Some times you have to Let Go

Life is one crazy adventure. About a year ago Jon and I got wind of a church plant in Jacksonville FL. Ever since then we have been praying hard about that decision and visited to see if we fit and if it was where God was calling us, praying about being able to be supported if we went there, and for God to just make clear where He is calling us.

Well everything looked and felt like it was very positive, but there was one big negative that kept us very hesitant. Money. The church plant didn't have any to support us and they weren't sure if the District would have any money to support us. So a waiting game began. We continued praying about it, but our prayers slowly changed to a prayer that sounded like this, "God, I pray that you would give us direction as to where you are leading us in our next adventure." FL some how started to slip out of the prayer and I never even realized it. It is a good thing too! I didn't want to be praying for FL and trying to force that decision and make that happen. I really want to go next to the place that God is calling us to go. To say the least, this waiting game has been stressful and very long and I have just been ready to know one way or the other.

February came. The month that the budget proposal was presented to the board. Tuesday, 2/22/11, was the day that it was presented. We waited patiently, trusting that we would finally get some answers and we would be able to decide what to do next. The next day we get a call and email about what happened at the proposal meeting. The Board didn't approve it. They haven't been approving any budget revisals. I can't say that we were really shocked there. A little disappointed, but not really shocked.

Jon and I talked about it and I got his view on the whole situation and I shared how I felt, and we came to the conclusion that God didn't have FL as our next adventure and that we needed to let FL go. So we let this whole situation go. We knew we needed to start pursuing our options and continue to seek God's direction.

Thursday, 2/24/11, Jon met with the Mid-America District Superintendant (that is Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado and maybe a couple other states) to see if there were any pastoral positions available in this district. I really didn't know what to expect from this meeting, but thought it was a great next step in pursuing our options.

The DS told Jon that he just got a call the day before (2/23/11, the day we let go of FL) that there is going to be a position open in a church in Grand Junction, CO. They talked about the position and how Jon would be a really good fit and that he wants to pass Jon's resume on to this church. It was a very exciting meeting.

Jon and I don't know where this will lead or if it is just another learning opportunity, but we are super excited to see where it will go. This would be awesome because we would only be 5 hours away from my family now, instead of 9! We would be able to see them a little more. We feel that it is just a God thing. So keep us in your prayers as we continue to seek God for our future!

Tropical Paradise Anyone?

So the time has come... It is almost here... tomorrow in fact. We will head to Florida to check out this church plant in Jacksonville. If we feel like that is where God is calling us, then we will move there.... in like 2 months!!! Crazy i know! You would think that I would be used to so much change and drastic life change with being a PK, but it never gets easy to uproot yourself and move to a new place. I am freaking out!

We have been praying about this for some time now. I feel like it has been about a year... and it probably has, but more specifically about this adventure it's probably been about 9 months. I am very ready to finally know whether we are staying or going. I get all nervous because I know that after this weekend, we will most likely know whether or not we will be moving to FL.

Wondering about our praying process? well this has been it for the most part. I started out praying in January for God to prepare my heart for where he would be calling us to move to this next year, and that he would move us closer to family. I struggle with homesickness and not being able to see my family very often. So from January to about March/April, that is what I prayed every morning. Then in the early spring time we got a tip about this church plant in FL from my father-in-law. So Jon contacted this guy that was the Church planting director of the district down there. Everything seemed kind of exciting at the time, especially after the winter we had. I was ready to move that day to a tropical climate. So for about two months or so we were in contact with Alfredo and getting some information. Our prayers then changed to, "God show us whether or not you are calling us to FL. Make it clear and give us good discernment about the situation." Along with still praying to be closer to family. Well as it turns out my brother-in-law and sister-in-law live in Jacksonville. It was feeling like God was totally leading us to Jacksonville.

Then it is summer. We don't hear back from them pretty much through the whole summer. We shut down to thinking about FL and start praying that God would just continue to show us where he is leading us. Our next option was to Move in with my parents in CO after this internship, and I am super excited! I would get to be with my family and watch my nephews grow up! The best fix... and to also live rent free for a while to pay off loans... what could be better? Just as Jon and I were agreeing to move out there, and me getting all excited and feeling that it is the best situation for us, God has Brian, the church planter of the church call Jon and say we want you to fly down and check out the church because we are still very interested in you as being the pastor of the church! FREAKING OUT NOW!!!

I had totally moved on from FL and was set on CO. I don't like being told my plans aren't going to work out. I love having control! (which really isn't a good thing, but that's a different story.) So our prays turned back to FL and for God's guidance and for it to be very clear whether or not we are supposed to go there. This time though, neither one of us are very excited at first. We know our financial situation and we know that we have to be very wise about this situation, and to be honest, CO is our safe option and FL was/is freaking scary!!

So for about 4 months straight we have been praying about FL and asking those who are close to us to pray for us as well. It's such a huge decision! We are both more excited now, i mean, we would be close to family and to our new beautiful little Niece! But I'm still nervous. Now, though, I can safely say it is an excited nervousness, with a little bit of fear.

But even with that fear, and something that I like to forget, but always know is true, God Loves me and knows me better than I know myself. He knows how much I can handle and when it all would be too much. He knows our money situations and knows our needs there, and he knows that I am scared. And for all that, I know that my God is big, and that he is my daddy, and that know matter how scared, how lonely, how depressed i may feel, He is always there for me ready to hold me and to guide me on this adventure he has me on.

So pray for us!!! We are leaving tomorrow to check out a place that could take us on the biggest adventure yet. I am very excited to finally know whether it be yes or it be no, but to finally know one way or the other where we will be heading.