Arctic Hope

A number of years ago, way back in the days before the internet and Google maps, I was traveling with my friend Jeff to a band competition in Nacogdoches, TX. Having arrived in the area, but unable to find our destination, I stopped along the side of the road and asked a passer by for directions. He started with a series of ’straight aheads’ and ‘lefts’ and rights’. Then stopped, corrected himself, and gave a different series of directions. After four or five attempts, our local expert stopped and declared with complete finality, “You can’t get there from here.”

What he was really saying, “I know where you are. I know where you want to go. But for the life of me, I cannot tell you how to get there from here.” As we pulled away, Jeff and I had a good laugh and still get a chuckle whenever we remember that situation.

Reflecting back on that day, I now understand what it is like to have a pretty good idea where you are, have a pretty good idea of where you desire to go, and yet have no clue as to how to get there. You see Michelle and I are convinced that God is orchestrating a ministry through us in the Arctic. We have seen the need, heard God’s call, sketched out plans, received appointments as missionaries, formulated budgets and begun fund raising. Yet as we go, we have found it more difficult to ‘get there’ than we expected. Some days I have sensed some of my dear friends subtly telling me in very spiritual sounding ways, “You can’t get there from here.”

So what do you do? Has God really called us? Have I been eating a bit too much salami just before bedtime? Does God really speak through the Holy Spirit and His Word? Were we tuned to a sit-com when we thought we were watching a documentary? God’s direction seemed so clear only a few short weeks ago. “Did God really say, … ?” (Genesis 3:1)

Looking at the huge mountain of financing: airplane, hangar, housing, truck, trailer, and operations budget, the mountain seems to scream, “You can’t get there from here.” LORD, we are willing to go, but we don’t have the resources. How do we get there from here?

The Spirit quietly whispers the answer, “Your Father owns it all. It is no problem for Him to provide all these things to you in abundance. In fact He will supply all of your needs.” (Psalm 50:10, Philippians 4:19)

Oh yeah, I know, I know and God causes all things to work together for good… (Romans 8:28) and God has great plans for you … (Jeremiah 29:11) and God will help you … (Isaiah 40:11). Yes I believe in all that stuff. But don’t you see the size of this mountain?

“Ah, yes,” the Spirit whispers, “you believe in all that stuff, but do you believe God? About that mountain, here have a mustard seed.”

Jesus said, “If you have the faith of this mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. (Matthew 17:20)

“Ok then, Lord, grant us mustard seed faith.”

“Look to me, trust me, wait on me,” the Spirit whispers.

“So Lord you want us to wait?” “Indeed and persevere too, don’t quit.” (Galatians 6:9)

Well we waited and God proved faithful. Over the last week we have experienced the earthquake of God moving the mountain of resources needed to reach the ten communities around Ft McPherson, NT Canada. Just over a week ago, Michelle and I resolved to look and trust and wait and maintain mustard seed faith that God would do this thing. What has God done?

First God showed us that He has quietly orchestrated pledges and contributions equal to approximately 30% of our operational budget. WhooHooo!

Second, God provided us with an airplane, not just a single, but a twin engine with de-icing equipment. This aircraft provides a great margin of safety as we plan to fly in unforgiving weather. Through an incredibly unlikely circumstance, God moved on the heart of a man I had just met to give us an airplane for the Arctic. How likely is that? Evidently 100%. Are you kidding me?

God then provided housing. In December, we placed a bid a house in Ft McPherson, praying we could get it for a ridiculously low price. Didn’t happen. Yet this week, God showed us an opportunity to purchase two houses in Ft McPherson that will not only provide us a place to live, but provide a place Michelle to disciple others through her passion for quilting. And we could get both houses for less than 40% of the price we had offered on the house in December. Let’s see, asked for a single engine got a twin, asked for a house, getting two. Is God amazing!!

Yesterday, God gave us a trailer to move our furnishings in. A local church that used to be ‘mobile’ no longer had a use and offered it. Lord, why did we ever doubt?

Let’s see, airplane - check, housing - check, trailer - check, operations support - getting there. This mountain is suddenly looking like not much of an obstacle. Of course, God had it taken care of from the beginning.

So I ask, where is God asking you to exercise mustard seed faith? Family? Finances? Job? Future? I offer the faithful advice of God’s word, “Look to Him. Trust Him. Wait for Him. You see, He can get you there from here.

This just in this evening — God has completely healed the Hanthorn’s daughter Sarah of cancer. She’s the one on the right. God’s lovingkindness is amazing. She was diagnosed with cancer in October and had emergency surgery to remove the biggest part of it. This left three smaller lumps in her abdomen. November’s recommendation: “Let’s wait and see if they grow.” Today’s report: “Lumps, what lumps. We looked hard. We are confident they are all gone.”

Prayer Requests:

• Praise for God’s gracious healing of Sarah Hanthorn.
• We praise Him for an amazing week of God’s amazing provision.
• That God would prepare the hearts of the people in Northwest Canada to receive the Good News.
• That God would move 1000 people who will pray for one of these communities (100 people per community) each day.
• That God would continue to provide abundant resources for to allow us depart Orlando to begin our work in Canada in early June.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 at 17:13 and is filed under February 2008, Blogroll. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.