What I'm Expecting from God

To be honest, when a question such as this is posed, I think we can wrongfully think, "is it right for me to put expectations on God?" I know when I initially read it, the same thought passed through my mind. When we have these types of questions, the best response we can have is to reference scripture.

1 John 5:14 reads..."And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." The key part in this verse is referencing His will. If we ask/expect things, they ought to be according to His will. To know what God's will is is to know His word and to be near to Him to best discern these types of things.

With all of this in mind, at the current moment in the Residency program, my expectations of God are quite simple:

• God, would you provide laborers

• God, would you provide financial care for me and my family

As a planter, the thing to know early on is that none of what's ahead can be done solely on my own. I know that I am one person, and one with a limited skill set at that. My ultimate prayer leading up to an eventual plant is that the Lord would bless Crystal and I and the town we plant in richly with laborers who share a similar burden for the city that we do. So, as you read this, if you likewise have a burden for reaching the lost, would you prayerfully consider approaching a conversation with me about what that looks like for you to say yes to God and join in the work that He is making possible to reach those who He loves?

I believe most people at our church, or those who are close to me, know that when I said yes to church planting, I also made the difficult decision to step away from teaching. I knew that in order to faithfully prepare for this work, I needed to invest my time in being trained and equipped to serve the Lord well in this endeavor.

It's no secret that a church planting residency does not provide what I was making as a teacher, but Crystal and I stepped into this season trusting and expecting the Lord to provide for our family and give us what we need as we follow Him.

So, as you read this, if you know the Lord is calling you to stay where you are and continue serving faithfully there, that Is a wonderful thing. But I would also ask you to pray. Would you ask the Lord whether He might be calling you to partner with us in this work, not only through prayer and encouragement, but perhaps financially as well?

There is no pressure or expectation from us. Our confidence is not in any one person, but in the Lord and His provision. We simply want to faithfully make the need known and invite others to ask how God might have them participate in what He is doing through this church plant.

Whether you are called to go with us, pray for us, encourage us, give toward the work, or simply continue faithfully serving where God has placed you, we are grateful to have you alongside us as we seek to make much of Jesus.