Almost 9 months ago, God began to move Mike and I to ask the question, “Will you yield yourself to Me?” Which at times can seem like an easy question to answer yes to but when it comes in regards to our future in Flagstaff it can be very hard to respond yes. But, we know that God's plan is best and so we began to ask God to help us fully yield ourselves to His will. Mike had decided to take a day to seek God on a number of things, and that question was front and center coming out of that time. In the coming weeks we simply wanted to obey and we felt that God brought us to the place where he placed Faith Church in Rio Rancho, NM in front us. Our sense was that He “wanted us to pursue this.” And I might have occassionally asked God are you sure you mean Albuquerque?? :) At that time, we thought that meant submitting a resume and going from there.
However, with lots of prayers and seeking of God's will...drumroll please... Mike has now accepted the job of lead Pastor at Faith Church!!! I could not be more proud of my husband and all the ways that God has been building him up and preparing him for such a time as this. I know that God has great things in store for us and we are confident that this is His will! We will be moving in the end of June.
Are there fears? YES! Are there lots of unknowns? YES! Are we SOOO sad to leave our family, friends and the church we have come to love so deeply, North Point? YES!!!! But here's what we do know...
We are leaving because we firmly believe that Jesus is who He says He is, and that eternity really will be WAY better than anything we could think of or imagine here. We currently live in an amazing house with awesome neighbors, in a beautiful mountain town, near family, in a great neighborhood and on and on I could go. But we recognize that this is both temporary and fading, which makes a move to a new place not as big of deal. We're not in it for the next 40 or 50 years and all that we can accumulate, We're in it for the Savior and the eternity we're going to spend with Him!
I have been so blessed over the last 6 1/2 years to watch Mike and my dad work hand in hand! I'm so grateful for the love and respect they share for one another and the joy it has been to get labor for the Lord with my parents. Yep, currently trying not to tear up about this one!
To our friends and family in Flagstaff we love you and can’t even begin to express how thankful, grateful, and appreciative we are to you all. This decision has been a very hard one to make! Many tears and heartaches have come along with this decision, as we have had to process what leaving Flagstaff will mean. You can ask anyone at our church business meeting, where we announced our leaving, about the tears...I'm pretty sure I was sobbing!! :)
The life verse God gave Mike and I before we were married and that we had put on our wedding rings in Acts 20:24, "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God," It's to this end that we strive and we pray that our lives may bring great glory to God!
For any who want to pray for us, we could use prayers for our house here selling (hoping to get it on the market this weekend!) and my sanity as I try to keep the house clean with four kids! :) Also, for a house in Rio Rancho, the kids as they prepare to leave, our marriage as we head out on this adventure and Mike as he prepares to take on the roll as lead pastor. Thanks SO much!
