7/25/2016 0 Comments Setback or Strategy...Just over a year ago God started speaking to my wife and I. We just kept hearing "exit strategy"? We started asking God for discernment and He began to put things together. I'm gonna do my best to keep this short haha.
It started with an opportunity to sell our house to our best friends. We had 7.4 acres with a 1500 square ft 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house and a 750 square ft 1 bedroom 1 bathroom house. We were able to sell it at a very good price to them which meant that Wanda and I would move into the little house. It happened so fast! 30 days from the time we talked about it, Mike and Erika sold their house and purchased our place and moved in! That put us in the best financial position we had been in since we were married. Then God told Wanda that it was time for her to step away from her position as the mission director at the church where we were both employed. She had been the missions director for 5+ years with 3 of them being paid on staff. In October of 2015 she stepped away and became a stay at home wife. It was quite an adjustment for us, but it was good! Then in December of 2015 I was just unsettled in my spirit, I'm not really sure how to explain it. I started fasting and praying, I was getting closer to God than I had ever been. By the time January 2016 rolled around I knew what I needed to do. It was something that my wife knew I was suppose to do from the moment I gave my life to the Lord. I was to leave the church that I was employed by, a church that had raised me from the moment I gave my life to the Lord(14 years). A church that I loved so much! I talked with my Pastor (boss) and told him what I believe the Lord was leading me to do. After talking with the leaders of the church we decided that I would leave my position in April. I needed a job!!!! When I decided to be obedient to the Lord the first person I thought of talking to was a good friend of mine who had is own small business. One Sunday morning I found him and told him what I was doing and needed a job, before I could say anything else, he said, "you're hired!" For those that know me I can be a little emotional, so I started crying haha. Alright, I have a job! I started with Craig in May 2016. Funny thing is, I didn't even know what I was gonna make until I got my first check haha!!! My first day of work, my boss and friend started chemo. He found out he had cancer 3 days before I started. I know God has me in the right place. Craig and his wife Paula are amazing people who love the Lord and have glorified Him through all that they have gone through. While all this transition is going on a small group of us were meeting on Saturday nights. I started by sharing the vision that God has given me for a new church (Water's Edge) and began teaching. We are a few weeks away from launching the church. The plant team has grown to 41 adults and children! More on than later... Exit strategy! In a year our house and our income has been cut by more than half, but God is faithful. Everything that my wife and I own fit in our 750 square ft. home and a 7x7 shed haha! Everything had been was cut in half! What could easily be looked at as a setback has actually been God's strategy for His will to be done! I'm reminded of the words of John the Baptist, "He (Jesus) must increase, I must decrease"! God will always give you an exit strategy, we just have to be willing to decrease so that He can increase! Love ya Rick
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7/24/2016 2 Comments A testimony from TiffanyI have always believed in God. I was raised in the church and taught about God. But I never understood I could have a relationship with God. I never read the bible on my own and praying wasn't a priority for me. As an adult I quit going to church altogether, so basically I was doing nothing to strengthen my relationship with God. As the years went by my need for perfection kept growing in all areas of my life. This caused my anxiety and need for complete control in my life incredibly worse. Several years later a family member suggested a local church for us to try. I loved it! It was nothing like I had ever experienced growing up. I learned how to pray and began attending church on a regular basis. I began to understand I could have a relationship with God.
However, I still didn't read my bible though. Yet, I did read every type of self help book out there. I also didn't do much else in the church besides attend. I had stalled in my spiritual growth. My need for control and anxiety grew worse and adding two kids to my life did not help ease that stress. If you have kids you know there is NO control in how life goes. 6 years later a life altering event changed the whole world I built for myself and family. It changed everything I had ever known in my adult life. I had no control over it and could do nothing to change the circumstances. I was a complete wreck and in a very dark place. A very good friend told me you need to get into the Word and fall in love with Jesus. So I did, I began studying the bible especially on areas I was struggling in. It is the best self help book I have ever read. I started praying a lot more. Finally, I let go and just surrendered my life to God. I realized I can not be perfect and life won't be either. I can not control everything. I have a God who wants what's best for me and has a love for me that is immeasurable. Two years later, I am happier than I have ever been, even when things are not "perfect". I continue to grow in my faith and my love of Jesus. I still have things I am working on and struggle with. But, I know I have a God who loves me and He has surrounded me with a church family who helps me and supports me when I need it. I know God wants to use me and my story to help others find a relationship with him. If you are struggling with anything or were like me and life really wasn't that bad it just wasn't perfect or the way you thought it should be. I urge you to give it to God. His way is better. Seek Him and His guidance and wisdom. If you need a church family, I invite you to Waters Edge to be part of our family. To fall in love with Jesus, let US help and support each other on this journey. Tiffany 7/12/2016 2 Comments BUILD DAY #1Making a church building welcoming and comfortable is definitely important. However, for a new church plant decorating is not on the top of the list for funding! Fortunately, we have some pretty handy people on our team. We decided to put our heads and resources together to build what we need! Here are a few pictures of our first Build Day. We had some delicious homemade brunch and some worship music playing while we worked. We were able to build the coffee buffet, a bar for the lobby and a few signs. We got started on the stage back drop and the sound booth. I could feel the Lord's presence there with us as we worked. It was an exciting experience to see God's people working together to make a building a house for the Lord. I'm so excited for what He has in store for us at Water's Edge. I can't wait for you all to check it out!
your sister in christ, kw 7/4/2016 0 Comments A testimony from ClintonMy name is Clinton. I've always been a church member. I was raised in the church. However, the church became just an excuse for me to sin. I fell away and finally came back, but when I did, I found too much of my identity in the church. It had become all about THAT church. I needed something real. Something that challenged me. Something that challenged my spirit. Something that forced me to step out and trust in Him. That thing was the Waters Edge. It's exactly what I've prayed for, exactly what I need, and exactly what the world needs. Genuine Love in the form of Genuine Christianity.
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