Down To The Wire

The following is an e-mail written to the staff of our home church.  Specifics have been generalized to protect the privacy of others.

 Dear Staff,

Hope you are all doing well.  We sure miss you all already.  We'll be leaving the desert in 3 days, and leaving the state in 11 days.

We've had a couple potential buyers, and several potential renters.  All have fallen through.  We offered to rent to a family that really needed a good deal.  We really prayed about making it work for them, but they ended up turning down our offer because the commute would be to much for them.

We've pretty much resolved to drive away even with the house unresolved, but that makes us nervous.  While God does want us to use wisdom, He also reminds us that His kingdom is "upside down".  We believe the furthering of the gospel should be the priority above our desire to maximize our possessions.

We are willing to sell for way less that we bought the house for or rent it for just above the cost of our monthly payment.  Please continue to pray for provision, wisdom, and the resolve to do whatever God calls us to whatever that may be.  If we don't hear anything soon we'll probably list with a realtor or rental agency.

Grace and peace,

Mike and Kristi Day

Unemployed In December

I have to admit that it was a little scary and surreal voluntarily resigning from a job I love during an economic meltdown.  My last day was November 30.  I never would have done that if I didn't believe that God wanted us to move in this direction.  It took a great deal of letting go and trusting God for us to finally make that step.  For Kristi and I to trust God with this is nothing short of a miracle.  To God be the glory for the great things He does.

This month has been one of the busiest and most taxing I can remember.  The details of this transition are numerous and charged with excitement, terror, joy, sorrow, peace, and turmoil.  The past few months we've been going through all our belongings trying to narrow them down by about 70%.  We had garage sales, made trips to thrift stores, and dispersed items to friends and family.  The past couple weeks have been spent packing the things we are going to move to WI.  The night before we loaded our PODS (portable on demand storage) we worked till 5:30am and got up at 7:30am.  We were so tired that we started displaying some weird behavior.  For instance, the next morning we were getting in the car to go to church and I had put a flashlight under my arm and carried it to the car for no reason.  Later that evening Kristi told me that she was going to put on a movie for Caesar (our cat)!

For me the hardest part of trusting God is not so much a question of whether He can do something.  I don't question His strength, ability, wisdom, or goodness.  I just can't stand not being in "control" and not knowing how or when He is going to provide.  I read in Isaiah recently where God's response to an unbelieving people was to say "than I will once more ASTOUND these people with wonder upon wonder".  He could have said "forget these people" instead He says "I will astound them AGAIN".  Thanks be to God for His ASTOUNDING mercy, grace, and lovingkindness.

I don't take unemployment lightly.  I know a lot of folks are struggling with legitimate financial crisis.  I know many hard-working people have lost their jobs and not been able to find new ones.  For me, I'm okay with being unemployed in December because I'm confident God will meet our needs.  Our family is ready to embark on the greatest adventure of our lives.  What a privilege it will be to play some part, whether large or small, in bringing God's Word to a people group desperately in need of a Savior.  How blessed are the feet that bring good news...and this is great news, to all people.

Grace and Peace this Christmas,  Mike