As Kara and I were walking through the past couple months, it felt sometimes like we were being led blindfolded through thick shrubbery (Monty Python). I found myself at times waking up to the reality of my situation and exclaiming, "So this is what it's like to truly trust God." All at once the scariest thing and most thrilling experience.
I wanted to share with you some lyrics to a hymn entitled "Whate'er my God ordains is right". My father shared it with us one night when he was retelling of a time in his own life that was much like ours.
I don't know what you're dealing with, sweating over, crying over, wrestling with, etc. My prayer is that these words will have the same impact on your heart and faith that they did on mine. Enjoy.
1. Whate'er my God ordains is right,
Holy His will abideth
I will be still whate'er He does,
And follow where He guideth
He is my God, Though dark my road
He holds me that I shall not fall
Wherefore to Him I leave it all
2. Whate'er my God ordains is right,
He never will deceive me
He leads me by the proper path,
I know He will not leave me
I take, content, what He hath sent
His hand can turn my griefs away
And patiently I wait His day
3. Whate'er my God ordains is right,
Though now this cup in drinking
May bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it all unshrinking
My God is true, each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart
And pain and sorrow shall depart
4. Whate'er my God ordains is right,
Here shall my stand be taken
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine ,
Yet I am not forsaken
My Father's care is round me there
He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all
Bath time with daddy. Next one would be in Salem, Oregon.
Our last Sunday at RCF. A bittersweet moment as they prayed for us, and at the same time prayed for the next youth pastor, Nick Welch, who had just been hired to take over the youth ministry.
The truck was packed and loaded Friday morning. We asked my father to oversee the operation and he got everything in the truck - with some extra room to spare! We couldn't have done it without family, friends, and some hungry teenagers.
With the truck packed, we set out early Saturday morning with the Brown caravan. Though Joey and I almost died because traffic suddenly reached a hault and we only had 50-60 ft. to maneuver to the shoulder, we had a safe trip. Don't worry Budget-employee-bloggers, this pic was staged.
Our last meal with the fam before they headed home. We couldn't have done this trip without them. As we uploaded these pictures, Kara and I are sprawled out on our couch in our new home in Salem, Oregon. We are excited about the next steps and know that we are in the caring hands of a good God.
