God acts when His people have faith, and sometimes we have to act on that faith.

I’m believing that God will provide NCC with a new building where we can serve Him, and earlier today Rachel and I took a step of faith and made a small donation to help pay for the property that NCC wants to buy. It wasn’t much, but it was an expression of faith that God will come through.

Why did we do it? Why did we do it today? Because I’m believing that this will happen tomorrow. Again, I could be wrong. I could be completely wrong. God could have totally different plans, but tomorrow I finish seven days of circling and praying for that property, and just like he did at Jericho, I believe that on the seventh day, God will move.

Why am I writing this post? I’ll look foolish if it doesn’t happen tomorrow, and even more foolish if it doesn’t happen at all. But that doesn’t matter. It only matters that God is glorified. It’s also my way of (reverently, respectfully, and humbly) putting God on the spot. I’ve done what I believe He’s asked me to do, and now I’m believing that He will do his part.

For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

At Team D’s* last major planning meeting, we read through the Book of Titus, a letter from the Apostle Paul to a young leader named Titus. There was a ton of good stuff in there, but one of the things that stuck out to me was Paul’s comment that an overseer must be disciplined.

I’m not disciplined. I don’t mean that I’m a hoodlum. I mean that I don’t lead an ordered, structured life.

This is a problem. I need to have the discipline to get up early to read my Bible, because I know I won’t do it at night. I need to have the discipline to exercise, because that triathlon is looming, and I’m not ready.

In the last few posts I’ve talked about how at NCC we’re believing God for a piece of property so that we can better serve God’s kingdom. And my wife and I are also looking purchase a house. While plans can always change, we see ourselves in DC for the foreseeable future. We’d like to have a family here, and in the meantime, we want to be able to use our house to entertain out of town guests, help out friends who need a place to stay, and share our lives with those around us.

Thoroughly confused as to how these relate? Wait for it…

Last Sunday, Pastor Mark preached on the story of Jericho, where the Israelites marched around the city of for seven days before God gave it to them. PM also talked about praising God for the things He’s done, even when from a human perspective it doesn’t seem as if He has yet done them.

That Sunday afternoon and every morning since then, I’ve ridden my bike around Capitol Hill (where we’d like to live), praising God, believing that He will provide the right house for Rachel and I. We’ve put offers in on three places that didn’t work out, and as difficult as that has been, I believe that God has something better in store for us.

I’ve also been stopping at the property that NCC is attempting to purchase,^# walking around it, and praising Him for providing it.

It has been a great experience and one that taken some discipline. Getting up at 7 AM to ride in 45 degree weather doesn’t come naturally, but it’s more than worth it. It has also taken some discipline to stay on task. I’ll be honest, some days I’ve done a fair amount of road raging when I should have been praising.

I’m planning to finish tomorrow by circling Capitol Hill 7 times. (This time in a car, it’ll be over 50 miles!) I’ll also be walking around NCC’s new property 7 times, praising God for it.

*NCC’s Discipleship Team
^#At least, I’m pretty sure it’s the right property. I know I’m at least in the right area

Here at NCC, God has blessed us with more people than will fit in our current facilities, and so we’re attempting to purchase another piece of property. The other potential purchaser is a wealthy real estate developer, but we’re believing God for a real estate miracle.

Let me preface this by saying that I’m not always a fan of the emphasis that churches sometimes place on building campaigns. They may be necessary and good things, but they don’t usually stir my soul, and I feel that they can divert attention from more important matters. That said, I believe the senior leadership at NCC has done a great job of stewarding the physical space we do have, and we really do need more of it.

As Pastor Mark was praying that God would give us this property, he felt like God’s Spirit said to him, “Mark, stop praying for it and start praising me for it.” When you read the story of the Israelite takeover of Jericho, God says to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand.” The Israelites didn’t actually possess Jericho at this point. They were still standing outside the walls, but God had already given it to them.

If God has already done something for you, what do you do? You praise him. That’s the only appropriate response.

We could be wrong. God could choose not to give us this property, but we believe that He’s set it aside for His purposes and that He will allow us to steward it.

So that’s what we’re doing. We’re praising God for a piece of property we don’t yet own.

Here at NCC we’re in the middle of a sermon series called Miracles. There have already been some incredible stories of the things God has done. He’s provided over $15k for an orphanage in the Congo and made amazing financial provision for one of our unpaid interns.

When we started this series, I didn’t really have a miracle I was praying for. Sometimes I have a hard time getting in line with these church-wide things. It’s not an attempt at rebellion or arrogance (although it’s probably at least a mild form of both). In this case, there just wasn’t anything I felt like I needed a miracle for. I have a great wife, just got a great job, am in need of nothing, and feel like I’m spiritually in a much better place than I’ve been in a very long time, maybe ever.

But then Pastor Mark said something that really struck a chord in me. He told us to be a part of other people’s miracles. So that’s what I’m praying for. I’m praying that God would use me to bless others.

Since then, I’ve found some places where I could use a miracle and have even experienced one, but more on that later.

I’m about to start a series of posts on some things that God is teaching me and the good things that He is doing both in my life and here at National Community Church, but first I need to put it in the context of some recent life events.

• In September I finished my year as an intern at NCC.
• I spent six months working on some web projects and playing online poker.
• In January I was diagnosed with diabetes.
• In March, I was hired for a permanent position at NCC. I’m now coordinating logistics for our small groups. And I’m still searching for a good title. Let me know if you think of anything!
• Rachel & I are looking for a house, we’ve put in three offers, had one accepted, and backed out after the inspection.

More on most of this stuff later.

This morning I was reading in the book of Numbers. When most of us think of that book (if we think of it at all), we conjure up dull genealogies and census data. I challenge you to read it again. In the span of four chapters, I found tons of great stuff.

In chapter 9, we find Israelites who come to ask Moses a question about observing the Passover, an important religious ceremony. His response: “Wait, that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.”

Can you imagine that? Next time someone comes to you asking for advice, say that. Don’t give good advice. Don’t even say, “Let’s pray about it.” Just say, “Wait, that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.” In other words, God is going to speak to me and tell me what you should do.

This relationship that Moses had with God is amazing. That’s the kind of relationship I want with God, one where I can confidently expect God to speak.