Dared To Move

Greetings from Singapore! The Stakes family has taken up residence on its fourth continent (Asia), and of course, the Willing Mind Studio will experience a new incarnation as well. We are as blown away as you are when we consider the amazing journey God has taken us on this far...

Considering this new location, please permit me to muse for a moment: We were dared to move. Maybe "challenged" to move would be better, but I like "dared" because the Switchfoot lyric is bouncing around in my head, and because being "dared" implies risk, and I am feeling like we have taken a risky step.

Why does it feel risky? Here are some bullet points to ponder...

• Our concept of "cost of living" will be totally stretched here...will God provide?
• Our sons have a new school and new environment to adapt to...will God help them through?
• We don't have a car and will be on public transport to go anywhere we would like to go (for example, all shopping)...can we physically do it?
  
• We are surrounded by world religions in a new and very up-close-and-personal sort of way...will God give us faith to stand on the truth, and grace to show His love?
• Ministry will take us into some of the real hotbeds of resistance to the Gospel, which are also the places where it is growing the fastest...will God use us there, and make us able to be used?

I could go on, but these are bubbling on the top of my mind. So, what is the answer? Well, I have a deep sense that God will continue to be faithful. He dared us to move...and He always is true to Himself (even when we are faithless, He remains faithful for He can not deny Himself). The only guarantee we have is His character, and that is enough.

This is a faith-building time, and we're OK with that. We could use your prayers to carry us through it...

Oh yeah...the other quote that keeps coming to mind is, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." More on that later...maybe...