James could not have said it any better

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways....Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:2-8, 12).

So I won't forget the Lord's great faithfulness, provision, and sovereignty in our lives, here is a year (or more) in review...

Summer 2008 - even before Brian's job as a church planting apprentice began, he began to feel a burden for the people here in Montgomery...which very soon turned into a vision for a different kind of church in this city. I remember when he shared that vision with me...hearing and feeling his passion for our city and the people here...I immediately jumped on board! My desire was right there with him!

Fall 2008 - Brian's new job began and so began the decision for where this new church would be planted...Pratville, Wetumpka, other river region areas, etc. As the weeks went on, the committee became more convinced that Pratville would be the location. As our church's desire for Pratville increased, our desire and love for Montgomery and the people here increased. The growing city of Pratville was a great place to plant a church for many reasons. Our desire just wasn't there. And of course, a church planter needs to have the desire and love for where and whom he is planting the church! We did everything we could to make ourselves love Pratville, but that desire for Montgomery just wouldn't go away.

December 2008 - Brian resigned from his job as church planting apprentice at our home church of 9 years because he ultimately did not feel an internal call to plant a church in Pratville. A very hard decision to make, but we knew it was the right one. We knew we could not go to Pratville. We had until the end of January to find a new job. That very week the ARP (Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church-very similar to PCA only smaller) came to Brian and asked him to plant a church (with a vision very similar to his own for this city) here in Montgomery. An answer to prayer, we thought!! This is it! This is what we feel called to do!!

January 2009 - all lights seemed to be green, so we began to pursue this calling after much encouragement, prayer, and counsel from others. Mid January we found out our church was not in support of this, and so very prayerfully we turned down the offer...with a baby due in a few weeks. Yet again, another very difficult decision to make, but we knew it was what we needed to do. Two weeks before Brian's job was ending and now no job. We were devastated and hurt. And I was a bit overwhelmed seeing that our baby would soon be on his way. Our church then very graciously offered to keep Brian on staff until the end of May in order to give us sufficient time to find another job. Praise the Lord!! I could breathe again! It was also during this time and the coming months that I would question why things had to work out this way...why decisions were made the way they were...just praying that years later maybe I would see why....still believing and trusting in God's sovereignty even though I didn't understand at all.

January - May 2009 - ministry job search 24/7 all over the country. Interviews both in Texas and Florida and a couple of other options elsewhere...most of them needing to raise support. We just didn't have time to raise support by May! Meanwhile, Jake was born in February...our great joy in the midst of confusion and the unknown. The end of May came with a job offer in Florida...neither one of us felt called to go (as we felt the same for the job in Texas). Amazing how the Lord works...as you know 2 years ago, we would have jumped at the chance to go to either place! More confirmation that the desire for Montgomery was totally from the Lord!

May 2009 - took a huge leap of faith and decided to stay here in Montgomery and just see what the Lord would do. We both knew that if we left, we would always look back with regret and wonder what if we had just tried? I am sure people thought we were crazy, but we didn't really care. We cared more about this desire (to see the gospel of grace transform our city) that the Lord had placed upon our hearts. With a part time job at Grace in hand, we turned down the call in St. Petersburg at the end of May, took our house off the market, and Brian started looking for jobs here. If it were not for the pastor at Grace and his offer to hire Brian part-time (with benefits), we never would have stayed. Somehow, that 10 hour a week job was a glimmer of hope for us! We were so excited about trusting the Lord and were confident that He would provide for us if He wanted us here.

June 2009 - our friend Greg was asked by the ARP to plant a church in Pratville!! Another reason why Brian ultimately didn't go to Pratville...he had this friend Greg who really felt called to plant a church there...he loved the city and the people there...of course he should be the one to plant in Pratville! Not Brian. So yet again, seeing the Lord's sovereignty in all things...us saying no to the ARP opened up an opportunity for them to plant in Pratville with Greg as the church planter. So amazing!!

July 2009 - Brian had started a sales job in June (which we knew would take awhile to see the fruit of his labor), but with working solely on commission and still not seeing any money, we knew we needed something else. Meanwhile, the Lord provided in so many ways and through so many family and friends. Our faith was surely strengthened!! At the same time, Brian was getting no where on the job front. He was desperate to find any job...even Chick fil-a would have been great! But nothing turned up. However, in a matter of days 2 different churches here in Montgomery called him up and offered him 2 different part-time jobs...preacher/teacher/counselor at Friendship Mission and youth pastor interim at Young Meadows PCA. (If Brian had not been desperate for a job, he probably never would have taken the youth job...he had gotten his fill after 8 years and was ready to move on). The Lord, in His sovereignty, didn't let that happen.

August 2009 - one of the elders (and father to some youth) at Young Meadows struck up a conversation with Brian one night asking about his vision for church planting here in the city, so Brian was able to share with him. Their conversations would continue on into the next month.

September 2009 - the session at Young Meadows asked Brian to come to their meeting and share his vision for church planting here in Montgomery. The very next day they called him and said that is exactly what they wanted to be a part of and asked him to be the church planter of a new work downtown!!! PRAISE THE LORD!! PRAISE THE LORD!! Yet again, seeing the Lord's sovereignty...if Brian had not been forced to take this youth job (out of necessity to pay our bills), he probably never would have met that elder and church planting never would have come up (at least not on the same time line it is now).

October - December 2009 - pinching ourselves daily...did this really happen? Are we really planting a church downtown? Brian now has an outward call to match his internal call!! Daily living in awe of what the Lord had done...seeing his provision and faithfulness in a way we had never experienced before...strengthening our faith in Him in a whole new way!! (That had actually been happening all along the way of this "testing our faith" year!) Wow!! The amazing ways our Lord provides for His children!! Also, more provision from the Lord with new job transitions...the job at Friendship was ending (no more funding for this position) and the youth pastor job would end as well in December when the newly hired youth pastor would come on board at Young Meadows. So now what to do? An elder at Grace runs two local magazines here in the city and hired Brian to sell ads for the magazines part-time. Thankfully it was a job not all based on commission, which is helping us live each month. Another answer to prayer and another great way for Brian to meet and form relationships here in the city! So now his 3 jobs are college/outreach at Grace, ad salesman for Montgomery Parents and Journey magazines, and church planter!!! (Someday Brian will only have one job, and we are greatly looking forward to that day! However, we are grateful for His provision! )

December 2009 - Brian received the official call as assistant pastor at Young Meadows PCA to plant City Church.

January 2010 - Let the church planting begin!!!! GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS!!!! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago (Isaiah 25:1).

For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth (Psalm 71:5).

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps (Proverbs 16:9).

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16).