This season of preparation has been teaching us lessons in having great faith and trust in the Lord for all we need - wisdom, strength, peace, joy, rest, hope, a buyer for our home, a job for me, financial provision. I was recently talking to a close friend who asked me about our preparations for moving to NJ. She asked about our home selling and my job situation, and preceded to say, "What happens if you don't sell your house or a get a job?" This is a realistic, honest question, and one for which I had a simple response - great faith and high expectations that God will provide for all of our needs. God has always provided for Mike and I, why doubt him now?
During seasons of transition and change we have 2 choices:
1) Trust in ourselves, or
2) Trust in our all-powerful God
Scripture speaks of the outcome of both options. Proverbs 11:28 says "Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf." Proverbs 28:26 says "Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe." When we sow self-reliance we reap instability and act foolishly. However, scripture says that those who trust in God instead of trusting in "the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods" (in other words - those who put their trust in people and things other than God) are "blessed" (Psalm 40:4). Scripture also says that the LORD never forsakes those who trust in him - Psalm 9:10. One of the definitions of forsake I found defined "forsake" as "to leave someone who needs or counts on you" (www.freedictionary.com/forsake). God promises not to leave or abandon us when we are counting on him.
Therefore, although we do not have a buyer for our home yet, and though I still have no teaching job waiting for me in NJ, and even though there is still much uncertainty ahead in the details of where we will live, and the exact town in which we will plant, and how quickly God will grow his church - it is better for us to trust in the Lord who will never forsake us and promises us blessing, than to trust in ourselves and fall.
As we continue on in ministry at MBC and as we prepare for our move in about 4/5 weeks for me and 8 weeks for Mike, we ask that you pray for the following:
* Continued trust in the Lord and reliance on Him, not ourselves
* Safety for Mike as he travels home from seminary this Friday and safety for both of us as we will be traveling in the next couple of weeks - me, to NJ for a wedding and job searching/ Mike in the DR
* A buyer for our home by August - the price was lowered today
* A teaching position for me that will allow me to complete my student teaching requirement this spring so that I can graduate with my Master's degree in the spring, and that will allow me to have time to use my spiritual gifts alongside Mike in ministry
* Protection from evil and spiritual warfare
* Increasing love for Christ and those who do not yet know Christ here and in Northern NJ
Thank you prayer warriors! We are always thanking God for you!
Galatians 3:9 "So those who rely on faith are blessed..."
