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Lessons Learned in the Shifting

August 8, 2018 By Jennifer H. Yates Leave a Comment

8 Aug
Lessons Learned in the Shifting

Just wanted to share with you some lessons I learned in this season of shifting in my life. I spent 22 years in the classroom, then God called me to full-time writing and speaking. Before I could make the full transition, I spent 14 months working for a local caterer.

Let me just go ahead and say upfront: I don’t cook. The kitchen is not my arena. I even told my employer that, and she hired me anyway. Talk about stepping out of your comfort zone.

I’ll admit, it was very difficult at first. Not only is catering physically demanding, but I felt so out of my element, so out of control, having to do things that I have no confidence in. Which is exactly where God wanted me.

Lessons Learned in the Shifting

Sometimes, before God will move us into a new season in life, He will take us through a period of transition so that He can transform us into what He wants us to be and equip us for what is to come.

Humility

When you are a teacher for many years, you gain confidence in your ability to teach. Confidence is great, but God knew I needed humility to do what He is calling me to do. One of my first catering jobs was to a group of teachers getting ready to go back to school at the end of last summer. As I stood and served them cake and drinks, I wanted so badly to say, “Hey, I’m a teacher, too! I’m a professional, just like you. I’m smart and educated and good at what I do!”

But instead I just said, “Tea or lemonade?”

It’s very humbling to realize you really aren’t all that important. I think God wanted me to learn to lower myself in my own eyes.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

James 4:10, NIV

Service

The longer I worked in catering, the more I began to enjoy it. Once I realized that it wasn’t about me, I started to think about ways to make the events more pleasant for the people I was there to serve.

In order to serve spiritual food to others, I would also need to think about the people I’m there to serve and not myself. God used this time of catering to hungry bellies to teach me how to cater to hungry souls.

When I think of Jesus, the King of kings, wrapping a towel around His waist and washing His disciples’ feet, service takes on a whole new meaning. Jesus Himself said He came to serve.

“‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45

Grace

There were often times catering that I had jobs I wasn’t sure I could do. I didn’t strut around with confidence as I did in the classroom; instead, I spent a lot of time praying for God to help me. And that’s exactly where God wants my heart to be as I step out into this new season in my life.

I am learning that I cannot depend on my gifts, abilities, education, or strength in this new calling; I will have to depend entirely upon the anointing and grace of Jesus.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'”

2 Corinthians 12:9

I think it’s kind of funny that the catering company I worked for was called Hidden Treasures. I took the part-time job as financial support until I could write full-time, but God had hidden treasures waiting there for me–lessons on humility, service, and grace.

I will forever be grateful for my time of transition. It was definitely challenging, but God used that time to prepare me for what is to come. (And I learned how to cook a few things!)

What is God preparing you for in this next season of life? Don’t despise the small things, the lessons along the way, that are transitioning you into glory. Meditate on what God is doing, write it down, and ask Him to help you grow.

He will give us the grace to go from glory to glory. He will be with us in the shifting, and He will use us to do greater things as we grow with Him.

Do you need support and encouragement for your spiritual growth? Join our private Facebook community, Growing Your Faith.

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Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: 5 Keys to Breakthrough, Bible study, Christian devotional, Christmas devotional, faith, one thing, religion vs. relationship, seeking God, spiritual battle, spiritual warfare, the Word, worship

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About Jennifer H Yates

About Jennifer H Yates

Hey, friends! I'm Jen--wife, mama, and empty-nester. I love to write, read, and drink coffee, especially with friends.

I've found that many women struggle to find time and focus to grow their relationship with God through studying His Word. I encourage and challenge women with practical strategies and helpful resources for quality study in as little as fifteen minutes a day.

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We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
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We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
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Click link in bio to read post.⁠
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#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel--the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:1-4, NIV).
All of Scripture, all of history, all of time has been about Jesus Christ, Son of God. 
Do you know Him? You can. His life, death, and resurrection are historical fact. All so that you could know Him and have eternal life.
Jesus loves you! ❤

"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee fo
"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment" (Luke 23:55-56).
Can you imagine the horror these women had witnessed? Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others had followed Jesus and helped support his ministry (Luke 8:3).
Now all their hopes had been crushed as they stood at a distance and witnessed Jesus' agonizing death on the cross (Luke 23:49). His own mother had to stand by helplessly as her son cried out, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
As we women often do, they looked for a way to still serve Him, even in His death, by preparing His body for burial. Sometimes, it's the little things.
When our hearts are breaking and we think we can't take another breath, sometimes we need something in our hands--a burial spice, a casserole, a text that says I'm here.
We can't make the hurt go away, but we can channel it into something useful, something hopeful, something comforting.
As they rested on the Sabbath, I'm sure they anticipated the opportunity to see Him one more time, to minister to Him once more with the spices and perfumes they had prepared.
Hearts crushed, hands open.
Grieved but grateful. Resting but ready.
Because if there was anything they knew for sure, it's that Jesus was no ordinary man. And when hearts are turned toward Him, anything can happen.

God never called us to “blind” faith. We may b
God never called us to “blind” faith. We may believe without seeing, but faith is being sure and certain of what we don’t see, not what we don’t know. ⁠
The Israelites had historical facts on which to base their faith. That’s why God constantly told them to remember what He had done and tell it to their children. Their faith was in what they knew to be true, even though they didn’t always see it with their own eyes. ⁠
We, too, have facts on which to base our faith. The Bible is historically accurate and verified. If ever we needed to know what we believe, it’s now.⁠
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Click link in bio to read post.⁠
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#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like mo
It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like most women, when I do get still, my mind is still going 90 mph. I’m so distracted by all the preparations for the day. Sounds a little like Martha, who, by the way, is the one who invited Jesus over in the first place. But like Martha, I have felt the Lord’s gentle rebuke. He wants me at His feet. And really, that’s where I want to be. It’s not about time and focus. It’s about heart and desire. The rest will come. ❤️ #growingyourfaith #jesusfirst #wordbeforeworld #seekhimfirst #javawithjesus #womenintheword

Do you really want to grow your faith? What we fee
Do you really want to grow your faith? What we feed the most is what grows the most. 🍽️⁠
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What are you feeding?⁠
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Click the link in my bio to read this week's post.⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus ⁠


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