out in many avenues and venues throughout our lives.) A couple months ago, when I asked the Lord if we were on or off target, the Lord said, "You're on target, just not the bulls eye. But it won't take anything for me to make the arrow hit the bullseye." After that, I have had complete peace that even if we were a bit "off" we were "on" because Jesus could just send the "wind" and we'd be on target! Maybe this is the "Wind."
Last bit of craziness: Because of moving in 4 months, Heath has not had peace about trying to establish the business here. That means he is backing away from Covert for awhile. This gave him a lot of mind and physical time that he wasn't sure what to do with. We had our prayer team pray with us and Heath decided that getting a job for the next four months is the best option for lots of reasons. Short of the long of it is that he is back at Griffith Farms (his former job)! His boss was excited to have his help for the next few months, Heath is excited to have a paycheck for the next few months, and I am excited to have a few months of normal schedule again!!!!! (Heath at home = no set schedule!!)
SO, that is the new crazy direction we are moving. We are at peace and are very excited. . . even the kids!
As always, pray that our eyes are locked on Jesus, not on the impossibilities of everything in our path.
Blessings in your own journey.
emie for the Lockes
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