Is God into the dates of your life?
I think He is. You tell me. It was January 2009 and we were on our initial trip to San Francisco to walk the streets, drive around the Bay Area and ask God to show us where to move our family and start a church. We started 50 days of prayer on November 1, 2008 and on the 50th day, January 18, 2009, we flew to San Francisco. We met with 2 other couples in the city and shared one hotel room over the course of 4 days. Don’t necessarily recommend this, but I do recommend praying very specific prayers to God!
God, I’m scared and need Your peace.
God, You’ve gifted us with 3 boys. Move us to a place they can thrive.
God, we don’t know the layout of the land of San Francisco yet. We need your wisdom and insight to know where to start a church.
God, the city is big. I feel small. Show us what we have to offer to the people here.
God used our walks, believers in the city, and our prayers, to show us it was the city! Downtown! He did this through conversations we had in a rented mini-van pulled over on the side of the road somewhere in the Bay Area on the way to have dinner with friends on January 21, 2009.
[read more: Planting A Church and Our 10 year story}
We woke up on the morning of January 22, convinced God was calling our 3 families to downtown San Francisco to start a church! We were excited to return to the Midwest and tell our little kids this news. We were also excited to plan and dream about our future in this city.
We had no idea what would happen exactly 10 years later on January 22, 2019!
Love Where You Live would release! On the anniversary to us saying yes to God’s call to the people and place of San Francisco!
Books typically release on Tuesdays. Authors don’t pick the release dates. The process is so long that when the contract is signed, a projected season of release is mentioned, but not the specfic date.
What are the chances that 10 years after our initial visit, LWYL is released on the exact date? 100% when God is writing the story! Here’s the proof retrieved from Ben’s Hotmail account!
God sees you. He’s into the details AND the dates of your life! Let this story cause your faith to rise and take this Scripture to heart: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
What does God have in store for you in 2020?
He does, don’t doubt that!
He wants to use your story that He’s redeeming.
He has positioned you in your company, business, school, church, neighborhood.
This season of life you’re in is significant even if no one else around you acknowledges it.
I want us to journey together in 2020. God has people in our paths and we have something to offer: An intercessory prayer. An introduction. An invitation. Let this be the place to share stories and leave inspired. Not to repeat what you’ve seen here necessarily, but to be awakened to the same God who has unique opportunities just for you where you live and in the season of life you are in.
Let me get your started in 2020!
Download this $7 ebook that goes further into depth with what was written in Love Where You Live. I give specific and practical was to get to know your community and city in just one month! In each chapter, I unpack a different idea. Easy to jump around and pick and choose. You can stretch these ideas out over the entire year! Make this your bucket list! Let the 31 ways be your gift to your city this year!