How far we've come

Robyn and I met at Southside Christian School in Greenville, South Carolina the year that my Dad came there to take over as school administrator. This picture was taken around the summer of 1976, near Destin, FL.

Isn't amazing as we look back at the journey that God guides us through in life. How many choices would we have made differently without his leading and direction. Where might we have ended up? What opportunities would we have forfeited.

I have a teacher who reminds me that the average IQ is in the 110 - 130. Einsteins range in the 180's. Oh, and God, what do you think 35,000,000,000,000,000+? Yet how many times do we think we know so much better than God.

When this picture was taken I thought I knew it all. I knew where my life needed to go. What I needed to do. How many times have I tried to convince God that I knew better? Maybe it's time I pause one more time and say, "Thank you God for leading me in your paths, not mine." How about you?

One week from today we fly from Norfolk heading toward Malaysia!

One Week and Counting

It's hard to believe that we are just a week away from leaving for Malaysia. Many thoughts are running through our minds.

The first would be our gratitude to each of you that have helped us make this trip a reality. We have received about 75% of support we need to meet the minimum costs of making the trip. Thank you for your love, help and prayers.

Second, we have received word back from areas churches in Malaysia and the Weekend church speaking schedule is just about full. In addition, we are reviewing teaching notes for the weekday seminars, so that we can be fully prepared in that area as well.

Now it's time to start working on the packing plan.

All you international travelers, give us your tips.

Malaysia, the process

For months we had both experienced restlessness in our spirit. We felt God moving us. We were just unaware of the direction life was to take. In November, when the opportunity was presented to go to Malaysia and serve the pastor’s and lay leaders there, we prayed about it and received His peace in our hearts that this was indeed His plan for us and we committed to the trip.

After the first of the year, we began to experience economic pressures as well as an increased desire to more fully serve God in the lives of others. This led us to the decision to sell our home in Virginia and move to South Carolina. Again, we were at peace with the decision although there were many questions and details for which we had no answers.

We both teach and so were committed to the Virginia area until the end of May. The timing of our move was colliding with our mission’s trip. We began to question the wisdom of our going, the finances involved and a divided focus. We went to talk with our team leader just to see if there was any way to withdraw from the trip and not leave the team shorthanded.

Not long into our meeting, we both began to realize that our doubts were founded in what we felt comfortable with, not in the capabilities of our God. Once again, we felt peace and even excitement about the trip and the opportunity God had laid before us to go serve.

Not much of where we are in life right now makes sense from a human perspective: selling a house in this market, moving to another state, finding a new ministry/job, or travelling to minister in Malaysia. Fortunately, the excitement of living the Christian life comes not in living from our perspective, but from the perspective of our heavenly Father. We are anticipating His provision and direction for each step and are excited to be used in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Malaysia.

Robyn

In Transition

As we approach this summer, we seem to be constantly trying to check things off of an invisible checklist that we seem to always carry around in our heads. Though invisible, the list is so evident that it becomes the grid-work through which we see life.

• Sale house in Virginia.
• Find job/Church in South Carolina, while selling house in Virginia.
  
• Find house in South Carolina, while finding job/church in South Carolina and selling house in Virginia
  
• Get ready for Malaysia Trip while trying to sale house in Virginia and finding a job/church in South Carolina, oh, and a place to live in South Carolina.
• Find place for Jessica to stay while getting ready for trip to Malaysia/Selling house/finding job-church, finding house in SC.

I know that you get the picture, because you have done or presently do the same thing. Sometimes, I begin to see the list as the all consuming goal. Maybe I even see the completion of my list as God's approval on my life or as the sign of God in our life situations.

My Dad often says "God is good, everyday, all the time." The reason that this is so true is that the blessing of God in our lives is first and foremost His presence. God's promise to meet my every need is surer and bigger than my little lists. I am reminded how that my focus needs to be constantly moved from my list and back to God's presence. God's is good - even if my list stays undone. God is great in my life if I never check off one item.

Okay, why the introspection? God gave us what a feel is a miraculous confirmation in our journey. Our house in Virginia just got a contract on it in only a few days on the market. That in itself is amazing in today's market, but when you add to this that we received our asking price, were asked for no closing costs, and were granted the opportunity for Jessica to stay in the house while we are in Malaysia; well, we were (are) ecstatic.

Here' MY temptation. To make this check-mark off my list the reason why God is SO good! Have you ever been there? Judging God's faithfulness based on your man-made criteria rather than his eternal holiness and GODness. How often do I demote God to a Jeanie-in-a-bottle role rather than the God of the universe.

Should we praise God for His blessings and His work in our lives? We would be wrong if we did not. By the way, "THANK YOU GOD FOR SELLING OUR HOUSE!" But even more, "Thank you God, for being GOD." Now back to the list.

• Find a job/Church
• Find a house
• Get ready for Malaysia
• ...
  

Jeff