Thank you for checking out this, our second update. This Prayer Focus has already provided our family with the opportunity to grow and hear from God. It has been encouraging to hear from so many of you, that you are praying for us and with us.
Courage has been a key part of what God has been dealing with in our lives, so encouragement is important. From realizing the need to repent from bad attitudes that hinder our connection as a family, to God lovingly pointing at insecurities that He wants to deal with, it seems like every step for our family in the prayer focus has included choices that have required courage. It is a good reminder that more than any of the specific steps in our transition / journey, our Heavenly Father is most committed to forming more of Jesus in us.
In this week's update, we are sharing a few of the words that people have shared with us from their prayer time. We would like to ask you to read over these words during your prayer time for us this week. It feels both exciting and very vulnerable to share these words and invite others to prayerfully share their perspectives.
Also, Abigail has shared a wonderful testimony below. Please take 2 minutes to read what God did in her life this week. I have included a resource that I thought would be relevant. It is a video of a word that I shared at Georgian Banov's Ministry School earlier in the year. At the core of the word is this truth, that even when the world seems like it is in chaos, God has a plan! And He has called His family to be a part of it. We are so glad to be family with you.
Thanks again! - Brad & Adriane
PS - We have set aside time every night to pray the people who are praying for us. Please text us any prayer request that we can be praying about for you and your family. (423-933-5981)
1. See TRANSITION Clearly
2. Grow Our FAMILY CONNECTION
3. GRACE and MOMENTUM for AOX (Our Church)
4. Getting HEALTHY as a Family
5. Understanding the FINANCIAL Piece of the Transition
Here are a few of the words that have been sent in over the past two weeks. I have not included the names of those who sent them in, but if we invited you to be a part of tis prayer focus, it is because we trust you and your ability to hear from the Lord. Please read these over and ask God if He has anything to say.
Keep hearing the word strategy as I pray today. Also courage. Feeling like he’s given you a word that requires strategy and courage. The strategy is his and take courage in knowing the plan is his. He will take care of all the people, places and things
During my devo/prayer time this morning, I read the passage in Exodus 33-34 where Moses interceded for the Lord to go with them as they were about to leave Sinai and go into the promised land. They were about to transition from one place to another. Moses, out of concern for the people, pleaded that the Lord go with them because the Lord threatened to send an angel instead. More than anything, Moses wanted the Lord’s assurance that He would accompany the nation. After seeking God’s favor, the Lord reassured Moses, “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” When I read that, I thought of you, Brad.
May Jesus speak an encouraging word to you and Adriane on the front end of this time of seeking Him. As you seek Jesus, may He comfort and encourage you upfront that He will go with you and that His presence will produce rest along the way. After Moses was reassured that the Lord would go with them, Moses prayed a personal prayer out of a deep longing within his own heart, “please show me you glory.” May Jesus not only reassure of His care for AOX during these 5 weeks of prayer, but may you experience a personal encounter with His glory and goodness like you have never experienced before.
May your courage be sourced in His great love and delight for you bro. May his steadfast and abounding love and faithfulness towards you be a never ending source of wisdom, faith, love and courage. May you enjoy every step and moment of this journey!
Clarity, Momentum, and Transition in Joy
I heard “joy for the transition”. I felt the importance of recognizing the life that transition carries and living out of joy instead of heaviness in the midst of it. I specifically feel the importance of the leadership team living out of this place and bringing forth this example. I feel that this will be realllyy important for those specifically that are preparing themselves to leave AOX. But, important, as well, for the whole body in this time. There is something about joy in the transition that will bring about more fruit when we have transitioned.
I heard “with January comes momentum- bringing forth transition”.. so I just submit that. I also feel like, some of the big things that you’re looking to transition God is saying “does not have to be a long process”. I feel that he will be accelerating some of these things quickly. I also submit that your Shepherd heart may want to slow things down in order to shepherd people well through this process. But, I feel like God is asking you to trust him with their shepherding, and that he will not overlook hearts in order to accelerate things, but he is able to do both simultaneously.
I heard “clarity comes in the stripping down”, and to not let the stripping of things distract you from finishing well. And I specifically felt it important to pray for discernment to recognize what is the Lord stripping things down in order to bring about the clarity you’ve been asking for, and what is the enemy putting up a fight. I just felt it was so important to not fight against the “stripping/thinning” process.
We prayed for you this morning and I felt like the following came to me. When Jesus was on the earth he had a very effective but limited ministry. But after he transitioned from this ministry, it allowed his disciples to bloom and the Holy Spirit to transform his localized ministry into a worldwide ministry.
