Bri K

I suppose that most investors say not to put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify, otherwise the risk of loss is too great! It seems to me though that many times the Lord asks exactly the opposite, and yesterday I knew with absolute confidence that He was asking this of me. And the beautiful thing was that I was humbled in joy and deep gratitude without fear, but with confidence and a renewed hope!

I left an hour early from Seattle so I wouldn’t be late for the interview with Forward Edge. Since I was way ahead of schedule about half way into the drive I stopped and journaled a bit at a coffee shop. Here’s a bit of what I wrote: “As I go into this interview I ask that it would be a time of really sweet fellowship with (everyone who comes). I pray that it would be a time of being awakened in passion and vision and that we would all walk away encouraged by your majesty and the greatness of your character and kingdom. Let it be a time of worship–a time of seeing you exalted…Jesus, reveal yourself in power and let me walk away from this interview assured of what you are leading concerning this job. Lord lead TFA to offer me a face to face interview today. Jesus exalt your Name and lift yourself high Jesus!…Speak to the depths and call me forward in power–anointed and commissioned by your Spirit and Bride!”

Seriously…I didn’t even realize that I had prayed that last sentence until right now. WOW—that is exactly what I experienced! I’ve been a part of a lot of interviews and I have never in my life experienced something like yesterday where the Lord was so clearly confirming His will to everyone there and exalting His Name by how He was unifying His people in heart, mind and purpose. It was stunning!

If I could tell you more of the dialogue, it would be awesome, but the turning point was when one woman asked me where I envisioned myself in 4 years which led to a big, “I don’t know…that’s what I’m seeking to discern right now…but these are the ways that I know that I’m gifted/the things that I know that I’m called to even if I don’t know the context…” As I listed these the Program Director said something to the effect of, “Well in light of that, when you hear that the job is 90% administrative, what do you think?” My response: “Honestly, when I heard that, I thought that this is not the fit for me. I believe that I could do the job, but the Lord released me from Multnomah and is pushing me to risk…challenging me to step out of my comfort and explore some of my gifts and passions that I have not had the opportunity to use.” I can’t explain the sense in the room at that moment, but it was like a resounding “yes”…a unanimous nod. The Program Director said something to the effect of looking at my resume and being excited and impressed by what I’ve done and knowing that there is something more out there for me to really be unleashed in…that they wouldn’t want someone who in two months will be bored…that it was such a refreshing interview…the weirdest that they’ve had, but rich! Then another woman said she wants to keep track of me and hear what I end up doing–that she is excited to see. Another woman said that this is the most authentic interview they’ve had and it was so encouraging. We talked about ways to partner in the future, maybe getting to lead a short term team, who knows? So the Program Director just said that he thought they needed to pray for me and they prayed things specific to my heart and need: that the Lord would grant clarity quickly, that He would use my unique gifts, etc. It was so beautiful! So all four prayed for me, I prayed for them and truly, as I’ve never seen in an interview, the Lord exalted His Name in our presence and I really think assured all of us that His kingdom is advancing and that He’s attentive to our needs and desires.

We ended the interview just shaking our heads and smiling and one of the guys said, “I bet this will go down as your weirdest interview ever?” and I definitely agreed! It was amazing to see the time encourage them as to the person that the Lord has set aside to fill the position and incredible to see the Lord so specifically anoint me and commission me through that time. I can’t explain the impact of having four perfect strangers see into my life and affirm my call and my gifts and a sense of mission and vision I must pursue. Through them the Lord spoke so many things over me, but the biggest was: “Bri, I haven’t forgotten you, I’m not ignoring you, I delight in your delight, don’t settle, don’t give up, there’s more to come…” I feel like the Lord has spoken “No” a lot lately…or has just been silent all together. Yesterday was like a resounding “Yes” and “Amen” spoken through four people I didn’t know by the power of His Spirit.

I drove away almost shocked in awe by how specifically and powerfully the Lord “sent” me out from that interview. I knew immediately that I needed to pull myself out of today’s scheduled interview at Clark and all out pursue TFA. I drove away having experienced His tenderness and attentiveness to me…having FELT his affirmation of his heart and purpose for the first time in six months. I have known that the Lord was not absent, but I have felt to be so so lost and wandering and felt that everything was falling apart or breaking. In light of these past months and the past year, yesterday was absolutely confirming that I’ve heard Him, that He’s heard me and that He delights to give good gifts to me.

So I got home to find out that another prayer was answered–I was accepted to bypass the first interview and go directly to the final interview with Teach for America. AMAZING! So I called Clark and pulled myself out of today’s interview, knowing that I had to go after the “more” that has been in my heart for years. I was being unleashed and it wasn’t time to choose the same setting and same job that I’d been waiting to be released from. It’s time to run in the passions and explore the gifts that I’ve been waiting to experience for seven years.

I left Multnomah nine months ago. A year prior to being laid off the Lord told me that He had kept me there for so long and walked me through all the brokenness He’d walked me through in order to anoint me with power and authority. He told me that He would soon send me in this manner and send me clearly. I never imagined it would look like it did. Then a year later I heard the news and knew it was my time to leave. Quickly the Lord told me not to play it safe, but to take a risk and go after the dreams and desires He’s put in my heart. So I went overseas.

In August I was sitting on a park bench in Leon, Spain and this is the last time I’ve sensed the Lord clearly speak to me about my life in general and what was coming. Through a specific scripture (Elijah on Mt. Carmel after the prophets of Baal) He commissioned me to three things: Pray hard and deep, watch constantly and wait patiently. The result would be not merely a trickle, but a torrent unleashed of all the desires that have seemed held back, broken or restrained over these years. He would unleash them in fury and fullness. It was interesting timing because everything felt to be going great then–felt to be coming together. I’ve been thinking about this word a lot in the past few weeks and thinking of how prophetic it has been. So I’m still waiting, watchful and praying deep…but after yesterday with a sense of victory and hope. Yesterday seemed to be like Elijah’s cloud rising on the horizon, bringing me to my knees in hope and on my face with more confidence that the Lord is listening and is unleashing a beautiful storm.