Forsaken by his brothers, didn't fit the scene
Being made a slave was not what Joseph dreamed
The coat of many colors was stained with blood and lies
But from this divine appointment, a ruler would arise
When God has another plan, walk on and just say yes
When God has another plan, be assured that He knows best
When all your dreams are shattered, rest in His sufficient grace
We don't have to understand, when God has another plan
Alone and broken hearted, questions fill your mind
Changes can be hard that come by God's design
But if you could see tomorrow with a view from Heaven's Throne
Every unexpected struggle has led you closer home
This song is one of my favorites! I tear up every time I hear it.
Looking back over the ministries we have had the privilege to work in, I can say that there have been plenty of times that we have just had to just walk on and say yes.
I'm going to very transparent in this blog post. Some of our struggles have been very real and raw. Some I have shared, some I have not and may never share. So, today I thought I would share some of my heart with you all.
Greenland was our first place of service.
We were in Greenland for three years. We have many good memories, and to be perfectly honest, some very bad memories of Greenland. Marty and I left Greenland as broken people...
Alone and broken hearted, questions fill your mind.
Changes can be hard that come by God's design.
This part of the verse perfectly describes how we were. We felt very much alone and broken hearted. Satan had crept in and told us that no one cared and that we were alone in our feelings.
We struggled for years! Looking back, we could see the Lord working. But, at the time, our pain was real, as was our distrust in others.
We tried for a long time to get into Denmark, and even back into Greenland. I remember being completely overwhelmed at the thought of going back to Greenland. I confided in a dear friend and just cried at the thought of going back to the place that had caused so much hurt in our lives.
When God has another plan, be assured that He knows best.
When all your dreams are shattered, rest in His sufficient grace.
We don't have to understand, when God has another plan.
I had to learn how to rest in God's grace. Our identity was wrapped up in that fact that we were Arctic missionaries. Our dreams had been shattered.
Then God lead us to Hungary!
Marty and I both firmly believe that God lead us to Hungary to help us heal, and to help us to mature in the ministry. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Hungary. I loved the towns, the people and the culture. I would love to visit Hungary again one day. We were in Hungary for two years.
We came home on furlough with every intention on returning to Hungary.
But if you could see tomorrow with a view from Heaven's Throne.
But, once again, God had another plan...
If you would have asked Marty a little over a year ago if he would ever pastor a church, in Missouri, He would have thought you were crazy. :) But, God began to work in his heart and our lives once again.
Well, today marks a year that Marty has been pastoring, in Missouri! :)
Grace Baptist Church had been without a pastor for many years. We have known the church since Maryanna was a baby!
We love the people here.
Looking back on all that we have done and all that we have experienced, I can see God leading every step of the way.
Every unexpected struggle has led you closer home.
I'm incredibly thankful that God has given us a home here in Missouri.
I would like to encourage you to keep on plugging along for the Lord. No, we don't always understand, but we can trust our Savior to lead in our lives.