Need only to be still...

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. ...The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." [Exodus 14:13-14, NIV]

You need only to ______ - what? You fill in the blank! What do you need to do to get out of the jam, to defeat the enemy, to conquer the project.

The scene was intense - when the Israelites looked to their left they saw desert! When they looked to the right, they saw desert! When they looked behind them, they saw 600 of the best fighters in the world hunting them down - with an entire army beside them, and a hardened heart of Pharaoh who wanted to kill all the men, and bring the woman and children back into slavery! In front of them...water! Lots of water! We are talking a sea of water...not a mud puddle from a summer thunderstorm...but the Red Sea! What do you do? What would you do? What would you say? To whom would you cry out to? Would your reaction be the same as the Israelites...

"As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" [Exodus 14:10-12, NIV]

Where are the people of Israel looking...they cry out to the Lord...yet turn on their leader and ask why? Why would you lead us to a place of death and destruction? Was it because there was not enough room in our current community to bury us? For it was better to be in the state we were in then to endure death in the desert...but Moses' reply is just off the hook ya'll, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. ...The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." [Exodus 14:13-14, NIV]

I mean come on man are you kidding me...we have an army pursuing us, desert and water surrounding us...and you are telling me to "be still" and to "not be afraid". Come on...

Oh us of little faith! Do we really believe? Or do we just "hope" that the Lord will give us blessing and rescue us, so that we can live comfortably? Do we really have faith - unwavering faith - standing firm on His promise of rescue, deliverance, provision, and life! God is not some eternal blessing-machine for people to use, and He did not come to save us out of pity - He came to save us because He created us to be Holy [to be set apart]. Atonement through the Cross of Christ means that God can put me into perfect oneness with Himself through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, without a trace of anything coming between us any longer. [Oswald Chambers] And that is why he led them to the desert, to banks of the Red Sea with an army chasing them! It was just another opportunity to reveal/demonstrate who He Is! He is the Great I Am..the alpha and omega...unchanging...life...and our eternal salvation!

The House...
Friday stung! No doubt! And it took us a few days to collect our bearings, again. But, like never before...Kelly and I harnessed up on our foundation of prayer and put together a game plan! It consisted of two things: 1. Prayer! 2. Stillness! Sounds awesome doesn't it! We prayed together all weekend - read scriptures/talked through several devotionals/enjoyed awesome conversations through the prompting of the Holy Spirit and a great time of worship on Sunday! And just in case you all didn't know - Kelly is awesome! She has been such a rock through this entire storm, my wise counsel and an incredible wife/mommy/friend in the midst of an extremely deep emotional, physical, mental and spiritual test of our faith! We truly just enjoyed the company of "us" - the five of us - this weekend! We were still...and allowed the Lord to minister to us through His stillness and quiet place as we cried out to Him! It was a weekend of refuge, retreat and renewal! And it was good...

Yesterday - I had to travel to Grove City, PA and meet with an incredible supporter of the BGEA and deliver some annuity documents to her...so we all got up early, packed up the car and headed to Kelly's mom and dad's place where she and the kids were going to hang all day. I dropped them off quick and continued down I-80 another half hour to my appointment. It was a great conversation...sharing story after story of how God has truly worked over the last year in not only the Billy Graham Association, but in our families! This wonderful sister in the Lord asked about Kelly and the kids - which naturally led to a conversation about our current situation - and I must say to have the opportunity to share the story of God's power, majesty and glory was just awesome! And after a great time of encouragement and prayer together - for both of our families and the Lord's work - it was off to lunch and my afternoon appointment.
As I got in the car, I had an overwhelming sense to go back to Dave and Deb's (Kel's parents) and pick up Kelly and go out for lunch. I called my afternoon appointment - which we had left open-ended last week and needing to confirm by phone before I stopped in - and was unable to reach them. I tried several times - and no answer - so I rescheduled via voicemail...and headed down the road to pick up Kel.
As I got back to the house - Dave, Deb, Kelly and I began to talk about homes in the South Butler area. Here, Dave and Deb "scouted" out the area for more than 3 hours on Saturday, driving in and out of several communities that they new from their extensive home search 4 years ago. Even though they did not land in the area - they know it extremely well - and just felt led to go and look for us on Saturday. We did not even know they went - and found out that Deb suffered through a migraine the entire afternoon and evening! Another demonstration of the Body of Christ expressing His Love and Grace through their hands, feet and car!! They found three homes that they felt would be a great fit (great house, great community, great location) - two of which we called on and left voice mails. Again - I had this overwhelming sense to get in the car and head down the road to look at this one home in particular. It was in the Meridian area and was "for sale by owner". It is actually the home to the "for sale by owner" sign we have driven past several times - thinking it was another house that we looked at in the area - that Kelly kept asking me about it!
So Kel and I headed down the road, grabbed a sub at subway, and then got a phone call from the owner - Karen. Kel and I pulled off the road - afraid we were going to lose cell phone reception on the back roads of Emlenton - and shared a great conversation with her! Check this out...here Karen and Kelly grew up in the same area - Parker, PA. Karen attended the same church as Kel growing up in Park Hill - even though they had never met. And in the half hour it took us to get to Sahara Drive - did you catch that - Karen had made the connection that she and Kel are actually related! Here Karen, her husband Stan and daughter Emily all attend the same church as Kel's Grandma and Aunt - and are actually distant cousins! How awesome is our God! But it gets better!
The reason that Karen and Stan are selling the home - is that they are wanting to downsize because of Karen's health problems. Specifically - heart problems! Here Karen has Aortic Stenosis! The same condition as Jackson! How nuts is that ya'll! Come on...do you see God in this! And as we searched for a genetic link for the last 5 weeks within our family - God just made the connection for us! Karen's brother and niece (at 4yrs) passed away from the same condition, and her nephew has endured open heart surgery at age 10. Karen has done well through the years - just having to watch her fluid intake, with minor complications - and was such an encouragement to us! Thank you Lord!
After a good cry together - heck, I had to step into the hallway to collect myself, such a sap - we went through the remainder of the home, which is more than we could ever have dreamed of or asked for! It is amazing! Truly a place of space, sanctuary and refuge for our family - in a spectacular community and location!
The only catch...there is another couple who has gone through the home twice! So Kel and I shared with Karen that we would pray for a night, get back in touch with her this morning and allow the other couple first shot at the house - for we know the sting of a family coming in and taking a home out from under us! We will not do the same thing that was done to us!
We believe that this is the home that God has prepared for us and called us to - with an overwhelming sense of peace and unity - and we will continue to move forward, and trust in His plan, timing and provision! We hope to have the opportunity to talk with Karen and Stan this morning and possibly this afternoon over lunch, and also plan to talk with several local banks, continuing to prepare financially!

God is parting the waters...and we are in need of your prayers right now! Please continue to pray for clarity, peace, unity, wisdom and provision in our conversations with Karen, Stan and the banks! Pray without unwavering faith! This is a home with awesome ministry potential - and Kel and I have talked through so many ideas, dreams and plans as to how we believe God is leading us to use this home as a place to advance His kingdom and gospel!

He is the King of Glory - and He is on the move! We are excited...and will continue to keep our Eyes on Jesus! Get's to prayin...