It was once said that home is where the heart can laugh without shyness and where the heart's tears can dry at their own pace. I hope this space will be a place you find yourself at home. I hope you will find safety, comfort and joy on these pages. You are seen and you are loved dear friend. Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

In His Hands

Dear Family,



"...Even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me..." Psalm 139:10 This scripture has been my rock lately as I've taken steps of faith into the unknown... so thankful that when I am unsure, He is holding me, when I can't "hear" Him, He is leading me.



Several months ago my heart was burdened to have a home that I could open up to someone in need, whether that's a brother or sister going through a difficult season, someone from the streets or a child in foster care. I began to pray and the Lord showed me I needed to prepare my house first (provberbs 24:27). After several months of praying and saving, God has opened the doors and provided a friend to join me in this adventure of faith. My friend Sarah and I will be moving into a 3 bdrm apartment in December ... that's soon! :) We are blessed by how God has provided this place and we are eagerly anticipating what He will do as we step out in faith. I am asking you to pray with us for: God's continued provision
God to knit our hearts (mine and Sarah's) together in unity
The person(s) to fill the 3rd room
Our hearts to be prepared for who God will bring
My current roommates: a new rommate for them that will love them and bless them and that God will keep our relationship strong even as I leave ( I am VERY sad to leave them)

Thank you for being a part of my life and for your prayers, please let me know how I can be praying for you.

In His Grip,Jen



*Well... just two days after writing the above God has already been giving new direction for prayer... our community! I have been so focused on who God would bring in and haven't been focusing on how God would use us outwardly in our new community. Today He began to show me the need and opportunities in our apartment complex and we began to pray! I admit at first I was nervous... maybe I didn't want a whole community to minister to...but the more I pray upon it the more I continue to recognize His hand and preparation. I believe He will do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20,21) as we step out in faith. Thank you for your prayers!


8 months later..."His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are higher than ours..."
I have to be honest as excited as I was for this opportunity to have a home I could open up to those in need....I felt very unsettled in my spirit as we moved forward with getting our apartment. I really wasn't sure that I was doing the right thing, but doors kept opening and we moved forward...I cannot tell you whether or not I made the right decision but what I can tell you is that God in His abundant grace and mercy has blessed me still and taught me more of His character through the process.

Shortly after moving in it became clear that my roommate and I did not have the same vision for our third bedroom, yes we both wanted to use it to help others but our ideas of who and how, were vastly different. At first I struggled with this but then I felt God was asking me to submit to Him and put Sarah first. I could not have done this apart from God's grace, but I believe I did the right thing in honoring Sarah above myself (albeit not perfectly) and choosing to trust the Lord with a situation that made no sense to me.

It has been 8 mos and Sarah and I never came to a common ground on who should move into the third bedroom but we did learn a lot about loving and serving one another.

And yet, God has blessed us even more....we continued to pray for His will for us these 8 months and an opportunity came up that would not only use the 3rd bedroom well but would bless all of us involved. A young family, husband and wife and their 2 year old daughter will be moving in with me at the end of this month and Sarah will move in with her sister (where she spends of her time and who needs to rent out a room). This will bless all of us financially and is a sweet way for God to move us on and yet fulfill a desire at the same time. He always blows my mind, His timing is perfect, His ways are perfect, He is creative and always does more than I can ask or imagine.

This new family will stay with me at least until the end of November and then we will all pray about what direction we should go in...you never know what God will do next so I am blessed to take things one step at a time.

I am thankful for what God has taught me about laying down my own desires and trusting Him to fulfill His purposes. So, now will you please pray for this new family and for our home? May He be glorified.

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