Now is the time.

2 1/2 years ago God opened our eyes to the foster care crisis in this country and called us to become foster parents. Since then, Seth and I have both been loud and persistent advocates for foster children, trying to recruit foster parents everywhere we go. When Seth was unemployed 18 months ago, we prayed that God would lead him to a job where he could support our family while also doing what he was called to do, creating foster care awareness and recruiting foster parents. It didn't happen then and we were confused. I remember reading this devotional and it spoke directly to our situation.

"Moses saw the oppression of his people and felt certain that he was the one to deliver them, and in the righteous indignation of his own spirit he started to right their wrongs. After he launched his first strike for God and for what was right, God allowed Moses to be driven into empty discouragement, sending him into the desert to feed sheep for forty years. At the end of that time, God appeared to Moses and said to him, ” ’. . . bring My people . . . out of Egypt.’ But Moses said to God, ’Who am I that I should go . . . ?’ ” (Exodus 3:10-11). In the beginning Moses had realized that he was the one to deliver the people, but he had to be trained and disciplined by God first. He was right in his individual perspective, but he was not the person for the work until he had learned true fellowship and oneness with God." -Oswald Chambers

So, we accepted that for a season, God had other plans. A few weeks ago, Seth got an email from DHS about temporary job openings for recruiting foster parents. We immediately knew that this is what Seth was supposed to do and he was officially offered the position yesterday. The pay is almost exactly the same as what he is making now, he will work from home and set his own hours. I cannot express how much of a blessing this is for so many reasons. We know that this is a risk, since it might just be for 6 months, but we are all about taking risks if it comes to finding homes for orphans! DHS has also asked if Seth could do a lot of the speaking engagements because of our journey and experience with the foster care system thus far. We are so excited about this opportunity and I am confident that it will lead to something GREAT and permanent. If God had given this job to Seth 18 months ago when we wanted it so badly, it would not have worked. We have learned so much and have grown greatly in our faith this past year and a half. All of our experiences will help address concerns and fears that so many potential foster parents have. How awesome is it that he will get to tell our story and what God has done to so many?! I truly believe that God is going to use Seth to find great homes for so many children! He can also do YOUR application if you're in Oklahoma and interested in becoming a foster parent. :)

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28