God's Faithfulness

I love to sit and reflect on our lives; where we've been and where we're going. It amazes me to see the hand of God. His faithfulness, His abundance and His truths. Our God is so good, all the time! He has shown us His goodness when we've been standing on the mountain tops, but even more amazing than that, He has shown us His goodness in the valleys. Life is constantly changing and I am learning to embrace change, its a process for me. But our God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. His nature is always consistent.

Everyday I see God working on His plan for our lives. In that things change often; just when I'm comfortable, things start changing. I've come to realize that, its actually the graciousness of God. He knows us so well and knows just what we need, even before we know it. God knows that I have to process things and often times wrestle with it. So instead of just saying "ok its time to Go to Africa" He's doing it in phases. I am so thankful that my God shows us grace and love even in our weaknesses. We are preparing to move once again. God has given us an opportunity to save money and simplify our lives as we continue to raise support and prepare to go to the field full time. This move requires us to really downsize and get rid of a lot of stuff. It took me a little time to process and work through the idea, but I clearly heard God speaking to me and letting me know that this IS His plan and though I might not be comfortable with it, I need to trust Him, knowing He sees the big picture. I can now say the idea of being free of stuff and living simply is quite inviting. God is moving and I am so excited to see How His plans will come to be. When He says go, I want to be ready. One of my favorite passages of scripture that God brings to my mind often is: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43: 18-19. I love reading about the Israelites journey out of bondage in Egypt to the promise land. God did so many amazing things along the way: providing food, parting the Red Sea, providing a cloud of smoke by day and fire by night, protecting them against their enemies, the list goes on and on. They often grumbled and complained against God in spite of all He had just done for them. Most of them never Got to cross into the promise land, they missed out on all that God had for them, because of their lack of belief in the things God had said and shown them. I've asked myself, "How could they doubt God, after all the miracles they saw?" Then I realized we are, no different. God is at work in the lives of His people everyday, doing amazing things. I have found myself moments after God has provided in a huge way, saying "I know you just did this, but what about all these other things?" talk about being an Israelite! Often I'm reminded of these scriptures and it is my prayer that unlike the average Israelite who doubted God, I will be like Joshua, who trusted God and went ahead courageously, doing as God commanded him to do and in the end entered the promised land. Just like God promised! Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Joshua 1:7

It is so exciting to see God doing the same thing in our lives as He shows us through people in Scripture. He has amazing things in store for all of us who are His children. He wants to do more than we could ever ask or imagine. Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. We just need to be strong and courageous! Are you ready? I am!

Freedom in the unknowns

I realize its been quite awhile since I've posted anything. To be completely honest and transparent, I have struggled along this journey. Outwardly I have walked in obedience to what God has asked, yet inwardly in my heart I have resisted God, I haven't fully embraced God's vision. There are so many unknowns and I would think, "if only God would show me more of the details, I could get excited about His plans." God is so good, even in our weaknesses He chooses to use us. God has been doing an amazing work in my heart. Just this past week as I was preparing to share with a group of women, I was writing out a time line of our life over the past several years. As I began writing and reflecting on our life, I became overwhelmed by: Gods faithfulness, His grace, His provision, His plans, the second chances that He gives. And I realized something, it's not about us. It's His story. That's when I got excited. This is obviously something I already knew in my head, but for some reason, at that moment it was made so real and clear in my heart. God has given us an opportunity to partner with Him. What a privilege that is. Yet so many times when God allows things in our lives that change our course, we feel like a disservice is being done to us. As I looked back on all the events over the past several years, many of them were very difficult things and there were alot of very trying times, but reflecting on all of it, I saw God's hand all the way through and realized that He's been preparing us. He never left us and we are better for having gone through those times. What great confidence that gave me for what God has in store for us! God never wastes anything that we go through. As far as the unknowns that I have wrestled with, As I was doing my Bible study last week, it was speaking on the Holy Spirit and what a gift it is. Even the disciples struggled with the unknowns and they were asking Jesus for answers before He was to leave this earth. In John 16:12-14 we see what Jesus said to them. "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the spirit of truth comes, He will guide you in all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what the He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.

God used that time in the word to reveal to me what I knew in my head, but needed to really get in my heart. In His timing I will know what I need to know. That is why we have the power of the Holy Spirit. I feel such freedom and I am thankful for Gods amazing grace, even when we are stubborn.

I have a fresh excitement for the Journey that God has us on. We see God moving everyday! We will be headed back to Tanzania in June with a team. I am so excited about this team. We are taking a few young people with us. It will be so exciting to watch God work in these teens and watch them have a fresh encounter with a transforming God and the work that He is doing all over the world. We are already seeing some really cool things happen. We have a real heart for young people and a strong desire to see them have the opportunity to do mission work and really see the scriptures come to life and become passionate about the Great Commission. Matthew 28:18-19

Please continue to pray for us, we would continue to walk in complete obedience to what God puts in front of us. Jeff and I are very excited to see how God will work out His plans with us and the day that we are in Tanzania full-time.

For His glory,

Jen