Fridays for France!

        Hi.  This is Brandon checking in again.  We've had a challenging week or so.  We knew this faith journey to France and support raising would be tough at times, and really that's part of the reason that we were drawn to World Team.  We look forward to the ways that God will shape us and prepare us during this time and really, at this point, we would be a little sad if God decided to lead us to France by other means.  I think I would be left wondering what we may have missed out on, on see how God would bring us through.
        That being said, as time goes on, it's a struggle not to grow weary.   It's frustrating for me to spend 40 hours a week in a warehouse while our hearts long for France and feeling like there's only so much we can do right now.  Additionally, World Team informed us, gently and graciously, that our 10% level of support raised after a one-year period was pretty far behind the curve.  We assumed this to be the case, but it was still a little tough to hear from someone else.  In general, they like to see about 25% of your support raised after one year.   This provided further affirmation to what we were already feeling: we've got to do more.  We need to be more intentional.  We need to reevaluate our approach.  We need to be more creative and find ways to maximize the time we have (i.e. schedule out everything, lol) and look for ways to open up more windows to pursue God's calling on our lives.  And yet, in the midst of all our planning and "strategizing" God whispers to me over and over again two words:  "Be still..." 

"Cease striving, relax, let go" "and know that I AM GOD;

 I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  

        What does this say for all our planning?  I think it's fine, and probably still necessary, but it's not the most important part of the equation.  It's good to be able to tell our hearts to "be still, cease striving" and to be reminded once again that we're not the main characters in this story.  In fact, God has already written the story and we're just privileged to play a part.  We can rest in the fact that the Lord of hosts, the God of Jacob is with us, and His plans will be accomplished.  He WILL be exalted. 


        So yes, we need your help.  Obviously we're in great need of more financial support (both present giving and pledges for future monthly support).  We've set the short-term goal of trying to reach that 25% mark by May 1st.  Additionally, we would certainly welcome anyone that can assist us in the planning and logistics and implementation of these plans to raise the amount of money that we need.  But I think to stop there would be foolish.  What good is it to increase our planning and efforts and not apply the same level of urgency to our need to call on God?  We know that ultimately our success depends on Him and all glory will be due Him.  I'd like to ask each of you to join us in making "Fridays for France".   If you are so led, we'd be honored if you would set aside some time each Friday to pray and/or fast for God's will to be accomplished in our lives and in France.  We're also going to make it our goal to give specific ways that you can pray for us each week by that Friday morning.  Please let us know how we can be in prayer for you as well and we thank you in advance for partnering with us.  May our God remind us all again that He is the Lord, and a very present help in trouble. 

1 Corinthians 1:27-29

I'm so thankful that God uses imperfect people like me to do His work, so that He alone gets the glory.

Love is...

"Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you ^[f]love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I ^[g]love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you ^[h]love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I ^[i]love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you ^[j]love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you ^[k]love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I ^[l]love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep."  -John 21:15-17

On this Valentine's Day, God is reminding me that love is more than what I feel for my husband.  It is even more than what I feel for my children.  God wants to show His love through me.  He wants me to "take care of his sheep"...here while we are here and someday in France.  I know I have said it before, but it becomes so easy for me to get caught up in the everyday routine chaos of life and forget what He has called me to.  I want to ask for your prayer.  Recruiting people to partner with us, particularly financially is one of the biggest steps we are taking right now in our journey back to France to do churhc planting.  I am having a very hard time with it.  I am not sure if it is my pride or just that the concept of asking people for money is somewhat foreign to me.  I know that God wants to use others in the sending just as He wants to use us by going.  I am learning to trust His timing more every day, but I also know that I have to be obedient.  If you would pray for us as we overcome our fears of asking, we would greatly appreciate it.  Also, if you would like to find out more about how you can partner with us, please check out the giving page here.  Thanks again for following our blog.  And, as always... pics of my Valentines littles...