When one door closes, another door opens! That has been the story of my life. Just one more reminder that God is the writer of this story... NOT me! I must always remind myself that He knows what is best for me, and He has my life already planned out. I must remember to trust Him and his will for my life.
There are so many things on my mind and in my heart. I'm not a place where I'm ready to share all of the details. But... I will share some of what has been going on these past few months.
1 Peter 1:6-9
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Voices 4 the Voiceless was something planted in my heart from God. I FIRMLY believe that, and still do. Unfortunately, we have had MANY ups and downs. One being where we would serve. My heart had been in so many places, I couldn't find a way to narrow down our "horizon". I didn't want to choose. I wanted so badly to help orphans everywhere! So, we committed with the first "open door" and ran with it. There was definitely prayer involved, unfortunately, not complete surrender, and seeking God's will entirely. Many good things came from our starting V4V, in fact we did accomplish a lot, and gained some good exposure for orphans in the Congo. Some people didn't even realize the magnitude there.
But... just because we were doing a "good thing", doesn't mean that the Congo was where GOD wanted us. In fact, even though I fought and battled with what God was trying to show me... I was continually reminded that God had something else. In my head though, I fought it. I battled with my own confusion, the fact that many doors had opened for us, and we had already planned a trip! Why God? Why now? I am so confused! And too be honest, some days, I am still confused. But the fact of the matter is, God is the author to this story, and I must trust HIS plan. Even though I don't have all the pieces figured out, He does. I must go in trust and believe that His plan is far greater than my own.
There is a lot more to this story that I am not ready to share at this time. Maybe it will come, but for now, I am just believing that my God is bigger than me. He has NEVER left me in the dark alone. It wasn't until this past month that God began to reveal many things to me. Through scripture, encouragement and a WHOLE lot of prayer - God is beginning to show me HIS plan. Again, He hasn't revealed all of the pieces to me... but I am beginning to see.
God is good [ALL THE TIME]. He is faithful [ALL THE TIME]. Even though His plans are not always my plans, I know His plans are best. I know that many will be confused by this, and that's okay. Not everyone will understand, or even respect the decisions made here. I know many of you who have supported us will have questions, and that is okay too. Please email me. I may not be prepared to share all of the details with you though. For some, that may not be good enough. But know, I am placing my trust and have completely surrendered this to my Savior. I know that God still has some amazing plans in store for me and for Voices 4 the Voiceless.
Psalm 25:2
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
In fact, like I said above, "when one door closes, another door opens." God has opened a door and my eyes to something new. A direction in which I never intended, and too be honest, never thought of on my own. God is calling Richard and I both to Uganda! Although I struggled with this in the beginning, God has made it VERY CLEAR - THIS is where He wants us. I can't even explain the overwhelming feeling I have inside of me. The complete clarity I now feel. Something is right. You see, when we SEEK Him with all our hearts and align our hearts with His, His desires soon become our own desires.
Jeremiah 29:12-13
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
God has used me, He has brought me down, brought me to my knees and we have prayed for many weeks now about this. God is calling my family to travel to Uganda in March. Through Visiting Orphans - we will be traveling to Uganda for 9 days. Although I am scared, anxious and nervous - I am trusting Him. I know without a doubt in my mind that this is where God is calling us. And although we will not be taking a team on behalf of Voices 4 the Voiceless... God is taking my family. We're praying daily for God to use us, and for us to be used in such a way that only He is glorified! We pray for opportunities to be used, to be molded and for ways to get Voices 4 the Voiceless involved!
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your hear and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
So many of the details are still being worked out. But I can promise you - God is in the CENTER of this! For all of those who have purchased shirts through Voices 4 the Voiceless to support Project Congo - please know your money be prayed over and still go to support the orphan crisis. We will be praying as to where it is God has us give. Will you please pray for us? Will you pray that we can be used in such a way, that He will be glorified? Will you pray for Voices 4 the Voiceless & that people will see Him... and not our "failures" - instead, His will! Will you pray?
Thank you for your support! Lauren, thank you for sweet encouragement and long talks via email. The Lord has truly placed some incredible people in my life! I thank Him daily! Lord, I praise you even in the storms. I thank you for the down times. For the hard days, even those that seem desperate and unbearable. For I know, that you have a plan. I trust YOUR plan, and I will trust your path. Lord, please continue to guide us and continue to love on me - even when I do not listen or obey. I thank you for clarity you have given our family, and I pray we will be used for your glory! That people will see YOU in us, and that some may come to know you!
Until then... Brantley
