One Week Away

My interview with NewSpring is 1 week from today.  I am excited that it is almost here.  It will have been exactly 3 months since I sensed God leading me to look into this program and apply for the position.  Crystal and I are very excited for this opportunity and we cannot wait to see what God has planned for our family.

Would you do us a favor this week and take some time to pray for us?  We would really appreciate it.  Here's a few specifics:

• Pray that God will lead me during the interview (Wed July 3rd @10:30am)
• Pray that the enemy will stay away from us
• Pray that Crystal will continue to relax and recover from her recent health issues
• Pray that God will continue to prepare us for our move and that we will trust His provision

We appreciate your support thus far and thanks in advance for praying for us.  And we would really like to pray for you as well.  If you'll let us know how we can pray specifically for you, we would be honored.  I'll let you know how everything goes.

--

Ben

p.s. Feel free to send me some encouragement on Wednesday morning via text, email, facebook or twitter. I'd really appreciate it.  

So Many Questions...Not So Many Answers

There's a lot of questions surrounding our move to South Carolina.  Many people have been asking us many different things.  And honestly, we have been asking some of the same questions.  For example:

• When are we moving?
• What will our living situation be like?
• If we get accepted to the program, what are our plans once the program finishes?
• Am I going to have enough money to support our family of 4?
• Will we stay in South Carolina for the rest of our lives?
• When will Ben finally get rock-hard abs?

Okay, so maybe I'm the only one asking that last question.  But the truth is, we do not have all the answers.  But we're okay with that because we made this decision based upon a whisper from God.  

The last four years have been a time of waiting for Crystal and I.  We wrestled at times over the last few years feeling like God was not answering our prayers.  We felt like He had more in store for us all along, but was not ready to take us to the next level yet.  And if you've ever been in a situation like that, where you feel God is silent or absent, it can be a tough time.  

But what we've learned is that when God is silent, He is never still.  He is actively working behind the scenes to get you ready for His next move.  The in-between period can be hard, but it is necessary for growth.  We feel like God is beginning to reveal to us the next part of His plan for our lives.  But we don't know all the details, and we don't need to.  

In Joshua 3, God raises up Joshua to be the next leader of Israel (Joshua has some really big shoes to fill as he succeeds Moses).  Joshua is relying on God to show him what steps to take in order to continue to lead the Israelites, and to gain their trust in his leadership.  God tells Joshua to lead the people across the Jordan River so they can move ahead and conquer many nations.  God promises to dry up the Jordan River so they can safely cross, but only after they arrive at the river and put their feet in.  

God will often times give us a promise, but will require us to take a step in faith before we can see His power.  We know that God is sending us to South Carolina to tell people about Jesus.  And now it is our turn to take the step of faith so that He may reveal the power of His mighty hands.  We don't need to know all the answers because we know His promises.  That was enough for Joshua, and it is more than enough for you and me.  

We Need Prayer Partners

The last couple weeks have not been the easiest for our family.  Crystal has been battling some health issues that are no fun at all.  The last few weeks, she has been suffering with a lot of anxiety.  The worst seems to be behind her, but she still gets little attacks here and there.  She feels like she is able to control them when they come, but it still takes a toll on her mentally and physically.  In addition, her body has been very weak and there are days when she does not feel up to doing much of anything.  We are not sure if this is related to her anxiety or not, and the doctors are having a rough time figuring out what is going on.

On a happier note, I have an interview scheduled with NewSpring Church on July 3rd at 10:30am.  This is for a spot in the Apprenticeship Program that I applied for in April.  It is officially one month away.  Our kids are doing well.  Kylie is working on getting fully potty-trained, while Isaiah is starting to eat rice cereal.

As our family is going through a lot of changes right now, we need prayer more than ever. We would love to have you partner with us in prayer.  It would really mean a lot to us.  Here are a few ways you can specifically pray for us:

• Crystal's health - strength, comfort, peace. Pray that the doctors would be able to help her and figure out a good plan for the future.
• Ben's interview - pray that God would give me peace and clarity as I prepare for my interview.
• Our SC move - pray that we would remain focused on God's plan rather than clouding our minds with our own. Pray for provision as we take this big step of faith.
• Kylie and Isaiah - pray that the kids will transition smoothly when we move.

Thank you for praying for us and following us on this journey.  We welcome conversation and all forms of encouragement.  Please feel free to connect with us via social media (find links on the left column) or send us an email at benjaminandcrystal@gmail.com.  

--

Ben