This Sounds Crazy

Have you ever believed God wanted you to do something that didn't make sense or seemed like an odd approach? It's as if He says, "This is God and I know this sounds crazy, but I want you to do ____________ or I want you to do ______________ this way."

I think these times are for two reasons: One is to lead us to exercise faith in God and the other to leave us with no room to take the credit.

The people of Israel crossed the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land. The first battle to be waged was against the mighty city and well-fortified city of Jericho. From the beginning, God promised He would give them the land by delivering enemy after enemy into the Israelites' hands. God tells Joshua that He had already delivered Jericho into his hands with the king and fighting men.

Do we trust what God has already promised? Do we ask for things believing and giving thanks that it is already done?

It was true that God had already given the city into the hands of Joshua and Israel. What came next was merely the proof and demonstration of this. But it would require complete trust and faith. God said, "March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days….On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in."

Would you do this? This was not and is not the way battles take place. This is not the way we plan to conquer cities and defeat our enemies.

Without faith in God, this seems absurd. Who would do this? How can this work? I've never done it like this before! 

With faith in God, there's no debate. God's wisdom exceeds my own by far. God's is greater than my plans and power. When He gives a direction, there's no other way to go. To go another way is disobedience and will not accomplish His will.

Would you do it? Would you tell a million people thirsting for water to gather around for the water that is going to come as you speak to the rock? Would you lead a whole nation to walk around a city promising them its walls would fall after the seventh time on the seventh day? Would you walk to the sea and catch a fish because you would find the coin to pay taxes in its mouth?

Obedience to Jesus may look crazy. But have the faith to obey places us in the position to see His work of power. What would you do? What will you do?

Take a Daniel moment:

1. Give thanks that God doesn't work within the power and confines of humanity's limitations.
2. Ask God to enlarge your faith to do what He asks in the way He leads you.
3. Pray that God will allow you to see His mighty work of power and the beauty of His glory as you follow His leading (whenever, wherever, and however He leads).

So Close

Moses came close…real close. God told Moses to go upon the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo. From this lofty perch Moses was able to see the land of Canaan. 

Moses would see it but not touch it. He would come so close but he would not enter in and receive what God had promised. He lacked the faith to trust God and obey God's word in a difficult situation.

The people of Israel had been led out of Egypt by the mighty deeds of God. Yet they never seemed to be content and grateful. Instead, they grumbled about not have water to drink. They complained that they didn't have meat to eat. On more than one occasion they accused Moses of leading them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness. And at least once they planned to select a leader to take them back to Egypt.

Leading people is a difficult task and Moses faced every difficulty in leading a people one could imagine. We can imagine how day after day and month by month how this just weighed upon him. So we can also imagine how, when the people once again griped about not having water and God said He would provide if Moses and Aaron would speak to the rock, Moses took his staff and hit the rock instead.

He was frustrated.

He was angry.

He was weary with the people's complaints.

But most of all, he was a man who in that moment acted on his own rather than by faith. Faith in God in every situation and circumstance of life will lead to obeying God. After Moses struck the rock, God said, "Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."

Moses did not believe God. He did not trust God. He had not faith to follow God's way. So he chose his own way. Yet God still brought water from the rock in spite of Moses and Aaron's lack of faith and direct disobedience.

As I read this passage (familiar to me) once again today, I sought to ask whether or not I am exercising faith and obedience to God in every situation and circumstance. What I do not want to be true in my life is that I forfeit the promises of God and getting to be part of God's mission and work because I fail to trust HIm wholly and obey Him fully. My heart was so overwhelmed and encouraged, though, that even when I fail to have faith and obey, God graciously gives what we need (as He gave the people the water they needed for drink).

Take a Daniel Moment:

1.  What areas in your life are you not exercising faith and obedience?

2.  In what ways are you missing out on God's work and promises as a result?

3.  Pray that God would expose these areas and help your unbelief?

4.  Ask God to allow you to exercise radical belief that leads to crazy obedience so you don't come close but never take part in what He is doing and desires for us.

The Latest Update from Home

Yesterday Sarah and I traveled back home with our youngest son. Today began the first day of Buchanan life with four (five if you ask Sarah) boys in the house!  The newest and littlest Buchanan boy is doing well and had his first visit to the pediatrician this morning. The doctor gave a great report on him.

The big brothers--Isaac, Ethan, and Micah--are all doing well. They each have requested to hold their brother multiple times. Last night as they were going to bed, each one had to tell him good night and give him a kiss. As I was walking out of their room holding him, Ethan said, "Good night, bro."

Sarah and I look forward to sharing with you pictures and information as soon as possible.  There are a few things that still need to happen before we do this.

Please continue to pray.  You faithfully prayed and we hope to share countless God moments that can only be attributed to His work and your prayers.  Even last night, as we read the Scriptures as a family, we were reading in the last chapter of Mark how the disciples went out to declare the good news of Jesus Christ.  Mark writes how the Lord "worked with them." Your prayers have been the means by which God has worked with us in this.

Here's some requests for prayer today:

• Financial provision - We are to make the financial payment for the adoption today.
• Continued health - He is healthy and we continue to pray for his well-being.
• Family transition - A baby changes everything (not in a bad way).
• Birth parents - We met the birth mom and dad who deeply love this boy and chose what they thought best for him because of that love. Pray for their peace and that they would come to trust in the good news of Jesus, knowing they matter much to God.
• Sarah's sanity - I'm sure she'll be great. But when you consider she has four sons, me, wife of a pastor/church planter, home-schools, and is expecting our fifth child, well...you get what I'm saying. She will do great. Just pray specifically for her.

Thank you friends and family for all the notes and encouragement. Thank you to those who have financially given toward the financial need.  I hope to be posting more updates with pictures in the near future.

This is Real

Yesterday I wrote a block post about the crazy journey of following Jesus that Sarah and I and our family are currently on together.  You can read it here.

I awoke this morning with this thought: "This is real!" I woke up wondering at first whether this was a dream I had or if it was real. Quickly I recalled, "This is real...and super exciting!"

Sarah and I will shortly head out to the western part of North Carolina for the anticipated birth of the new baby TODAY.  It's been a whirlwind to say the least.

We still ask you to pray:

• For the health of the baby and the birth mom
• For the process of finalizing the adoption
• For the preparation of our boys (who are so excited and eager)
• For the provision needed
• For safety in travel
• For Sarah and I as we get to spend time with the mom

With the quickness with which all of this took place, Sarah and I had not launched into any fundraising. We had begun saving with our own finances. But we are still only 1/6 of the way to the goal.  Oh Lord, we believe! To be completely transparent, the adoption and associated costs will totally near $20,000.

We are asking MOST of all for you to pray. We don't know where this money is coming from but we know God can do it. 

Some have asked how they can give. If you desire to do so, I most encourage you to give through Refuge Online Giving and select the "Refuge Adoption Fund" rather than "General Budget." You can click the donate button on this page to give now.

Thank you for standing at our wall of Jericho and our Red Sea asking God to make a way.

Baby Plans

Sarah and I are making plans to travel to the western part of the state today. I have removed the donation button on the right side of this site as another way for donations to be made should be available soon (a preferred method for Sarah and me).

I hope to share another update before noon.

A Crazy Story of Following Jesus

Sarah and I have learned over the years that the journey in being a disciple of Jesus is anything but tame and predictable. Sometimes, against all human reason and planning, God chooses to lead you in a way or at a time different than you may imagine.  Such is that time for us right now and we are asking you to pray diligently for us, right now.  Here's the backstory:

Before Sarah and I married in 2003, we knew that we desired to have the family God wanted for us and believed that included children both biological and adopted. Our family began growing with the birth of Isaac in 2004, Ethan in 2005, and Micah in 2007. As many of you may know, Micah has endured many health challenges not the least of which included a liver transplant in 2007 and we continue to face uncertain days. But two years ago we began the adoption process believing whole-heartedly it was God's direction.

In May of this year, we completed the process and entered the time of waiting.  Five weeks later, Sarah and I learned that she was pregnant with child number 4. We called the adoption agency to let them know our exciting news. After conversation in which we believed God would have us to continue to keep our profile active, nine weeks later (Monday, August 19), the adoption agency called. 

A birth mom in North Carolina saw our profile. She saw we had three children already who were close in age. She also saw the note on our book that we were expecting another child.  And this mom chose our family. In fact, she said she chose our family because we were expecting another child, not in spite of that fact. The social worker told Sarah that often families like ours, with three biological children already and one on the way, do not get chosen this soon or at all.  The birth mom is expected to give birth tomorrow (August 23).

But I hope you didn't miss how God always does things on time and in order.

In Creation, the sun preceded the plants and the plants preceded the animals. The plants needed the light for photosynthesis.  The animals needed the plants for food.  We had to complete the process before Sarah got pregnant.  We had to be pregnant before this mom saw our profile. All of this God ordered not as we expected, but according to His perfect time.  And we are humbled and full of joy.

We believe these events have the hand prints of God all over them.  We believe by faith we are to step forward and follow wherever He leads.

Here's our request: When God's hand is upon a situation, He always provides exactly what is needed.  We are asking you to diligently pray, right now, for our Great God and King to make the provision needed, not the least of which is the financial provision lacking and the preparation of our home and family.

Friends and family, thank you for standing and praying with us at the wall of Jericho for God to remove the wall and provide what we see as nothing less than His promised gift to us.