waiting on God

For God alone, 

O my soul, wait in silence,


for my hope is from him.


psalm 62:5 (ESV)

As many of you know, Cody and I moved to Sweet Home Alabama just over 2 years ago to become a part of a local church body in order to be better equipped for mission work (most likely overseas). 

In our minds, by this time, we would be much closer to that end than we seemingly are. This can be frustrating... and is at times. 

As with anything (i.e. a new job, a new relationship, a marriage...) our expectations and presumptions are often misleading and delusive; as we persevere on with our new endeavor, we begin to see that there are ebbs and flows in the maintenance of our progress of moving towards the goal.

What I have observed in my own life with these areas of discontentment (let's just call it what it is), is that the persistent pursuing and seeking of God through his word gives hope and allows for immense growth... while I wait. 

Currently, Cody and I are in an apartment that we love as it is about 60% Indian and 2 of our dearest friends live just a short walk away. And just across the hall, God has given us the opportunity to pour into a family from Andhra Pradesh. The Matron of the family often comes over and shares a few laughs with Cody and I - literally, just laughs, as she doesn't know English and we don't know Kannada - but it is such a blessing! Our first meeting consisted of her reaching out and holding onto my cross necklace as she reached for her necklace to show me the cross (crucifix really) in the mix of all the other "gods" she had been proudly wearing. By this, I knew, she was a practicing Hindu. It's almost everyday that we have some sort of interaction and I am waiting on the day that I can share the gospel with her - but as of now, all I can do is show love. God IS love. 

We have grown to love the community at the apartments - and this is only an act of God! 

At the end of November, we are looking at a BIG change. There are 2 options on the horizon and Cody and I are prayerfully seeking God's guidance in the revealing of his will in it. 

Option 1 is for Cody and I to serve as the "house hosts" for a community house that currently houses 3 men. Once we move in, Lord willing, we would be able to take in women as well. The house's main purpose is to serve missionaries with meals/rest while they are in the States on furlough as well as living in community with the other long-term house mates. 

Option 2 is for Cody and I to move about 2 hours north onto 20 acres with a goat farm for our community's not-for-profit. It would require an obvious change in our current occupations including the sustainable and successful running of a goat farm to produce income for us and the not-for-profit. 

Knowing that 1 of the 2 possible options listed here WILL become a reality in the near future, (Lord willing) makes me excited, yet nervous as the time draws nearer and the lens isn't any clearer. This is when I have to lean on God's timing. 

So lean I must.