looking ahead

we have approximately 14 hours left of 2008.  it is hard to believe.  so much has happened in one year.  wonderful new life added to our family and yet another precious one taken.

new developments in our now 3 year olds-that never cease to amaze me.   i look forward to a new year.  2009 has great promise.  God has taught me painfully so much but i still anticipate more growth.

i was talking to my sister-in-law the other day in regards to the pain of growth.  we wouldn’t ever want to go through the pain that we have in this past year but know that we are right where God wants us to be.  the pain is a little duller now, but the lessons learned i hope go deeper.

it is exciting to think of the things we will encounter in 2009!!  one of the most anticipated things is the new youth building.  as most lessons, this one hasn’t turned out the way WE had visioned.  jason and i have “never been this way before” so everything was new to us.  from how to communicate what we had envisioned in our heads, to deadlines and staying in budget.  the hardest lesson is time lines.  learning that not many things are going to be finished the way you want when you want.  everything takes longer.  i was getting disheartened about this thinking NOTHING was going to be done, we were going to have to push back our opening…reschedule the band…it wasn’t what OUR plan was.  the students will be disappointed and will we have chairs for the cafe???

all these thoughts were abounding.  we had a meeting and came up with some solutions, and in meeting together God gave us all such a peace.  i began to realize that, even though i have heard this and said this a million times, it isn’t about our time line.  God is in control and HE determines when it is finished.  then a dear friend emailed me a little something that i believe God gave her to send me:

” i was reminded of nehemiah as he was commissioned by God to rebuild the wall. there was opposition before he even began & continuing all the way through, “those who were rebuilding the wall & those who carried burdens took their load w/one hand doing the work & the other holding a weapon. as for the builders, each wore his sword girded @his side as he built…” (neh 4.17&18) but the Lord was faithful & the wall was completed as He had already determined, “so the wall was completed…they recognized that this work had been accomplished w/the help of our God — literally, from our God (neh 6.15&16). when people came to distract nehemiah he declared, “i am doing a great work & i cannot come down.” (neh 6.3). BUILD THE WALL!

we have been commissioned by God to build this youth building.  to make a difference in the youth of today, but my friend also reminded me…this isn’t just a building for tomorrow or for 2009, it is a building that will make an impact for so many years to come.

we must work with one hand and be armored in the other.  because satan is a strong opposition and sees great opportunity in weakness to attack those who are doing the work of God.  he sends distractions to try to pull us off our task and on to more selfish things.

one of my many resolutions for this year is to trust more, which is always a struggle for us of human nature.  but God has great plans, and i will not come down from what he has me to do.  i anticipate hearing testimonies in eternity of how God has done great things in many lives through this facility.  so bring it on 2009!  i’m ready for growth!!!