What’s next?

The truth is…I don’t know. This is how I am feeling right now. Everyone keeps asking us “what’s next?” How are things progressing? When are you moving?
I have more unanswered questions than I know what to do with. Life is hard. Life has been very hard.  The closer we get to going, the more road blocks, more difficulties, the more hard-hitting things seem to happen to all of us. We are facing some very challenging times in our life right now. How will I handle them? By allowing God to lead me through the darkness. “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10) While I am not comparing what I am going through to what Paul experienced, I appreciate his words so much. They encourage me in the murkiness. Boasting about my weaknesses is not my strong suit, yet here I am saying I am overwhelmed and feel like I am drowning in this valley.  I also know that there is a hill just on the other side. This is just a season of our lives; we will look back on and praise God for. In fact, I praise Him now for valley, for the darkness, because I know there is a reason, and I can use this to glorify Him. I have been accused of wearing my heart on my sleeve…I guess that is correctJ.

So, in answer to the questions…things are progressing slowly. We are going to start contacting churches/organizations in the next few weeks or so to set up time to share what we are doing. We will be stepping up our e-mail updates and starting to ask for commitments from people to share this journey with us. We need to figure out if/when we or just Robert can travel to these places and meet with people in person while still working at our full time jobs. Somewhere in all this Robert is leading a 2 week trip to Australia for KACC, our youngest is graduating from High School, we are still trying to figure out college, our 2 older kids are trying to find a place to live, we need to do some repairs on our house, possibly try and find a few days for our whole family to get away together for very little cost, …

When are we moving? Soon I pray. We are hoping for September but are leaving the timing in God’s hands. It is depending on answers about College, support raising, renting our house, etc.

What’s next? I don’t know, but I do know who holds our future, and His plans are perfect. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Liz

I need a vacation!

I just spoke to a man who wants a room for the night. He saw that it's supposed to rain tonight. So he came to me and asked me to pay for a room. As you probably know by now he is a homeless man. I've talked to him before.
He started with the old "I go to this Church" line. That always makes me suspicious...I need a vacation!
Anyway after I told him that we couldn't pay for a room he asked if I knew of anyone who could help. I told him "I'm sorry I don't."...I need a vacation!
I let him know of a church that has had money in the past. He said he knew the place and wanted me to call for him...I need a vacation!
Really? When did it become my job to find this guy a place to stay? Who said I'm supposed to find him a room?...I NEED A VACATION!!
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’  Matthew 25:44,45
Look, I didn't have the money to help him. OK? I didn't. I had just helped a woman get into a room for a week. Wait, I didn't pay for the week. I mean, I helped with one night's worth. She found the rest on her own. You see she was willing to take part in the process. Isn't that the way it's supposed to work? I mean...DANG!!! I need a vacation!
No, Really. I need a vacation!


I'll do better tomorrow,
I promise,
Robert