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
