God’s Lead

“Thy hand shall lead me and they right hand shall hold me”  Psalm 139:10

In the spring of 1973, Randy came home one afternoon and announced that he had applied for the job of youth minister at Snellville UMC.  WHAT?  He interviewed the next week, and the minister hired him on the spot! Randy was so excited, but I was having a small breakdown!  While he was telling me all the things we could do there, I was thinking of all the things I had to change.

Judd Hodges was the minister at the church at the time. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, he and his wife, Betty were God sent to lead us into our ministry. Judd was a mountain of a man with a quick wit and hearty laugh. He volunteered with the Sheriff’s department in his spare time helping on sensitive cases, he hunted, and rode a motorcycle! Just the type of minister with whom Randy could identify.  He and Randy bonded tightly and immediately.

Judd wanted Randy and me to live in the community and offered us a vacant house next to his parsonage. Both houses were next to the church. This house was affectionately referred to as “the old parsonage.” Those words should conjure up panic!  Randy was certain that everything was going to be perfect! God would lead us.  Did I mention I was having a breakdown?

There was only one small problem – I had to have a job!  This issue was a deal breaker.  Judd went to work to find an answer.  Coincidentally, Gwinnett county was building a new elementary school right down the road from the church in the community of Centerville.  As God would have it, the new principal of the school was a member of the Snellville church.

Judd set up a meeting for me.  I interviewed with Mr. Powell, the new principal, and very quickly, I secured a fourth grade position.  Shortly after the interview, I saw Mr. Powell and inquired about how quickly the hiring process had progressed.  He laughed and said, “Honey, Judd Hodges wants you two here, and I don’t ever disappoint Judd!”  “By the way,” he said in passing, “your portfolio was impressive as well.”  I was so glad to know I had impressed him!

In June, we loaded up our few possessions, ratty furniture, and Chief, and moved to Snellville and into our first “parsonage”.  Thankfully God was leading and all we had to do was follow.  This was the first step in letting God lead me and hold me.

Just a footnote – looking at the picture, I think we invented the “selfie”.