dying to self

On Monday night, 1/23, we had our interview with Bro. Frank Sauder. It started at Panera but when they closed we headed over to Steak 'n' Shake for the second half. Meeting with Frank was so encouraging to us and we have no doubt that our meeting was completely ordained by God. We talked a lot about dying to self and surrendering to God's will and plan for our lives. Sometimes it seems overwhelming that this is what God has planned for us, at this time in our lives.

Last night I was working on my Bible study that I do with Janelle. One of the themes it emphasizes over and over and over again is God's infallible plan and His ability to carry it out at all costs - in spite of us, in spite of circumstances, and in spite of the fact that it is impossible as far as we are concerned. The lessons I was working on last night were about Joseph and Moses.

God's promises to Abraham have encouraged us throughout our entire journey up until this point. And they encouraged us last night too. God promised Abraham that his seed would bless all the nations of the Earth. He gave this promise, and yet given the circumstances it seemed impossible. It took God many years and a perfectly ordained plan involving a miraculous birth, unlikely leaders, and a famine in order to bring about this promise in His way.

And so we wait too... for God's perfectly ordained plan to become more clear in our lives. Over the past few days some things have happened that have caused us to deeply search for God's will and direction. Sometimes we come up empty. He has taught us, though, to surrender and to wait on Him. He knows what we can handle at any given time. He knows our needs, our thoughts, our fears, and our struggles. He also knows our joys, and best of all, He knows our hearts. I pray that my heart can be ready to be shaped by Him, and that at any given time it would be soft and ready for His work. We pray that we could be dead... and yet completely alive in Him.