Personal Growth

Wherever He Would Call Me: Our New Chapter

“You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior”

 

“I couldn’t sing  “Oceans” at church today,” I told Tyler a few months ago, “I don’t know that I want to go deeper than my feet could ever wander right now.”

Our family had finally reached a pretty predictable rhythm in our lives.  We were approaching three years working as District Youth Directors for the Northwest Ministry Network (which means literally working with the best people on earth, AND serving the most lovable people: youth pastors). Our entire family loves our neighborhood, our boys are thriving in their elementary school and with their friendships.  I have finally have found treatment to make my voice strong enough to have conversations again, which means I can host neighborhood friends in my home for a weekly bible study.  It is a really good season.

I’ve walked with Jesus long enough to know that a predictable life is not His primary goal for me.  He cares about people; the abandoned, the orphans, the divorcees, the hurting, the hopeless, the lost.  Tyler and I have had an increasingly growing burden for these as well.  We’ve sensed that serving a community, through a local church was where we were being led for full-time vocation.  We just had no idea how, where or when.

After unexpected open doors, time spent in prayer, wise counsel, and unexplained peace Tyler and I have accepted a position as the lead pastors for the Life Center Baker campus, in Tacoma, Washington.  Tacoma is the city that Tyler grew up in and for as long as we’ve been married, when we drive through the city he has asked, “What if Jesus has a purpose for us in Tacoma some day?”  We are so full of expectation, honored to be an extension of Jesus to serve this community and share the Hope that has transformed our lives.

Our family will begin serving Life Center Baker in April, and then we will make the move from Maple Valley to Tacoma in the summer.  It’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be predictable, but I choose to follow His leading and depend on His strength to perfect my weaknesses.

 

“Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine 

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

Oh, Jesus, you’re my God!

I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

-Hillsong United