from my devotion today

Be willing to go out on a limb with me. If that is where I am leading you, it is the safest place to be. Your desire to live a risk-free life is a form of unbelief. Your longing to live close to Me is at odds with your attempts to minimize risk. .You are approaching a crossroads in your journey. In order to follow Me wholeheartedly, you must relinquish your tendency to play it safe.

This is an excerpt from my devotional that I am reading thru (Jesus Calling)...Wow. This is exactly where I am at in my life right now. I am in a period of transition and this is causing a lot of fear and unbelief. I am excited about the change but it's scary because I don't know exactly how everything is going to work out yet. I also have been struggling with financial worries lately and need to surrender that to God.

I am planning to move to Orange County, CA at the end of January with the hopes of attending a make-up school out there. I really am interested in doing beauty make-up, airbrushing, bridal, photo shoots, special effects, and eventually would love to work on a TV show or films. I also want to work in a salon part-time and do hair. I think moving to California scares me (even though it's temporary) because it's very competitive out there. I know that is where I need to be to get the kind of training that I need. I also know that it's where I need to be eventually to network with the right types of people. I love Nashville and the South but I know I need to be out West to do the kind of work I want to do.

I think this is very exciting but also rather scary because I am leaving behind most of my friends, family and (temporarily) a very dear boyfriend. I am excited though. To be close to the ocean, to meet new people, to find a temporary church family out there to love and encourage me...to spend some time with one of my best friends Jeannie who lives out there...to be able to do more outdoor activities and enjoy the beautiful climate. I have been very blessed to have relatives out there offer me a place to live. This is really going to help me out financially and I will be able to start paying off some school loans and other debt.

All in all, I think this is going to be a great opportunity and I want to embrace it with open arms and without fear. I want to be willing to go out on a limb with the Lord. I want to be lead step by step without having to see the whole journey of my life.