France Friday: A BIG God!

"We serve a big God."  How many times have I heard that?  My kids sing songs about it.  We hear sermons on it.  Its proven all throughout the Scriptures.  Do I really believe that my God is big in my life, that He can accomplish more than I could ever imagine?  One night this week, David Lohnes (World Team missionary in France who was visiting with us) looked at me and said, "I believe that God is saying to you, 'Don't make Me look small.'"  Do I make God look small with my unbelief?  We had an amazing time with David here.  He spent a week and a half with us speaking at different events, helping us put together resources, advocating the work that God is doing in France and encouraging others to get involved.  I saw people partner with us this week in ways I never expected.  I saw them pray for France and for the ministry there.  I saw them give generously and sacrificially.  Some who began to share our passion were calling us and suggesting new ways that we could get the word out.  I expected God to move this week, but I am not sure that I expected him to show me just how BIG He is.  I am still in awe of His greatness.  I am still overwhelmed by His power.  And, I think this is just the beginning.  David shared that his prayer is that we would be in France by the end of the year.  When everything in me wants to say, this goal is impossible, I am reminded that nothing is impossible with God.  This week, I saw God more than double our outgoing exspenses account.  We are currently at about 22%.  We are still waiting on all the monthly pledges to come in, but Brandon and I truly believe that we will reach our goal of 25% by May.  If God can raise $12,500 in a matter of days, whose to say He cannot get us to France by the end of the year?  I choose to expect the unexpected.  I choose to believe that my God is BIG!  Last night, David spoke to the youth at Bartlett Hills Baptist church and one of the things that stuck with me was this equation: Faith + Sacrifice = Miracles.  I want my faith to be such that when coupled with the sacrifices of others as well as my own, we see miracles.  I want to see them now in the support raising process.  I want to see them when we get to the field.  Afterall, that is the only way that we will see the French come to know Christ.  Here are a few more pictures of our week...

And here are some ways that you can be praying for us:

•  Pray for David and Kathryn Lohnes and their ministry in Meru, France.  Pray that the darkness will be lifted and the eyes of the French people will be open to the truth of the Gospel.  Pray also that God will raise up some of the men in their church to step up and take on some of the leadership roles.
• Pray that as we continue to seek people to partner with us in our future ministry in France that most if not all of our support will come from this area so that we can spend our time on home assignment with all of you sharing the specifics about what God is doing.
• Pray that God will give us a peace about where we will live in about a month.  We are still seeking the best place for our family during this transition time.

Thank you for continuing to pray for us in this journey!