What's up everyone?! Really... what is UP? Are your eyes looking up? Is your chin up? I write to encourage you to look heavenward, where our peace, direction, and joy lie. On March 26th, my husband and I woke up with a thought, a simple thought of a step we would take of selling our house and finding something more inexpensive to rent. We had been seeking the Lord for His direction in the matter for some time. This particular morning, something in us clicked. (It was His timing). We just knew we should sell. We prayed, and took the step...our house sold in nine days! The Lord opened doors up immediately to move to San Diego, and here we are. That's the nutshell. We were in L.A. for 7 years, established, with family and friends, a church community and a home schooling path. We were set, really. We were so excited to start Ecclesia Classes, as it was exactly what we prayed it would become, and my girls looked so forward to more community and hands on learning. After all that planning, little did we know, we would be living in San Diego for the grand opening. I write to share, not so much the details of all that has happened with us in this transition, as it would take pages to write; pages of God's hand in the details of our lives! But, I want to share His amazing grace, love and miracles; joys beyond our thoughts and hopes and prayers! The Lord has done SO much! Oh may He be glorified through our lives! I just want to share the joy in following Him, no matter where He leads. You can trust Him! His name is Faithful and He shows Himself true to His name.
Most days we all tend to live our lives with normal daily decisions, with a sense of schedule and planning, our plans, with our ideas and our thoughts for the day, of what we will eat, drink, where we will go, who we will talk to, what appointments to keep, what store to stop at, etc. etc. etc. But, then there are the BIG decisions, ones that take time to think on and pray on, and maybe even just to walk in. These are the decisions of faith. You know the kind...when the Lord gives you an idea, or a thought, an open door to something that you just know came from Him. An opportunity presents itself, maybe even out of the blue, or He causes you to revisit something that you brushed off as, "Eh...not for me", or, "nah, not His will." He brings you back with a sense that it IS HIM that brought this thought or open door to you, and this time, you need to pay attention to it. That is what happened with us. He presented an opportunity, an open door, and the only reason we knew it was Him, even though it started to rock our little world, was that we had tremendous peace. That is the gift! He gives peace!! Sometimes taking the first step of faith is frightening! Sometimes, however, you have to take it for fear to leave and peace to come. Trust Him, He will bring peace if it's Him. If you have nothing but confusion, wait until peace comes. Do not be afraid. Maybe you are at a place where He has presented one of those thoughts, open doors, or a step of faith for you to take...trust Him, walk in it, then watch with anticipation of what He will do next. I too want to encourage you in the sadness of what you might have to give up, in the step toward Him and His path, that He replaces with joy beyond your comprehension! With the loss of loving fellowship, you gain more! With the loss of a church community, He leads you to new experiences; the loss of joy in schooling, or friendships, He adds more!!! Really, our losses, or that we perceive as such, are really seasons. Seasons of growth, joy, molding, shaping, even pruning, all for the steps ahead in your journey as a child of God. His path is never wrong. Difficult? At times... yes. Rewarding? Yes! And, better than you can ask for, think or imagine! So, look up my friends! Keep your eye on the upward call of Jesus Christ, even if it takes you to something you didn't think about, or somewhere new! He has a perfect plan and is knitting your life-journey together for good, and His purpose.
When things look dim, hard, or even impossible, that is the perfect condition for miracles! And, maybe it doesn't have to be a total parting of the Red Sea, but just the miracle of getting to see Him at work in people, or circumstances around you. Maybe He calls us to these steps because He just wants more of us, so that we will depend on Him and love Him more? After all, He is jealous for us.
Whatever the case may be in your life, maybe you need a nudge in a direction, or clarity, or maybe He is calling you to a step of faith unlike one you have taken in a long time...just do it. Just follow Him! He is the Good Shepherd, He knows His sheep and they follow Him. He says that SURELY goodness and mercy WILL follow you all the days of your life! (Ps 23). There are no mistakes when your step is taken in Him, so fear not. We are seeing that! And, I can't live my life without telling everyone. He is just SOOO good! He is good in the hard times. He is good in frustrating times, in trials, in sorrows, in loss, in fun, in joy, in fellowship, in longings, in hunger and in thirst. He is good. So, I ask you again, what is up? Are you looking up? May you find your peace and joy solely in Him. Trust Him. He is Faithful. He sees you. You matter to Him. Take a step of faith today. Watch and wait and rest. Peace will come. Then, be ready for indescribable joy!
Love to you, and grace be yours.
Chin up.
Kristin
Most days we all tend to live our lives with normal daily decisions, with a sense of schedule and planning, our plans, with our ideas and our thoughts for the day, of what we will eat, drink, where we will go, who we will talk to, what appointments to keep, what store to stop at, etc. etc. etc. But, then there are the BIG decisions, ones that take time to think on and pray on, and maybe even just to walk in. These are the decisions of faith. You know the kind...when the Lord gives you an idea, or a thought, an open door to something that you just know came from Him. An opportunity presents itself, maybe even out of the blue, or He causes you to revisit something that you brushed off as, "Eh...not for me", or, "nah, not His will." He brings you back with a sense that it IS HIM that brought this thought or open door to you, and this time, you need to pay attention to it. That is what happened with us. He presented an opportunity, an open door, and the only reason we knew it was Him, even though it started to rock our little world, was that we had tremendous peace. That is the gift! He gives peace!! Sometimes taking the first step of faith is frightening! Sometimes, however, you have to take it for fear to leave and peace to come. Trust Him, He will bring peace if it's Him. If you have nothing but confusion, wait until peace comes. Do not be afraid. Maybe you are at a place where He has presented one of those thoughts, open doors, or a step of faith for you to take...trust Him, walk in it, then watch with anticipation of what He will do next. I too want to encourage you in the sadness of what you might have to give up, in the step toward Him and His path, that He replaces with joy beyond your comprehension! With the loss of loving fellowship, you gain more! With the loss of a church community, He leads you to new experiences; the loss of joy in schooling, or friendships, He adds more!!! Really, our losses, or that we perceive as such, are really seasons. Seasons of growth, joy, molding, shaping, even pruning, all for the steps ahead in your journey as a child of God. His path is never wrong. Difficult? At times... yes. Rewarding? Yes! And, better than you can ask for, think or imagine! So, look up my friends! Keep your eye on the upward call of Jesus Christ, even if it takes you to something you didn't think about, or somewhere new! He has a perfect plan and is knitting your life-journey together for good, and His purpose.
When things look dim, hard, or even impossible, that is the perfect condition for miracles! And, maybe it doesn't have to be a total parting of the Red Sea, but just the miracle of getting to see Him at work in people, or circumstances around you. Maybe He calls us to these steps because He just wants more of us, so that we will depend on Him and love Him more? After all, He is jealous for us.
Whatever the case may be in your life, maybe you need a nudge in a direction, or clarity, or maybe He is calling you to a step of faith unlike one you have taken in a long time...just do it. Just follow Him! He is the Good Shepherd, He knows His sheep and they follow Him. He says that SURELY goodness and mercy WILL follow you all the days of your life! (Ps 23). There are no mistakes when your step is taken in Him, so fear not. We are seeing that! And, I can't live my life without telling everyone. He is just SOOO good! He is good in the hard times. He is good in frustrating times, in trials, in sorrows, in loss, in fun, in joy, in fellowship, in longings, in hunger and in thirst. He is good. So, I ask you again, what is up? Are you looking up? May you find your peace and joy solely in Him. Trust Him. He is Faithful. He sees you. You matter to Him. Take a step of faith today. Watch and wait and rest. Peace will come. Then, be ready for indescribable joy!
Love to you, and grace be yours.
Chin up.
Kristin