Friday, May 24, 2013

France Friday, 5/24/13: Celebrating sacrifice...



     As we continue to seek to additional prayer and financial partners, it's amazing to stop and think about those that have already join our team.  We have over 70 family units, two churches, and two Sunday School classes that have pledged to give towards our monthly support while serving in France, not including countless others that have given special, one-time gifts and/or have pledged their regular prayer support.  The amounts pledged range from $5/month to $100/month on up, but the majority fall between $15 and $25 per month.  What's funny is how many people apologize that they can only give such a "small" amount! Let me try out my Paul impersonation and say, "May it never be!"

    We rejoice in each person that partners with us and honestly I love the thought of our team including many people rather than a smaller amount of "large" donors.  Additionally, we must remember that in God's economy, what we may consider "small" may be so much bigger to Him.  Like the boy that hands over his fish and bread (lunch) to Jesus,  God can take what we have and make "a lot" out of "little." Secondly, God honors the amount of our SACRIFICE over the amount of our gift. 

    Just recently, we were touched to receive the following letter:


    Doesn't this remind you of another passage in scripture? (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4). What a testimony! We're so humbled to be able to witness what God is doing in the hearts of His children as they entrust what they've been given into the Father's hands. May He make much out of "little" and may He lead others to join what He's doing in France.  Here's how you can pray for us:

  • I have several opportunities to meet with contacts at local churches over the next couple of weeks. Pray for divine appointments.  
  • Pray for perseverance for me and my family.  
  • Pray about the details of a possible summer event we've been dreaming up. 

Saturday, May 18, 2013

France Saturday, 5-18-13

     I wanted to elaborate on a few tweets and Facebook posts you may have seen from us over the past few weeks.
    Most of you know by now that we can't reach our goal of leaving for France in the fall.  We still need more financial support, but even if God provided it, the required course we were hoping to attend in July is full.  And so, each time we find out that this phase of our journey is not yet finished, we're left with a lot of questions, sometimes mixed with feelings of guilt and failure, wondering if we had just done something "better" or "smarter," would we have reached our goals.  As if more human effort and ingenuity was all we needed!  But God reminds me over and over that this journey, and our lives, is just a tiny thread in the divine tapestry that He's weaving.  This is truly BIGGER than me or my family.
     I always liked the thought that we should pray that God would allow us to be a part of something so big that only He could pull it off. And I believe He's doing that.  This isn't something we can just "make happen" without his powerful, providential hand, and I'm thankful for it.  There will be no doubt who deserves the glory when we step off the plane in France!  God will have made a way. 
     Then the question becomes, "So why is God taking so long, lol!" Yes, timing.  The time is not yet right for Him to receive the maximum amount of glory.  Also, I believe He's still up to something, and again I think it goes beyond just preparing me and my family for church planting.  I think it's that and more. Without being too presumptuous, allow me to share a couple of reasons I think He's holding us here a while longer. 



     For example, we have a great group of friends and family that I call our "faith team" that we've been able to meet with about once a month to pray and organize our efforts.  If we had been allowed to leave for France a year ago, many of this group would not have been a part of this process.  


    That was truly a precious moment for us!  But take a look at that verse. --  9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. -- I know I'm not dealing with the immediate context, but don't the principles apply here as well?  God isn't slow about anything!  But everything He does is for a purpose, to reconcile the world to Himself.  I believe God wants to use us to involve more people in taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.  I believe there are friends, co-worker's, family members, people that we're still to meet "as we're going" that need to hear the Good News.  So yes, please continue to pray that God would provide the funding needed to take the gospel to France.  But in the meantime, pray that we would be His ambassadors here and that His purposes will be accomplished through us.