1 We had an amazing CRASH Weekend with our youth group (our version of Disciple Now)
which culminated with the vote and announcement that Ben is the new Youth Pastorat Lake Ridge Bible Church! We are so excited about this! This past year has been a year of learning to be patient, bear with one another, and trust the Lord in spite of uncertainty. One of my favorite bands is Waterdeep, and I was reminded of the lyrics from one of their more recent songs yesterday when we got the news. "It's a long, hard road, with a good, good end..." This is a good description of howI'm feeling. But, really the end is just the beginning! Please keep us in your prayers as we begin this new journey together. While Ben has been serving as Youth Assistant and Junior High Director for the past 4 years, there are still unchartered waters ahead for us. We desire to submit ourselves to the Lord, recognize this is HIS ministry and we are simply entrusted with it. We ask for prayers for wisdom, discernment, vision & passion, patience, unity among our youth workers and students, that we would all seek to glorify God, for spiritual growth, and a ministry that produces servant leaders with a heart for Christ's heart.
2 Ben's parents have decided to move back to the DFW area! We are also very excited about this. It will be so nice to have both sets of grandparents in town when we begin our family hopefully this year. The Lord's hand has been visibly and unmistakeably at work in the process of their finding a new home here. He took care of all of the details just this weekend in their short trip here to decide on a house. They will be closing on April 13th and will move six weeks later! Ben's brother and our sister-in-law are considering moving back as well. Please pray for them as they seek the Lord's desires for their future home, career, etc. It would be so wonderful to have all of the family back here together again. Ben's sister Mary is getting married in August (for those of you that know her story, this is a HUGE praise!). Much is changing in the lives ofthe Lowery family, and we are looking forward to all that's ahead!
3 Last, but not least, we got word that our dossier is in Ethiopia!
This is a HUGE relief! We honestly could get a referral any day now....which is incredibly exciting, but also really nerve-wracking! The Lord is in complete control of this, and we trust that He knows exactly which child (or children) are to join our family and when. It's crazy to think that the process could go really quickly from here, but we are prepared for it to take a while as well. We could get a referral as soon as a week from now or as long as six months from now. We will be sure to keep you all posted as the process progresses.
WE ARE ENDING OUR T-SHIRT FUNDRAISER TOMORROW. IF YOU WOULD STILL LIKE TO PURCHASE A T-SHIRT, PLEASE VISIT OUR STORE TODAY OR TOMORROW. BEFORE WE ACCEPT A REFERRAL, WE HAVE TO PAY BETWEEN $6,000 AND $7,000. WE ARE AGAIN TRUSTING THE LORD IN FAITH. IT IS SO NEAT TO SEE HIS TIMING - WITH BEN'S NEW JOB, WE ARE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO PUT MORE ASIDE IN OUR ADOPTION FUND AND RELY LESS HEAVILY ON FUNDRAISERS. IT HAS BEEN A LESSON IN HUMILITY, AND A LESSON TO US IN HOW WE CAN ALL RALLY AROUND THE BODY OF CHRIST. WE LOVE EACH OF YOU SO MUCH AND APPRECIATE YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT!
We hope to get an email soon letting us know we're on the waiting list! Should be any day now that we know our dossier is in Ethiopia. Please continue to pray for:
1. The needed finances for the rest of the process
2. Good stewardship and financial planning with the additional income Ben will be bringing in
3. The health and protection of our little one(s)
4. Preparation for us - mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally as we get closer to becoming parents
5. Peace of heart and mind as this process progresses
6. For wisdom and discernment as to how we will manage the tension between being parents, full-time ministers, Ben's school responsibilities, and Abby's business
We hope and pray that you are experiencing the joy of the Lord today! He is a GOOD God - in the good times and the hard times. I'm so thankful for a living and active God - even though I don't always understand how He works. He loves us so much and has a good plan for each of our lives. I pray that we would be aboutHis Glory today and every day. Please pray that this would be true in my life.
3. The health and protection of our little one(s)
4. Preparation for us - mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally as we get closer to becoming parents
5. Peace of heart and mind as this process progresses
6. For wisdom and discernment as to how we will manage the tension between being parents, full-time ministers, Ben's school responsibilities, and Abby's business
We hope and pray that you are experiencing the joy of the Lord today! He is a GOOD God - in the good times and the hard times. I'm so thankful for a living and active God - even though I don't always understand how He works. He loves us so much and has a good plan for each of our lives. I pray that we would be aboutHis Glory today and every day. Please pray that this would be true in my life.
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