Day 3: Seeking God's direction

Today is the final day of our fast. On Tuesday, we prayed that God would provide for our finances. Our income this month is significantly less than our bills, so we begged (and are still asking) God to provide the funds to pay our bills. We asked God to provide us with $900 in our checking account to pay rent today, and He did! Shane is also expecting a check today from one of his students, which will go towards our car payment. We still need another $150 to pay our car bill, and money to pay our utilities, debt, and rent for August. We were convicted yesterday by the amount of stuff we have around our house that isn't what we need or use, but is worth money. We decided we are going to go through everything, and sell what we don't need and give it to "the poor". We are asking God to give us what we need, and that we would be willing to give away whatever extra income He provides. 

Yesterday, we sought God about our mission trip to Israel. We asked Him to make it known to us if we are to go. By doing so, we asked Him to provide us with $3000 in our E3 account by Sunday. Shane has been talking with the Administrative Assistant with E3 about that what if's. We were freaked out a couple of weeks ago because she said whatever money we didn't raise, we would have to give her a credit card to pay for the remainder of the trip. Well, at that point we only had $500 in our account and we need just under $8000! Yesterday, she emailed us saying that she could get a refund for our tickets already purchased, if we cancelled with her today. I emailed her back asking for her to wait until Monday for my response so we can see if anything happens between now and then. The good thing about E3 though is if you back out of a trip, whatever funds you have raised can be used for another E3 trip that year. So, we are praying that God would make CLEAR to us if we are to leave for Israel in three weeks. If not, we are asking Him to show us which mission trip we are to go on. There is also another team going to Israel this time next year that we could possibly join. Please pray that God would show us what to do! I have to admit that I am pretty discouraged by the thought of not going to Israel this year. Shane and I tried to go on a different mission trip to Mexico last year, but also didn't raise enough funds. The real crappy part of that is we had to call everyone that did give and ask if they wanted us to mail their checks back or destroy them. Those that wrote us checks for Mexico have not supported us for Israel. What will that mean for the next mission trip we try to go on? 

Today, we are praying for God's direction in our lives. We had discussed the possibility of becoming missionaries, but really don't know what God wants. We both went to Bible College because we knew we wanted to devote our lives to ministry. We do know that being at Hunter Street Baptist is where God wants us right now, but with it being such a HUGE church, we are having difficulty fitting in. Shane is set up and doing well leading worship for Route 56, but I haven't found my place there yet. We are praying that we would find the right Sunday School class, and be able to minister there together. We are also seeking to get more involved with the kids in Route 56. On another note, I am no longer working, and Shane is teaching private lessons full time. Shane and I both desire for me to be a stay at home mom, but we weren't planning that for another year or two. We are asking God to show me what I am to do in the meantime. I do enjoy being the Betty Crocker wife, and my spiritual gift is Hospitality, so we are praying I find more opportunities to use that. Shane just needs to know what he is to become. He is taking classes with Berkley and Liberty University this year, seeking out a Master's in Theological Studies or Worship Ministries. With Berkley, he is taking classes to make him a better teacher. We just need to be comfortable with where God has us right now, and that He will direct us and form us into whom He wants us to be. 

Please continue to pray for us. If you wish to donate for our trip or toward or July bills, you can click on the "donate" button on the right, enter the amount, your credit card number, and submit. We are very thankful and grateful to those of you whom have given to us already. Thank you for loving us, your support, and prayers. May God bless you have you have blessed us.