what's next & Boston

Lately when friends email or call, my heart is warmed when they ask for a Boston update. It makes me so happy that a desire the Lord placed in our hearts (to see our family be a part of the gospel going forth in Boston) has transferred to other hearts, and now there are all these extra people praying and longing to see what the Lord is going to do. So here is my update. 


A few weeks ago we were visiting the church we spent some time at when we first landed in the East Coast last fall. The plan then was something like "fly to East Coast, pitstop with family, more fundraising, head to Boston". Somewhere really quickly in to that trip, we realized the fundraising wasn't moving forward and really, in all ways, the Lord was putting the breaks on the process. It was discouraging and disheartening. And we'd go to this church for worship and just cry our hearts out to Him. One song we were often singing was "you'll come" by Hillsong United and the lyrics are like this: 


I have decided I have resolved
To wait upon you Lord
My rock and redeemer shall not be moved
I'll wait upon you Lord

As surely as the sun will rise
You'll come to us
As certain as the dawn appears

You'll come let your glory fall
As you respond to us
Spirit reign flood our hearts
With holy fire again

We are not shaken we are not moved
We wait upon you Lord
Our Mighty deliverer my triumph and truth
I'll wait upon you Lord

Chains be broken
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed

I loved that song. And I'd just belt it out to Him. Screaming almost, begging Him to come. begging Him to move. To help us get to Boston. To help us break chains in His name. See lives healed in His name. For His glory to be revealed in Boston through our family. But first, just to get us there. When we realized the church plant was going to be postponed, I had to wonder if truly He'd come, if we kept waiting. 


So last week when we were visiting the church, this song came on. And as we belted out the lyrics, pictures and pictures and pictures flashed in my head. Nick praying over me last December when I was struggling with depression. Family dinners. Hard conversations. Praying over Glory when she was in the hospital. Long runs talking to the Lord. Date nights of laughing and light conversation. Family time. Extended family time. New church family time. 


Really & truly, He came. He showed up in this year so fully. 
His glory fell on our family in the least flashy of ways, but the Spirit ignited our hearts for growing as and making new disciples, not just planting churches. We learned that through grace, by faith - we can truly be not shaken, not be moved - because He longs for good for us. Even when the good looks like earthly hard. The victory of the cross is real - in depression, in loss, in small two bedroom shacks in South Carolina. Victory in Christ is victory. 


Chains were broken, 
lives were healed, 
eyes were opened, 
Christ was revealed. 


He was gracious to do that work in us. Not necessarily through us. But we can be hopeful and excited about ministering to others, having experienced just a taste of His glory so fully. If you're in pain, in any sort of pain, and no one has told you to rejoice in those sufferings - this is me saying REJOICE IN THOSE SUFFERINGS! Cry out to Him and lean into Him and get excited. He will not leave you broken. 


So after this year, we're left with hearts that still smile when we hear a Boston accent. Still hoping that when we sit around a table with our grown children, it's in Boston. But our hands and plans are very open. Because He'll come, we just want to grow as disciples and grow in making disciples. And that can and should happen anywhere, right? Right. 
So we're excited to see what He has next. 
Because surely as the sun rises, He'll come.