On Sunday, October 28th at about 12:15, we found our seats. Not at church. Not at a meeting. No.
We were at Soldier Field watching the Chicago Bears take on the Carolina Panthers. And we were only 16 rows up. Wow. This wasn't something we had ever planned on doing. We would never dream of spending over $500 for a ticket to a sporting event. But that's exactly what we received, for free.
What a blessing!
And I think that this, in a lot of ways, sums up what we've been going through over the past year. As we continue to follow the Lord, He continues to bless us in ways that knock us off our feet.
Like this...
We were at the Fall Retreat for our youth group a few weekends ago. We were having a campfire one night, and the youth pastor asked me to pray, to close out the evening. Before I prayed, I asked the students to look up at the stars. It was a clear night and we were able to see many more stars than we can in Wheaton. And just then, a star shot across the sky. In that short moment that all of us were looking up, we all got to see a shooting star.
What are the chances of that happening in that exact, very short moment? It was like God was showing off a little bit. Giving us a small glimpse of His glory.
What a blessing!
But there's more...
Rent is going up by $100 in November and again in April by the same. What did we receive? A current partner who wanted to raise their support and a new partner who wanted to begin supporting us. Together, they'd account for not just this month's rent going up, but also for the raise that will happen again in April. Something we had not even begun to pray about yet.
What a blessing!
Remember what Paul says to the church in Philippi, as they helped support him?
Every need. Wow. We have seen that to be true, time and time again.
But God goes further than just giving us what we need. Oh how worthy of praise He would be, if that's all He did! He goes beyond our needs and more often than not, gives us the desires of our hearts. I'm speaking from experience here.
I wish I could say that I am constantly delighting in Him above all things. But sometimes I forget just how delightful He is. I'd rather watch something on Netflix than spend time in His Word. I'd rather just read His Word rather than study it and memorize it. Jesus had words for His disciples when they felt tired and lazy:
So here I am, this weak fleshed, willing spirit, who wants to delight himself in the Lord above all things. And I'm busy. Working full time at LeaderTreks. Part time at College Church. Wife. Daughter. Baby on the way. Trying to figure out what we'll be doing in 9 months, but not having a clue. Just waiting. Trusting.
We are so excited to find out what that next step is going to be. But for now, we're just waiting. Would you join us in thanking God for His constant and amazing provision, and in asking Him to make the plans of His heart known to us?
By the way, the Bears game was amazing. It came down to the final seconds. Bears barely won. Just another small gift - a mini joy - the Lord threw in there.
And for those of you who might need a refreshed sense of joy in the Lord, who might need to be impressed by Him in a new way, I'd encourage you to take 2 minutes (120 seconds) and listen to this mini-sermon.
I hope it encourages you!
We were at Soldier Field watching the Chicago Bears take on the Carolina Panthers. And we were only 16 rows up. Wow. This wasn't something we had ever planned on doing. We would never dream of spending over $500 for a ticket to a sporting event. But that's exactly what we received, for free.
What a blessing!
And I think that this, in a lot of ways, sums up what we've been going through over the past year. As we continue to follow the Lord, He continues to bless us in ways that knock us off our feet.
Like this...
We were at the Fall Retreat for our youth group a few weekends ago. We were having a campfire one night, and the youth pastor asked me to pray, to close out the evening. Before I prayed, I asked the students to look up at the stars. It was a clear night and we were able to see many more stars than we can in Wheaton. And just then, a star shot across the sky. In that short moment that all of us were looking up, we all got to see a shooting star.
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."
-Psalm 19:1
What are the chances of that happening in that exact, very short moment? It was like God was showing off a little bit. Giving us a small glimpse of His glory.
What a blessing!
But there's more...
Rent is going up by $100 in November and again in April by the same. What did we receive? A current partner who wanted to raise their support and a new partner who wanted to begin supporting us. Together, they'd account for not just this month's rent going up, but also for the raise that will happen again in April. Something we had not even begun to pray about yet.
What a blessing!
Remember what Paul says to the church in Philippi, as they helped support him?
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 4: 19
Every need. Wow. We have seen that to be true, time and time again.
But God goes further than just giving us what we need. Oh how worthy of praise He would be, if that's all He did! He goes beyond our needs and more often than not, gives us the desires of our hearts. I'm speaking from experience here.
"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."
-Psalm 37:4
I wish I could say that I am constantly delighting in Him above all things. But sometimes I forget just how delightful He is. I'd rather watch something on Netflix than spend time in His Word. I'd rather just read His Word rather than study it and memorize it. Jesus had words for His disciples when they felt tired and lazy:
"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
-Matthew 26:41
So here I am, this weak fleshed, willing spirit, who wants to delight himself in the Lord above all things. And I'm busy. Working full time at LeaderTreks. Part time at College Church. Wife. Daughter. Baby on the way. Trying to figure out what we'll be doing in 9 months, but not having a clue. Just waiting. Trusting.
"The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations."
-Psalm 33:11
We are so excited to find out what that next step is going to be. But for now, we're just waiting. Would you join us in thanking God for His constant and amazing provision, and in asking Him to make the plans of His heart known to us?
By the way, the Bears game was amazing. It came down to the final seconds. Bears barely won. Just another small gift - a mini joy - the Lord threw in there.
And for those of you who might need a refreshed sense of joy in the Lord, who might need to be impressed by Him in a new way, I'd encourage you to take 2 minutes (120 seconds) and listen to this mini-sermon.
I hope it encourages you!
