"...What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.
I know you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and
have not denied my name." Revelation 3:7
Grateful.
Disappointed.
Happy.
Relieved.
Embarrassed.
Sad.
Wrap it all up, and more. That's where we are right now.
Add a dash of bummed. And a heap of Trust in the Lord--add that, too.
After a few months of praying and waiting and waiting and praying, we finally have an answer.
It looks like we will take another trip to Houston and then come home. Period. No Manila.
We don't really know what after that.
Well, that's not really true...
We will follow Jesus to Houston and we will follow Him to Plant City.
We will serve Jesus in Houston and we will serve Him in Plant City.
We will love the people of Houston and we will love the people of Plant City.
Our emotional responses have been all over the place in the last 24 hours.
We are grateful because God is sovereign. We are disappointed because we thought we wanted what God wanted. We are happy to be coming home because it's home! We are relieved because now we know. We are embarrassed because I should have kept my mouth shut. We are sad because of what could have been. We are bummed because it's just a bummer! Mostly, though, we trust in the Lord.
Mark Batterson, pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C., said,
"You can't pray for open doors if you aren't willing to accept closed doors."
Welp, that's where we are.
We are trusting the Lord. We have no understanding to lean on! :) Yes, we are acknowledging Him and He has the right to change the path at any time. It's His path!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and he will direct your path.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Just remember that God often takes things from us so that our hands are empty to accept the new gifts He is going to give us! You guys will be exactly where you are meant to be, every moment of every day, exactly when He wants you to be there. My $.02 are this may have been the 'preparation exercise' to get you in the moving mood and make sure that you were ready to untether yourselves and trust Him completely for the roller coaster ride He's about to have you embark on! SOOOO, buckle up, throw your hands in the air, and riiiiiiiiiiiide!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Heather. I appreciate it. We know that God is sovereign, and we are grateful for whatever it is that we are being prepared for or protected from. Still, it is disappointing.
DeleteI'm so sorry, Melissa.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Today is a new day! :)
Deletewow. I can only imagine the roller coaster of emotions :( God is in control though and has the most perfect plan. The amazing thing is that He knows you are ready to move and ready for whatever is ahead, it just makes me excited/anxious to see what that's going to be!
ReplyDeleteYes! I'm a little scared, now! Haha!
DeleteMy faithful friends, like the old hymn says, "I have decided to follow Jesus". That is all, thats it. We need you! Your Millennials, Your Family, Your Church Family, Your Homeschool Family, Etc... He's not done. He is using you everyday!! Love ya'll soooo much! Will continue to pray for God's will to be done!
ReplyDeleteLove you! Thank you!
Delete