It has been quite the week! I have been working on this prayer update for over a week. Please forgive me for the delay in getting it delivered. While we have enjoyed great time over Christmas with family and friends, it has honestly been one of the most intense weeks that I can remember.
The word, INTENSE, can sound scary and dramatic, but I feel like I am learning a different aspect of intensity in this season. This last week was definitely not a bad week. In fact, there were so many places that we saw victory and the breakthrough that we were praying for. But the week was not easy. I was struggling to find the proper tension of persevering in prayer / completing several projects, and taking time to rest.
I realized this week that this is another area that God was inviting me in to knowing Him more. It is often easy for me to look for some magical, "right answer", instead of relying on my relationship with the Lord to lead me step by step. In the last week, there were so many times where I couldn't find the right answer. In God's kind, patient love - He would wait for me to realize this and turn to Him.
I am being reminded of old life lessons, that in the midst of life's most intense moments is when I need to seek Him first the most.
Thank you for continuing to pray for our family. Even though we are wrapping up the last week of this prayer focus, it has been so encouraging and empowering to know that we have had so many friends faithfully loving and supporting us in prayer. Your calls, texts and messages have been fuel to our family.
This week, I am putting a few updates under each of the 5 Prayer Points. There are some really encouraging testimonies to check out. I am also including a video preview of FEWL, the new resource app that we have been working on. Please be praying as we have begun to reach out to potential financial partners to help us launch the app and build the initial content packs.
We do plan to put out another update in a few days that will have a few requests in terms of asking for feedback on what you are sensing over the entirety of the 5 weeks. We are already compiling what we have been sensing from the Lord as we listen together.
Thanks again. We LOVE you! - Brad, Adriane & Abigail
1. See TRANSITION Clearly
We are still in process as to exact details, but God has definitely been speaking in ways that are bringing clarity in this area. One thing that has stood out from the feedback that we have been getting from people is that there will be a step that needs to be taken in faith, before we can see exactly where we are headed. It gives us courage to know that God is speaking this to multiple trusted friends, but we are leaning into what this looks like.
PLEASE PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT AND WISDOM IN HOW TO IMPLEMENT WHAT WE ARE HEARING.
2. Grow Our FAMILY CONNECTION
The past several weeks have seemed a bit like the best of times and the worst of times. We have had some amazing family times together and with other family members. At the same time, trying to focus and finish some of the end of the year projects have been difficult. We are really aware of the fact that we have to guard our connection in the midst of this transition. PLEASE PRAY FOR A GOOD TIME WITH MY PARENTS DURING THEIR VISIT THIS WEEK AND FOR GOOD CONNECTION HEADING INTO THE NEW YEAR.
3. GRACE and MOMENTUM for AOX (Our Church)
We had a beautiful time together with our church family on Christmas Eve. One of our guys had a friend with him that came from a very hard situation. As we spent time worshipping and reading the Scriptures together, the friend began to pray out loud and gave his life to Jesus.
It seems like there are several opportunities for our church to be reminded of the power of the simplicity of the gospel. I really believe that this is very intentional and the Lord is inviting us into a season of growing in our boldness to see the gospel spread around us as we grow in hunger for Him.
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY TO HAVE COURAGE TO EMBRACE WHAT GOD IS DOING IN US DURING THIS SEASON.
4. Getting HEALTHY as a Family
We are still in process as to exact details, but God has definitely been speaking in ways that are bringing clarity in this area. PLEASE PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT AND WISDOM IN HOW TO IMPLEMENT WHAT WE ARE HEARING.
This has been my biggest struggle over the last ten days. Trying to find time to prioritize this in the midst of other things. I feel really encouraged by the commitment in Adriane and Abigail, and we know that this is a vital part of where God wants to take us as a family. PLEASE PRAY FOR COURAGE TO PRIORITIZE THIS.
5. Understanding the FINANCIAL Piece of the Transition
We have had some real encouraging breakthroughs in this area. First, we have been able to wrap up some of the major projects in my business that we have been trying to complete. There was so much adversity and we were dealing with so much that was beyond our control, but I am so thankful for the grace to complete it. We were able to get paid at the end of this week, and look to be set up well as a company moving into 2018!
We also have been so encouraged by several generous gifts towards our resource fund. Before we have really begun to meet with potential partners about raising the initial $20,000 to help us pay for and launch the app, we have had $6,000 given. We are so blessed and encouraged by that.
PLEASE PRAY FOR FAVOR AND CLARITY, AND THAT WE WILL HEAR GOD'S HEART AS WE BEGIN TO REACH OUT AND CALL PARTNERS IN FINISHING THE RESOURCE FUND.
