Pencil Plans

Our application with MAF has been put on pause for now because the only thing they are waiting for is my medical clearance. We will wait until the baby has been born and I've had my six week discharge appointment with the midwife before I undergo all of the medical tests. Once these tests have been completed, our application will be officially finished. A feat the Lord has allowed us to finish in 9 or 10 months.

I call this post "Pencil Plans" because we have made certain plans and keep in the backs of our minds that all can change or at least slightly change as the Lord leads. One must find balance between making plans for the future and at the same time completely surrending them to God. I'm reminded of the verses in Psalms and Proverbs:

"Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."

Psalm 37:5-6

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

Proverbs 16:3

As the Lord is seemingly leading us toward ministry with MAF, Rob and I have appreciated some words from a close friend. This is not super profound or amazingly deep insight, but practical and no-nonsense! In talking about finding out God's will for our lives and how can we know what path He's leading us down our friend simply said, (and I paraphrase), all you can do is start down a path that you feel He's leading you toward. He'll close the door if He needs to.

There is so much freedom when keeping this in mind. As we are in the Word, praying, and talking with our close friends and family things are confirmed to us. We can make plans, and know that God is ultimately orchestrating every detail. He is ultimately in charge of where we end up. We just have to be obedient! (just) :)

So our "pencil" plans for the next few months are something like this:

October 30: Rob's last day at his current place of employment - Paternity benefits to start when baby arrives.

November: Finish Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course

November - May: Work like crazy to finish the majority (or all) of the projects around our house to make it saleable.

January: Meet MAF representatives at Missions Fest 2010

April: (Pending acceptance with MAF) Candidacy Training with MAF

If you feel led, please pray that we continually commit these plans to the Lord, and that He would clearly lead us and give us the strength to be obedient to the mission He has called us to, whether it continue to be here, or someplace else.