Thank you for checking out this weeks update. Our apologies for getting this to you late, we were working on it on Monday when my computer CRASHED! That was quite unsettling, but after several hours of working on it and praying - everything is back to normal.
As we talked and prayed as a family about this weeks update, ADVERSITY seemed to be the theme of week 3. It is not that it was a bad week, but it was contested. In fact, we walked through challenges in every one of the five areas of prayer focus. But as we looked at the outcomes, we can see that God is not only working in each situation on our behalf, He is working IN US, inviting us to become more like Him.
We were very blessed to have our dear friend, Meghan Strickland, come and spend the weekend with us. We have known her since 2009, when she was a student at the University of Texas. Meghan has spent the last five and a half years following Jesus, growing in community and sharing the gospel in Detroit, MI. Being a part of Meghan's and her friends journey, has been so meaningful to us.
The community of friends and Jesus followers in Detroit has faced it's share of adversity as well. In fact, there have been times when all of the hard lessons learned could seem like an invitation to analyze and come up with an easier way... BUT, in the midst of the adversity, the learning, the growing - lives of been changed. Yes, people have heard the Good News about Jesus and put their trust in Him. Orphans, widows, prostitutes and other down and outers have been impacted.
BUT WAIT. It is not just the orphans and the widows that have been impacted, but it has also been Meghan and her friends as well. AND ME! My life has been changed for ever as I have watched the YES in the hearts of young men and women, to follow Jesus into a hard situation, as they pray and trust and hope to see God work.
Sometimes following Jesus means going someplace like inner-city Detroit. Sometimes it means moving to someplace like Grove City. The important thing is that we steward the YES in our hearts to stay walking with Him. We must never allow all of the lessons that life teaches us to inform us / educate us into a diminished YES for Him.
I am trying to hold onto this truth in our transition, remembering one of the most precious lessons that I learned from my mentor and spiritual dad, Jim Erb, before he went home to heaven. Jim taught us to stay hungry! In their eighties, he and Jan would pray this prayer everyday: "God make us hungrier for you today than we were yesterday..."
Jim also taught me: "When you're going through hell, DON'T STOP! - Persevere and make it through!" I am praying that God will fuel us with perseverance to get through the challenges that stand in our way. Let's make this a week of breakthrough prayer, where we face up to the adversity, trusting in Him to work in our circumstance AND to work in us.
I am including a special resource this week that I would love to invite you to check out. It is a short, 5 minute video of a conversation that I had with Jasmine Tate about what it means to be present and follow Jesus in the midst of everyday life. I pray that it blesses you. Don't forget to keep us updated on anything that you are sensing from God as you pray. You can text, email or use the form below to give us your feedback. It means so much to us!
Thanks again. We LOVE you! - Brad & Adriane
One of the best things to come out of this Prayer Focus is the time that we take every night to pray for 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
