Sunday, December 30, 2007

God's Faithfulness

OK, OK I know.... It's been forever since I've posted a blog.

But, so much has happened in the last six months, I haven't really been able to process it all, and haven't had much time to think.

As I look back on this last year, one thing sticks out in my mind. God's faithfulness. Jen and I started the year out with a sense of desperation. We were hopeless, churchless, feeling pretty much dead spiritually and really just not enjoying life. We prayed and prayed about God's direction for our life, we talked with close friends, thought things through, and were pretty much grasping at straws... We went from being heavily involved in the planting of a church in Longmont that was not where God wanted us to be, to being churchless, and thinking of starting a church on our own... we were desperate. Our lives were not what God had for us, we knew it, we just didn't know what he did have for us.

Then, one weekend in May, I decided that we needed to get away and pray and think things through. So, I rented a room up in Estes Park, and we spent some time relaxing and talking. It wasn't until we were on our way home that it hit me. I was talking with Jen about God's direction in our life, and she brought up something that I hadn't thought about in almost a year. You see, the year before, we felt very strongly that God had told us to move to Vail, CO. Yeah, I know what you're thinking... God TOLD you to move to VAIL... right. No, He really did. We had no idea why, but He did. So, anyways, we realized that we had never obeyed God's command to us, we (I) got distracted with this church plant we were involved in and forgot all about it.

So, we started to pray about it, and God kept confirming, over and over again that that is what we were supposed to do. Finally, we decided on it. We were moving to Vail. We still had no idea how it was going to work, or when that was going to be. It was amazing how it worked out. We decided to rent our house instead of selling it, and God provided the perfect renters. It was a responsible family of 3, a Grandmother, her Daughter and her Daughter's son. And they wanted to pay 5 months rent up front!

Then God provided a place for us in Vail. We had been praying for a lock-off on someone's house, so we could keep our dog, and not have the apartment feel. We looked and looked, and couldn't find anything, so we were about to settle for an apartment, and then, no apartments would let us have our dog. Doors seemed to be closed. People told us, Oh, you'll never find a 2 bedroom lock-off, they don't make them. Then, God's provision.... on craigslist, we found a 2 bedroom lockoff walk-out basement apartment. The owners would let us keep our dog, the rent was the same as we were paying for our house in denver (which is pretty amazing, considering our apartment is the same size, and it is expensive up here!), and they said we could keep our dog in the yard!

We prayed for Jen to have a part-time job, so she could also work for me part-time and hopefully get a job that would get us free or discounted ski passes. Then, God provided Jen with a part-time job at our new church. Which is something she's wanted to do for years, using her administrative giftings for ministry purposes. And, he gave her a job working 4 hours a week a beaver creek to get us both free ski passes! (actually, mine was $25, in case you don't understand how huge that is... a vail/beaver creek ski pass is $1800.00.)

God met our every prayer, and provided for our every need as we followed Him and His plan for us. It was amazing!

Now we have been up here 4 months, are settled, love our new church (Calvary Chapel Vail Valley), are making friends and serving the Lord. The transition has been a bit of a shock, leaving our friends and family, and having to make new ones, but it has been incredible.

All that to say, God is Faithful!

We just had to follow his plan for us. Not to say that everything should be easy when you follow God, this has not been an easy transition, but it has been a good one. A fulfillment of God's promises and his plan.

God is good!

Love in Christ,
Nate