Since Laura and I came back from our visit to Ireland,
I was almost sure that it was where we needed to be, but lingering questions
attacked me like invisible bullets “Will we EVER raise all that money?” “What
is the partnership doesn’t work out and we can’t go?” “Will God make this
possible?” “Will He ever show us if this is what He wants us to do?”
On the last Tuesday in March I met with Scott Borg (we rent
from them) to help me process the options and help determine which direction
Laura and I needed to take at this stage of our life. the Proverb “With many
advisors a king does well, but with non he falls” is so true. I thank God for
the people He has but Laura and I around. Back to the story.
So Scott and I were outside shoot’n hoops and talking
through all that I could remember from the time in Ireland
and bring from my heart any doubts and desires. The sun was going down and a
pause in the conversation was getting longer. Scott broke it “Lets pray”. We
both sat on the cement, still warm from the southern sun that struggled to come
out that day. He prayed for me, I voiced my doubts to God and then we fell
silent. I felt the Lord say, “I will lead you”. I thought, “ok, where are you
leading me?” I didn’t hear anything but saw a picture of Laura and I close to
each other, standing in the kitchen of the place we stayed in Ireland,
and her holding a baby.
I looked up; the sky was now a deep blue and stars where
poking through. Scott looked up at me and said with a big smile, “I usually
don’t see pictures when I pray but I did now. I saw you and Laura close to each
other and smiling really big smiles”.
At this I could only smile, in my heart I felt as if the
Lord finally gave His thumbs up to Laura’s and mine desire to be in Ireland!
“DID you really?” I exclaimed. “Well guess what I saw?” We both laughed in joy
as I told him I saw a very similar picture “Sweet!” Was the reply from Scott.
“Sweet indeed” was my thought. As we walked back to the
house I praised God for giving my a sounding board in Scott and for showing us
the same picture that means so much to me.
The other half of the story, this will be quick.
From the first to the 13th Laura and I are
working with the World Racers who will leave everything they know and own in
July. Last night we were with them in Unicoi state park around a big fire pit.
40 some people listening to a man talk about burning bridges.
You can’t go to a new place if the old is still connected.
Saturday night I received a phone call from Wal-mart asking
me if I wanted a job still (I applied there back in November). I explained that
my wife and I were only going to be around until June, be gone for a month then
be preparing to move overseas. She thanked me for the explanation and said she
wanted a long term employee then hung up.
This morning I received another call from a job that I
wanted more than a few months ago. I told him the same thing., he replied “oh
great! Good luck to you then!”.
Luk 12:22-31
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your
life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.
For life is more than food, and the
body more than clothing. …
…And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of
life?
If then you are not able to do as small
a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?
Consider the lilies,
how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all
his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass, which
is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much
more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to
drink, nor be worried.
For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and
your Father knows that you need them.
Instead, seek his
kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
Its funny how I could get a job to save my live here in Gainesville
since last August. The frustration and financial tightness that Laura and I had
to go through has shown me not depending on what I could give myself (and
Laura) but to depend on Him for every need I have. There is freedom in
continually saying “Lord we seek your kingdom before our comfort, our security,
our happiness.”
