God's Timing is Perfect

"The highest lesson a believer has to learn is humility.” - Andrew Murray, Humility

A cross-stitch I am working on of Heidelberg.

UPDATES It has felt like every time I have sat down to write a blog, I have been dragged away from it. I had the privilege of going to Nebraska to visit family for the holidays and even got to visit some more in Indiana on the way home. It might be the last time I see some of them state side before I head to the field. I rang in New Year’s Eve surrounded by friends as we shared our hopes for what is to come in 2024 (I’ll bet you can guess what my hope is). And then celebrated New Year’s day by shooting clay pigeons. It has become an unintentional annual tradition that is a lot of fun. I always end the day with a big ole bruise on my shoulder and a story to tell. As the Christmas season ends and the New Year begins, I am over halfway to being fully funded! Praise God! I love that He does not despise small beginnings. (Zec. 4:10) We have come a long way from a year ago and I know the LORD will carry it to completion. WHAT’S ON MY HEART Many times in life I've felt like I was "behind". I was always running to try and catch up.

 Proverbs 16:9 "Man makes his plans but the Lord directs his steps."

When I was attending a church in Detroit, I learned that slowness is a spiritual discipline. One that not many believers practice. In a world of information, technology, and the break neck pace we work in order to stay competitive, it's no wonder this discipline is lost in our world. But fast isn't always better.

Can you imagine if shepherd boy David became King as soon as he was anointed by Samuel? It probably would've destroyed him. From the first time he was anointed by Samuel to be King to David actually taking the throne, it was fifteen years.

Psalm 23 (ESV) "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Similarly, I feel like the Lord has been taking me through a process this year (and the past few years). He’s not only preparing me for the field, but a lifelong pursuit of Him. I think it’s easy for me to get caught up in “doing” things for God rather than “being” or abiding with Him. My only goal for 2024 is to spend more time with God in the Word and in prayer. If you have ever seen a horse race, before the horses can take off running they have to get into the starting gate. Tensions are high because they know what is to come. Sometimes they have a hard time getting into the enclosed gate because they are so excited. They know once the sound alarms and the gate is open, they get to tear off down the track! The past year there has been a lot of preparation, prayer, and hard work done to get ready for Germany. I feel like the horse at the starting gate staring down the track ready for the next adventure with the Lord. This is what I’ve been training for. I have to remind myself that God’s timing is perfect. His ways are higher than my ways. And His thoughts are higher than my thoughts.

Isaiah 50:7 (NLT) "Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame."

HOW YOU CAN HELP At this moment, I am sitting at 62% of the monthly commitments required before leaving for the field. Praise God! If you want to help get me to 100%, visit here where you can offer you tax-deductible donation. Account # 298383 PRAYER REQUESTS

• Currently my whole family and I are wrestling with a cold. Please pray for a full recovery of health.

• Pray that my monthly supporters would grow so I can get to the field and that others would get to share in the joy of building God’s kingdom.
  

Maranatha.