God Even Uses Toasters to Do His Will, and He'll Do it in His Timing

Several months ago I posted, on my previously private blog, about how my toaster got involved in my life. Here is that story:

A few weeks ago I did what I do every morning ... I popped Eli's frozen waffle into the toaster. It popped up only seconds later. I adjusted the toasting knob and put it back in. It ran through the full two minute cycle and then popped up. But, the waffle wasn't toasted. I tried the other set (it's a four-slot toaster). Still same, general problem.

That night Rick was going to get his hair cut at the little salon inside Walmart. He called and asked if I needed anything. I told him about the toaster and asked him to just pick up the cheapest one he could find, just in case ours was on the outs.

And this is what happened.

He put his name on the list at the hair salon. He was three or four down on the list so the girl told him he could go ahead and do his shopping. He went and bought a $7.00 toaster and picked up a couple of other things and paid.

When he got back to the hair salon his name was already crossed off. They had called his name while he was gone. She told him it would only be a couple of minutes, so he hung around and got his hair cut. When he was done he paid and walked out the door.

While walking out he ran into a guy who we used to go to church with. I actually never met him. But, Rick knew him from men's Bible study. He asked him how he was doing and how work was going. The guy told Rick how busy they had been. Through the course of the conversation Rick mentioned that I had a law degree. The guy's face lit up. And this is why.

This guy works for a consulting firm that outsources professionals to write curriculum and teach online courses at Christian universities, Bible colleges and small colleges (like University of Phoenix). He told Rick how much he needs professionals with legal degrees to teach law-related courses. He took down my name and e-mail address. And Rick called me and told me what happened. I was intrigued, but honestly never thought anything would come out of it.

The very next morning I had an e-mail from this guy. I sent him my resume. And the process began.

Although there are not any classes available at this time, I was told even as early as yesterday that my credentials are great and I will be added to the "faculty ranks" of these universities. As soon as a class opens up that I can teach, I'll get the job.
 

You see, had my toaster not been pooping out, Rick would have been standing there when his name was called at the hair salon. He would have gotten his haircut sooner than he did. And he would have left Walmart sooner than he did. He would never have run into this guy. And we don't go to our old church anymore, so we would have never known about this opportunity.

Why is my post titled "God Even Uses Toasters To Do His Will?" Because ... the next morning my existing toaster worked fine and it's never had a problem since.

This post was written last February 10th. Then I was confused because I never heard back from the company about any viable positions. I wondered what it all meant.

I realized that it must not be God's timing because with homeschooling Dawson, and then bringing Brynne home, I didn't have any extra time to work anyway. And I was almost relieved he hadn't contacted me.

This week I started thinking, again, about how I should possibly work toward getting my teaching degree so that I could work in the future to relieve some financial stress off Rick. Minutes later I went out to my computer to check my e-mail and I had been contacted by the consulting firm about a possible position.

I received the contract by e-mail yesterday.

I have a job to write the curriculum for a business law and regulatory course for MBA students at a Christian university.

I have a job.

I have a job doing exactly what I have always wanted to do (and frankly do every day with Dawson and Brynne.)

I have a job that I can do from home.

I have a job that is going to pay me a real contract fee.

I have a job that scares me half to death because it's really important and I've never really done it before and I want to do a good job so I get hired again and it's my dream job.

Whew!

I can do this.

I just need to take a deep breath and remind myself that I am capable.

The timing is perfect. The curriculum has to be completed by March 15th, just in time for our spring break trip to Pensacola.

** insert big, deep breath **

Here I go ...