Was He Talking To Me?!

One month ago we placed our feet on PDX
carpet for the first time. 

Yesterday marked one month here in the Portland area. It wasn't greeted with a large celebration or much collective acknowledgment. We talked a little about it at dinner, but overall we found it to be an unworthy milestone to discuss. Not that God hasn't done the miraculous in our life. In one month we have met some great men and women of God. We found a home and got the boys into better schools than we expected. God just seems to have behind everything that we've done. From the gym to the restaurants we go to we are meeting real followers of Christ.

Last week Regina and I visited a hair school to look into her getting a license so she can start a natural hair shop here in the Portland area. The cost was around 16,000, and we qualified for a 1,700 pal grant and 12,000 in loans, the rest was to be paid out of our pocket. Now all of that and not even one week was going to be braiding and textured hair aka black hair. We ask about it, and she brought us to the perm specialist! Her idea of natural hair for black people was permed hair. As to say if it got texture straighten it out. Needless to say, we left feeling some kind of way, so Regina did the research and found an online braiding school. She was super excited, but I was concerned about the license. So I looked up the most basic search, and God showed up all in the results! Turns out NO license is needed to have a braiding shop in the state of Washington.

As I read the website and listen to the testimonies of the people that had sued their states before I was overjoyed at the successful outcomes. A woman and Seattle already won the right to braid here in Washington! You can't tell me God isn't ordering our steps! God placed us in a Portland suburb in Washington for a reason! The battle is already won! God gave her the vision, and we have prayed that doors open that should open, and doors close that should close. The door to go into debt for school just closed. She can take the online course and find a local small business class and be in business. With just finishing a business associate degree, I believe this can be the start of something big for us.

Last week I had an interview with a local Rescue Mission, and they were excited at the idea of me coming to work for them, but they didn't have any openings for me.  That's right they called me and interviewed me for no spot open. They felt maybe they could create something, but after meeting me a little closer, they aren't ready to start something that big yet. I'm ok with that choice because I do want something that will provide for the family while Regina is getting off the ground. Provide to me means not only financially but also to allow me time to be at home. We currently have no health care, and I want us to have that kind of thing covered. I'm going to wait on the Lord and not jump into something I shouldn't, but it is time for me to start the search.

First Day Open Signal Community Media Center

I've been taking classes teaching me how to use the public access studio in Portland, and it's been great. Its opened my eyes to see that I really want to work in media. I loved working with the homeless and never want to stop having a ministry that will help the homeless, but I personally want to be in front and behind a camera and microphone. I feel bad saying that cause it comes across vain to say I want to be in the spotlight, but it isn't me saying it. I repressed that desire for so long I don't think I would ever say those words on my own. I believe that its God is doing something new in me. I feel God has equipped me and will continue to give me the right words to say all in his timing. Being at that campus also reminds me I also could go back to school if I needed to.

"I personally want to be in front
and behind a camera and mic."

The rubber is really meeting the road in our life right now and we really gotta stick to our faith. Do I want a job? Yes. But I want and need to wait for the job God wants me to have.  Yesterday I told our youngest son that now is the time you make choices that will define you as a man. I was letting him know that if you lie you're called a lier if you steal you are a thief and if you follow Jesus you are seen as a man that loves. As I said to him what choices will you make today that will define you as a man, I could hear God saying those words to me. I was disappointed about not getting a job right away, I've been down on myself because of my weight gain, I was making bad choices that were leading me into depression. So I heard God say will you wait on me or will you make choices that will define you as just man. I want to be more than just a man surviving I want a supernatural lifestyle, and I want to earn it by faith not sight. I don't know how bills will get paid while starting a business but I will take the limits off and believe.