In God's Timing...

Chuck with the "Neighbor kids".

We received a very encouraging message in the most recent newsletter from one of the missionaries that we support from our church.  Chuck McDonald and his wife Tammy have an amazing story, and God has given them an amazing heart for outreach to the impoverished and orphaned children of Kenya - I highly encourage anyone reading our blog to go check out their website (www.savedbygodsgrace.org) to learn more about how God is using them to reach these children and even to pray about how God could use you to help the McDonalds in their ministry. 

Michelle and I have often been encouraged by not just the words of Chuck and Tammy, but of the evidence of how God has been working in and through their lives - at times I have felt like I was looking in a mirror when I hear them talk of how God has changed their hearts and opened them up to the mission field that God has called them into full-time.  Even though we are both in different life places and will be serving God in different ways, the change that has taken place to lead each of us to where we are is very much similar.

This month was another example of how encouraged we have been through the McDonalds and what God is teaching them.  In the newsletter, Chuck talks about "God's timing...why does He seem to wait until the last minute?...for our good!"  Right out of the gate one can assume where this lesson is going, but something that was stated later really hit home for me especially with the process that Michelle and I are currently going through of building our team of ministry partners.  I think that this can apply to most anyone, because I know it isn't the first time I have had a struggle with my timing vs. God's timing.  This is not the first time I have heard something on this topic either, and I am sure it won't be the last, but for some reason the way Chuck worded it in this letter really struck me in a way I hadn't thought of before.

The statement that really struck me was this: "What I have found out is the plans He has take time, He is working in people's lives we don't even know will be involved, but the waiting is for our benefit and for others He is calling to be a part of His plan..."  What an amazing thought!  What an amazing perspective of clarification to have on the whole "waiting on God's timing" point of view we are to have.  Of course we want to get down to Florida to start reaching the students on the Walt Disney World College Program, but there is more to our ministry than that... not to belittle the incredible opportunity that the WDW ministry holds, because it is an AWESOME opportunity, but we shouldn't rush out of what potential God has for us in reaching a ministry partner that He maybe hasn't even introduced us to yet.  Reading through Chuck's current example of how well God's timing worked out for them in their urgent situation, it is amazing to think that if they would have had things happen a little faster - in their timing - then they might not have had the incredible work that has happened happen.  I won't go into too much detail on their specifics, so that you can go to their site and find out for yourself, but it just made me excited to know that whatever God's timing is for the process we are currently in of raising our support, it is for His glory that things will work out the way they will...  And thankfully, it is also for our good, and by our I don't just mean the Patrick family - although of course it includes us - but I mean our as in what it says in Romans 8:28: 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

He is working in "our" timing for the good of all of us who love him and have been called according to his purpose.  I guess that again I need to remember that everything isn't just about me and mine... but there is a bigger picture going on that we amazingly get to be a part of.

If you are curious to learn more about the amazing work Chuck and Tammy are doing to build a sustainable source of food and water for the orphans in Kenya, click here to read about their special project and consider making a Christmas gift to help buy farmland and drill a well for clean water.  God is blessing their ministry in Kenya and we know you will be blessed when you read more about it just like we have been.