However, much to our surprise, during the summer it became painfully clear that our time here would be much shorter than we expected. We have no satisfying explanation for this and quite frankly, have decided that a person surrendered to God's will shouldn't require one. God has every right to do what He wants with us, when He wants and where He wants. There is a calming effect to this heart-attitude. God is in the driver's seat, not us. I like how Warren Wiersbe puts it:
"People of faith don't expect trusting God to make life uncomplicated or convenient. God has unusual ways of shaping our lives and getting us to where He wants us to be. He doesn't tell us ahead of time what He's doing. He wants us to rest in His hands, enjoy the adventure, and be surprised by what He accomplishes."*
We continually prayed and sought godly counsel. Difficult decisions had to be made. We knew then and remain confident even now that God led us here and would lead us to another ministry when the time was right, His time.
If you have known me for more than a year, you know that every Christmas I ask God to show up in a new and delightful way. Then I spend all of December looking under every festively lit tree branch for Him. And He always does. Always. These are gifts, I suppose. (Did I mention that gift-giving is my love language? Going both ways - giving and receiving.) God is the greatest gift giver (see James 1). No wonder I love Him so!
Some years God shows up through a sacred concert or production that causes my heart to worship. Other times I've found Him through an Advent devotional - looking at familiar Christmas Scripture passages with fresh eyes. A favorite was the year The Polar Express came out and we went to see it on Christmas Eve. God is in that movie...in a BIG way! In case you think that movie is about Santa...you missed it...I saw Jesus and God the Father and the gift of salvation to everyone who believes all throughout the film on the screen that day. Tender moments between me and the One who came as a baby for this messed up teenager. I cried in the theater and get choked up now every time I watch it. I believe! (don't get me started!)
One Christmas, God gave me my late grandfather's beloved Nativity set in a very unexpected way and I cried because there was no way other than through His intervention that I should have received it. Still another December soon after my father's unexpected death, He showed up in relational tension and conflict where solution (and His presence) came through my radically changed attitude. Obedience is a gift, you know.
Last December, He was found in a sweet, meaningful, emotional farewell from our most special congregation, family really, that we were leaving behind. He was also in all the excitement and quick, warm acceptance of a new church family who we found so easy to love. This year, He would come as a gift of provision and answered prayers before certain deadlines.
Back at our point of decision, we treaded carefully, weighing consequences. It was a confusing, painful time for our family. We prayed and asked God for something new if He wished, something different from what we were used to doing. I even threw in this prayer, "God, will you Eph. 3:20, 21 us?" (Didn't know that was a verb, did you?) The verses read, "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
"God, would You do more, far more abundantly than all we ask or think (beyond our imagination) in our lives that would bring glory to You down to the next generation of Burtis's and beyond?" We were too weak and wounded to dream up anything ourselves and we definitely didn't want to manufacture something through our own wits and understanding due to panic or worry (faithlessness). In other words, "Would You show up for us, God?"
Just a day or so ago, I wrote this on facebook:
The angel said to Mary, "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37 Been hanging on to that for a few months. I know God can do anything, but wasn't sure when He would. My conversation with God went something like this one in Mark 9. The sick boy's father (me:) "If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." Jesus: "If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes." Me: "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!"
Many verses have become special to us as we have walked through a time of waiting and wondering. We are very aware of the parallels between our waiting and the Advent season. The waiting for God to appear. How stunning to think that when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, His people had been waiting for His arrival in silence, no word from God, for 4oo years. That's a long time. Waiting is hard. We prayed that we would do it well without doubt or discouragement, giving God time to show up.I'm overjoyed to announce that our time of waiting came to an end this last weekend. Scott and I (mostly Scott) will soon be ministering with the Feng family in Syracuse both at their business and Crossroads Ministry. We will be doing all sorts of fun and different ministry. This is all God - three weeks before the deadline. During Christmas season. It's so like God to show up here and now like this. My love for Him is inflated again! Our hearts have grown more than 2 sizes!!
For the sake of your time, I won't go into how it all happened. (If you want the whole story, invite me out for coffee - or come on over here - we'll sit and chat by my tree.) Just let me tell you this, when we heard the words, "We do not take this lightly. We believe God may be in this.", Scott and I looked at eacher other in wide-eyed wonder, not unlike children on Christmas morning, but of who God is and how He knows us, cares for us, and is truly doing what He always had planned to begin with.
On my lowest days when the enemy tempted me to doubt and worry and second guess, I repeated, sometimes aloud, "I trust You God. I know that You are preparing something for us and preparing us for something. I know this is not impossible for You." The rub was the "when".
Romans 8:28 is a life-giving verse: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good." He is always working. He is rearranging all the "furniture" to fulfill His purpose for those of us who love Him. Even when we are in the dark He never is - the darkness is light to Him because He is the light! (Ps. 139:12)
I write this post to both let you know what God is doing in our lives and also to thank you. It is likely that if you've read to this point you have been one who has prayed for us at some point these last months. Some of you told us and some of you didn't but we know we were sustained by prayer. Some of you went further to give us gifts of provision and of your time in friendship. How do we thank you for that? Scott and I praise God for you.
Please know the power of encouragement and the strength we received that accompanied your gifts. At times we could not have been lower, but you lifted us up in many different ways. We want you to know that God has answered your prayers. That He has shown up and shown up in a mighty way. As the angel said to Mary, "For nothing is impossible with God." Lk 1:37. And to express my heart further, I quote Luke 1:45 "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her (all promises from Scripture) from the Lord." Blessed. Full of wonder and praise. Excited about our new assignment to serve Him.
Put your hope in Him today, this Christmas. You won't be left wanting, I promise. All those verses I typed out are for you too! He'll show up, I have no doubts - just keep looking!
*C is for Christmas by Warren Wiersbe
1 comment:
I am so thrilled for you. So. thrilled. I prayed for more than you could possibly ask or imagine. I am excited God answered that! <3
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