Amazed & in Doubt.

Hello Friends,

   We hope you are doing well. We have been thinking of you quite a lot lately. God has been tugging at our hearts and asking us what we believe is his will for our ministry and what do we think is His direction for our daily lives. This has been such a tough thing for some of us as our identity has sometimes been found in the things we give value rather than the things that actually offer relief or comfort. It is very easy to continue along without interruption as long as we do not stop to consider what is best for others. I think anyone of us can relate to this and it's certainly not meant to be a punch in the stomach but rather a wake up call from dreaming. Dreaming is nice and can often be inspiring, but it seems it can leave out the hard details of reality. Much like the scenes we find in movies which are spliced together with some great mood music and snippets of "hard" work only to focus on the end result. This brings me to my point...I think. When I read the Bible, I read it with the end result of that chapter or verse in mind. I sometimes act as if Paul, or Peter or even Moses knew from the start the result. I totally remove the possibility of the faith aspect. In conversation I may elude to the "faith they must have had" but really just think God/Jesus had different dealings with them and that He no longer does these things. Lately, I have possibly been able to tap in a little to the reality of serving God. Here is the equation I have recently come up with:

X = God will provide

 That's it. Profound huh? The problem is that my (X) has always been only related to how it turns out in scripture with those men and women of God. I have not extended their end result to my equation. I have somehow acted as if there are new, more complex equations that somehow yield a different (X). It turns out I can look at my life with the end result in mind. X = God will provide. It sounds quite cliche and a bit anticlimactic I'm sure. But what have we been shown otherwise. Has it been working for us as we try to make it something more profound? Have we seen the results we so desire by doing this way or that way? I have to ask myself that and realize the answer. Also, I must be careful not to project my failures in faith that God will provide on anyone else who He may very well be providing for. If I am focused on MY relationship with God and My faith in His promises, and My seeking of His calling it will certainly turn outwards to His people. Not getting caught up in all others situations and how I can use them for my benefit is tricky, but I believe it must be done in order for us to be prepared.

  This could go on for a bit, and I hope to continue as I learn what it means to set aside my will and what I think is best for God's will and what He knows is best. God is good. Taste and see for yourself. He is better than life itself.

Acts 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Here are some artists & links to music that are a true blessing and we'd like to pass along to you.

The Dirt and the Flood - The Garden/iTunes

Curt Vernon - http://www.thoroughbredchurch.com/tcc/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=43

Alexander - It's not always signs, It's not always wonders/iTunes

Kye Kye - Young Love/iTunes

My Epic - Broken Voices and Yet/iTunes

Cool Hand Luke - Of Man/iTunes

In Christ,

Standing Small