Free Fall III...Shouts of Enthusiasm

When I was about 12 years old, I can remember my brother and I climbing the stairs of a look-out tower in Eureka Springs.  This was by no means a marvel of the modern engineering world...more like a big tree house.  But for two brothers who are gravely afraid of heights, you'd have thought we were climbing the sears tower with no harness.  A whopping 20 feet off the ground in this rickety stair case that seemed to sway 15 foot each way with the most gentle breeze, my 16 year old brother and myself are on bended knee...glued to the floor of this tower.  At the rate of about 30 seconds per stair, we carefully descended back to earth until we were safe and sound on solid ground.  With a deep breath and a sigh, we were free to give shouts of enthusiasm.

With two children and all that goes with raising a family, Shelli proceeded to give up the job which God has used to support our family and ministry for nearly five years.  Believing that God had spoken, we had no other option...literally, at that point we had no other options!  If we had mistaken something lesser like feelings or emotions for the greater call of God, it would show itself for what it was...at our expense.

So the free fall began...

Options began to line up for how we might support our finances and family.  With all my know how and  creativity, we began to imagine how I as "head of household" might be able to pull this off.  I came up with a great option that combined all current aspects of life together into a plan that worked financially (on paper) only to realize that as God provided the means for my wife to be at home with the kiddos, I had committed myself to work endless hours away from them.  This is where Phil 4:6-7, Prov 2:8, and Eph 3:20 were repeatedly read and prayed back to God on an hourly basis (by Shelli and myself) so that "I" didn't take down our family with human wisdom and reasoning (1 Corinthians 3:19, Prov 16:9).

I understand now why most videos of cliff jumpers is a silent film until the parachute opens or they are safely on ground...fear shuts mouths.  I am thrilled to say that the fear of gravity did not win but that God is BIGGER than my uncertainty.  One week after Shelli's career change, I received a random call from Sharon Baptist Church in Benton.  After much prayer and a thorough interview process, I  am thrilled to say that I will be the next student pastor for this wonderful church family.  God has not only granted my wife the desires of her heart to be with our children, but has done the same for me by allowing me to give my life to disciple students and young families in Christ.

Allow me to give shouts of enthusiasm for my God!  He is the Solid Rock we desire in times we feel like we are falling.  Before I leave you, allow me to remind us of a couple things God's Word tells us...

God is able to do IMMEASURABLY more than what we could dream!  Ephesians 3:20.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he WILL give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4