Finding home
Another move looms on the horizon and I wonder what it means for me and my family. Okay, I’ll be honest, it’s mainly me I’m considering (the Buffaloe flesh is not pretty!) This will be my thirty-sixth move. I’m not just looking to move to another house, I want a home. Will the new city be a good place as we continue to get older? Will we find a good church home, doctors, and friends?
Regardless of the answers to my questions, I need to remember the Lord is already wherever He sends us. A new area means a new ministry field. It’s not about how can my flesh be pleased, but how will the Lord be pleased as I yield myself to Him and make myself available to be used in whatever way, method, and city the Lord desires. If I will give myself freely, die to myself, stop worrying about my needs and focus on God, He will meet all needs according to His riches in glory. God’s presence is my home – my eternal home.
As I give freely of my earthly desire for earthly things, God blesses with more – more of Him! What is given freely, receives God’s free gifts with pressed down, poured out blessings. In holding nothing, I receive everything. In losing my life, I find The Life. God has not given the spirit of fear, we need not worry about anything because our heavenly Father cares about everything (including where the Buffaloe roam).
Amy Carmichael wrote, “Think of yourself as belonging first to your Lord and then to all, Servant of all. In serving any one of the ‘all’ you are serving Him who is your Lord. Life is never lonely or empty if we keep Him where He must always be, in the first place.”[i]
Making the Lord the first place, our first love, surrendering all to Him to be used in His service, that is where Home is found. In God’s presence is fullness of joy, and with Christ in our hearts, we are already Home.
Is God prompting you to move? Perhaps He isn’t directing you to relocate your household, but He is asking you to move forward in a new direction. Whatever path God guides you on, wherever He leads, you will find home in His joyful presence.
“You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” ~ Psalm 16:11 (NASB)
“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” ~ Colossians 3:1-3 (NASB)
“…my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:19 (NASB)
“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” ~ Luke 6:38 (NASB)
“For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. …” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 (NASB)
[i] Carmichael, Amy, Candles in the Dark, p 23, Fort Washington, PA: CLC Publications
This is a wonderful perspective on what I can only imagine has to be a challenging undertaking yet again. I know I’m not alone in saying I’m certainly glad one of those moves brought you to Boise so our paths could cross. I know there are many others whose lives you’ve touched as the Lord has had you on your journeys. How exciting to know He is preparing a whole new group of friends whose lives you will bless, and who will bless yours!
Awww thank you, Joanne! I’m so grateful the Lord allowed our paths to cross. One of the hardest things about moving is leaving behind friends. How grateful I am that my family in Christ will be together forever in Heaven! Goodness, now THAT will be an AMAZING homecoming! BIG hugs to you, sweet friend. Please tell everyone hello for us!
Love the pic of the snail with the mini storage van strapped to it’s back. Looking back you guys would have looked like geniuses had you started with the biggest and best motor home available. Think of all the packing, shipping, realtor fees, closing costs, etc that you would have avoided. Just pull the wheel chocks out and take off. Hope all continues well.
LOL! Sweet hubby said he wishes we would have thought of that! Boy, we would have saved money. Every move we make, we keep getting rid of stuff. Sure hope this is the last move until we get to heaven! BIG hugs to you and Carol!
Wow, Lisa, God’s blessings to you & your family as you make this move! He uses you mightily in sharing your life & how God is working through all of it!
Thank you, Lee Ann! We are looking forward to seeing what God has planned for us on the journey. I’m so grateful we were able to meet when we lived in Idaho. Please tell everyone hello for us. Sending BIG hugs!
Beautiful sweet Lisa, just beautiful. Thank you for letting God used you through your situation. You might not know how many lives that you have encouraged through out your waiting period. God is good. XOXO
Thank you, sweet Tess! Thank you! Thank you for your consistent encouragement. You are such a blessing! I can’t wait until we are all Home in heaven together. Love you, sweet friend! XOXOXO ((((((hugs)))))
What a great post!! Where are you moving and when? I’m so proud of you to look to God’s Word in the midst of all the uncertainty that comes from moving. And I’m so thankful for the Scripture you included. Can always count on you for sending us to the Word!!
Love you,
Wendy
Thank you, sweet Wendy! Lord willing, we’re moving to Alabama the first week of July. We’re looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us on this part of our journey. Love you too, precious friend! 🙂