Seven years ago, we were pastoring a church in Virginia. The church was being the hands and feet of Jesus in the community by praying, “Lord, what do You want us to be? Lord, what do You want us to do?” And then, unexpectedly one day in November, Jessica heard God say, “I need you in Asheville.” The two of us made the commitment that we would pray about what this meant throughout Advent and Christmas.
Jessica listened to Amy Grant’s Breath of Heaven more that year than in any other. What was Mary doing when Gabriel gave her the news that would change the course of her life? Was she just going about the ordinary? Up until that day, did she see her life going as she had planned? Was she dreaming about starting her family with Joseph? Could she have responded, “No, not me” or “Not now”?
At the end of the Christmas season, we knew that we were moving to Asheville with the plan of starting a church. With Mary’s story in mind, Jessica set the timing for 9 months out. In mid-September 2014, we moved into an apartment in Asheville.
Two years ago, we came back to these verses. We needed to hear, “Do not be afraid. For nothing will be impossible for God.” Our case worker had notified us at the beginning of November that a little girl and a little boy were in foster care and they were ready to be adopted. They needed a home. They needed a family. We met with social services. We met anyone and everyone that social services told us to meet. Plans changed over and over again. And yet, before the end of the Christmas season, we had welcomed our two children into our home.
Prayer:
Floors won’t sweep themselves, laundry is never done, windows don’t stay clean, there are always mouths to feed. God, You are the One who transforms the mundane into miracles. From dirt You made the blind to see, You wash away the sins of the world, You remind us that the fingerprints on the glass and the Kingdom of God belong to one in the same, and a simple snack can feed a multitude. Unexpected God, I don’t know what this day will bring, but may Your Spirit grant me the courage to say, “Here am I.” Amen.
