Exodus 3-11, 12:31-50, 13:17-14:31
Moses was told to go to Pharaoh and ask for the freedom of the Israelites. He was told to throw down his staff as it became a snake. This was not good enough. Then, God sent 10 different plagues upon the Egyptians because of Pharaoh's harden heart. Finally, what God had promised had come to fruition - Pharaoh told Moses to leave and take the Israelite slaves, only to change his mind once more and follow after them. God rescued them and provided the Israelites safe passage across the Red Sea. It took Moses close to a month (from what I, Colleen, can calculate) to "convince" Pharaoh, through God, to let His people go. Not even taking into consideration the time spent in the desert before arriving at the Promised Land, it puts things into perspective how God's timing is not always our own.
As I explained to a dear friend, I call her my soul sister and I thank God for her everyday because of the encouragement and sensible advice she gives me when I need it the most, the most recent development in our missionary status (or really, lack there of) she reminded me that these obstacles that keep popping up in our path to following God can very well be lessons from God. She reminded me that, and I quote, "you need to be ready for battle in God's way. You won't have support out there, comfort, or always a solid plan. I look at what He could be potentially teaching you by staying at our church, by needing a miracle to get regular financing, by being forced to be patient... (why, oh why did I ask God for more patience?! :P) By one struggle after another. God doesn't waste these moments... He has given you the dream ... but the timing is His as well." How often do we overlook these moments of frustration, these moments of "new" news - good or bad - for what they are worth. Lessons from God.
Think back to Moses. Every time Moses was to perform per God's will he responded with angst and anger. (Ex 3::11, 13, 4:1, 10, 13, 5:22, 6:12) then when he finally accepted God's will and went to Pharaoh, Pharaoh continuously changed his mind. How frustrating that must have been for Moses. Here he was blatantly told by God in the form of a burning - but not consuming fire - bush, "I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites - a land flowing with milk and honey." (Ex 3:16b-17) There was no time frame for when He was going to do it, just the simple fact that He would take care of it. Now, I know how I would react when receiving a message like that from God - "Sweet, God's saving us today!" That's not how it happened though. God took His time, worked some miracles - in which I'm sure a few people turned to Him from their other gods, and taught Moses some patience I'm sure as well. The point is, God's timing is not always our timing. We may think, "this is happening today" when in all reality God will let it happen tomorrow because He still has a few things left to teach us and show us today.
So what do we do with this? We live knowing that 1) God will take care of us, no matter what the circumstance, time frame, situation is. And we live knowing that 2) each and every day is a chance to live for God and show others what God is doing in our lives at that very moment.
God is teaching me patience and to trust in Him with the desires that He has given me.
God is teaching me how to handle bad news with a Godly attitude.
God is teaching me maybe, just maybe, there's still some kind of work He desires out of us here in Collinsville before we're able to leave for Costa Rica.
Please continue to be in prayer about our financial status as we still have some unanswered questions in regards to financial stability - with or without our missionary status ... student loans are not our friend :)
Also, prayer for a possible teaching job next year, since as of right now we feel we will be home-bound for quite a while longer.
Praise that Josh's current job is providing great assistance to our financial needs and he is excelling there also.
We love you all and thank you so much for your continued prayers and support as we work through the initial sending off!
In Christ,
Colleen :)
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