When I want to pull back... God says jump farther...

I was talking to a dear friend about some of the changes that are coming for us in this new month of 2013. The walking away from one activity to trying a new one. From thinking we were to step back from some of the "jumping in" at church we did in the last year to even more jumping. 

It's funny how in the tiniest of comments, "so much for stepping back huh?" you are reminded God's thoughts are better than our own. 

2012 was full of so many firsts for us. 

• A step into an entirely new career for my husband. After 12+ years of one the prospect of a new one was scary and exciting at the same time. 
• Buying our first house. 
• A sport for our daughter
• Jumping in with serving and apprentice leading in ministries at church. We have never done that before. We've always come in, been feed, and walked out. Talk about stepping out of our comfort zone. 

The time was a huge thing this year. We felt we never had any and seriously thought we had bitten off way more than we could chew. In some ways we totally did. What's sad is we thought the solution was to cut out the church stuff. Isn't that how it always is!? 

So wrong. 

We have been brought back to the Father's feet a thousand times over asking forgiveness for thinking we needed to cut back on the wrong area. He has forgiven us so much so that he actually keeps bringing us more ministry opportunities. We are very excited about them! 

Upon realization God was calling us to actually purchase this house and move 20+ miles away from things we prayed about what that meant for the said items above. Was this move meaning we were to stop it all? Some? None? Oh the questions. In that we asked our daughter to pray about the sport she was involved in as well. Seeing as we only have one vehicle currently we needed her to pray about a.) continuing with that team and schedule, b.) continuing with that sport only a new team in our new town, or c.) something completely different. She came back to us last week saying she actually wanted to take the entire spring off to pursue family road trips and exploring like we used to do back home, as well as a new hobby. "I have a feeling God has something in store for us." ...were her exact words. 

Have I mentioned how much my 9 year old blows my mind and faith daily!? She is amazing! 

So that is exactly what we will be doing with her this spring. She will be taking a class today actually for the new hobby she wants to pursue... archery, and we will be praying about what God has in store for us. For what he wants us to do this spring. 

We're excited about that too. 

I guess the point of this post is God is yet again showing me how his plans are better than mine. Cutting back isn't exactly what he is asking us to and in the words of my 9 yr old... He has something in store for us. 2012 he blew us away. I can't imagine what 2013 has in store. I'm excited we have the opportunities further in ministry and how excited the kids are about them too. 

When life gets crazy for you what do you do about cutting back? Does God keep pushing to keep jumping in instead? 

He has definitely push and stretched us farther than we thought we could go... Gotta love his wild ride.