Professor Osmon

Surprisingly I'm calm.  Excited.  Happy.  Thankful.  I have just been given the green light (or official invitation) to begin a new career.  A dream that was planted in my heart 12 years ago.  Specifically somewhere between Cone-Bottoms and Berry Chapel at Ouachita Baptist University of my sophomore year.The dream and desire and goal to teach college.  To offer to other students the kind of professors that I enjoyed.  To teach with passion and with a genuine sense of care for the students' all-around growth.
Sigh.
It was a total opportunity from the Lord to be employed with Procter & Gamble.  Not only for the prestigious name on my resume, but for the amazing growth in my business knowledge.  And, possibly most importantly, it paid for my MBA.  (A must-have to teach college.)
Then, I had two children and felt the Lord calling me to stay home.  At times this was confusing and extraordinarily hard.  But, I knew it was where He wanted me.  Oh, the growing pains of being a stay-at-home-mom.  And, this has become my focus for the past three and a half years.  I continued to do part-time work with a non-profit, work at my Dad's tax office, and become heavily involved in ministry at our church.
When we had .zero. money, I would ask of the Lord if it was time for me to look for permanent work.  The answer was clearly "no."  During this time, I was led to this verse, "You will not have to fight this battle.  Take up your positions, stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Go out to face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you." (2 Chronicles 20:17)  While I didn't know how all that applied to my life, it was clear that I was to stand firm.
Over the last six months our lives have changed quiet a bit.  First and foremost, Chris was able to get a "real" job (first in over 2 years).  The Lord has given me the ok to look at teaching opportunities.  I have applied or called just about every place of higher education in our area.  With great work history and academics, I still don't have teaching experience.  Which, is a bit of a snag for the work I'm looking to do. I applied to many and received just as many "not at this time" letters.  I do believe you have to keep pressing on and looking if it's the direction the Lord is giving.  I firmly believe we should seek the Lord's will, but we also need to be quick about acting, by faith. 
A few weeks ago I applied for an adjunct position with JBU's adult degree completion program.  Adjunct means it's part-time, basically contract by course.  The courses are one evening a week for 5 weeks.  This gives me the teaching experience (at a first class university) and allows me to continue being the primary care provider for my chillin's. 
I interviewed last Thursday, and today I received an official invitation to teach Integrative Strategies in Marketing!  I am floored and excited and just plum thankful!!!  12 years in the making, in His timing- never early, just when we're ready.
I've been reflecting lately on God's timing.  Although we have been waiting on answers to some big prayer requests for quiet some time, I really, really do not want to miss what He wants to show me and how he wants to change me in the process.  He has shown me compassion when I had no strength left (see previous post).  He has continued to mold my heart and teach me more about relying on Him.  He has given me opportunities galore to prove Him faithful and to testify of him to others.
This morning as I was cleaning (for yet another house showing), one of the scriptures on my fridge caught my eye: "Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!" (Psalms 66:20)  I love this verse!  What hope and promise!  It was my rally cry in the darkest season of my life.  Darkest.  I praised the Lord for his grace- and for grace that I can extend to myself and others.  So, thankful. 
Seriously, the Living Word continues to speak kindly to me.  Providing direction to me.  Convicting, restoring, and full of promise.  I could go on and on about the love of my Father. 
So, as of today, March 21, 2012, the Lord has opened a door that I didn't think would ever open!  And, at a place that desires to bring glory to the Lord in the classroom! 
Hurray!  I am so excited!  I think this is a prompting for me to go shopping!  Or, at the least to go out to eat! 
Lastly, here is the verse-of-the-day from biblegateway.com (see what I mean about the Living Word):
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”        Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
:)