time of preparation.

As I sit here today just reflecting back over the last 10 months of being in Canada, I am brought back to the few things that God told me before I came here. About a year ago when Ryan and I were praying about whether we should live in Canada or Oregon and trusting in our Father to give us an answer, He did just that. God told me that we were to live in Canada, while we were there we would work hard to pay off our school loans ( In process with one paid off, check.) We would be here to serve. Serve in Ryan's home church and begin to call it our own. A church that might be a little more 'traditional' than we were used to and it would be a season to give as much as we could to the church to have a family of believers to send us out when His timing was right. And lastly He told me it would be a time to just build up our marriage, to enjoy one another and learn what it is like to be partners together. // I sit here today, 10 months later just overwhelmed by God's amazing goodness, by His overwhelming love and His unbelievable faithfulness. God has truly allowed all three of these promises to be in full swing. Not only have we paid off one of my school loans, which seems like the smallest thing of the three things He called us to. // Our Marriage is growing stronger each day. Its not without the hard work that each of us put in to keep God first on a daily basis and to trust that He is in complete control. It is amazing how I can come to admire my husband and fall more and more in love with him each day, not because he does such sweet and loving things (don't get me wrong, he does these things) but its because Ryan allows himself to be used for kingdom purposes. He allows himself to be used as a vessel for God's glory and through that he challenges me to be a woman after God's heart. I am blown away by him. // Lastly God has called us to serve and be a part of a church here in Canada. This is the church that Ryan grew up in. His family has been a part of for the last 24 years. They have watched the church change and grow in those long years. It is now to the point where we get to be a part of that change and we are old enough to really partake in it. (which at times is both good and bad) Ryan and I have been praying about how we can be involved and it seems like opportunities keep coming out way. Ryan has been asked to be a part of the preaching team, where he fills in about one sunday a month, we have started leading a mini SBS class to teach members of our congregation how to study the bible inductively and Ryan has been asked to join the LT (Leadership Team) as a part of the church for the next two years. Some big and amazing opportunities that God has given us as a part to really be a part of this body and growing the church in Canada. // I know that the time will come when God will say GO! And we will Go. But I am really learning that there is ALOT to do with the preparation of things. This is our time of preparation. This is our time of trusting. serving. hoping. praying. and knowing that our heavenly Father is in complete control and using us for his purposes. He is so so good. // 'For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever. and his faithfulness to all generations.' Psalm 100:5 Also, incase you were wanting to listen to Ryan's most recent sermon check it out here at Camrose Church of God website.