A Week of Being Home
It has been a week since we have been home and the chaos that is our life sets back into place. Owning a home, two vehicles, other stuff and having children leads to a long list of never-ending chores and things to do.
I am writing today because a number of you have said that you were looking for a big inspirational ending to the blogs. A final episode if you will. I’m not certain there will ever be an ending to our tale, just a continuation.
While we were at the Southwest Indian Ministry Center and since we have left, we have been praying for guidance and clarity as to what God wants us to do. Two of our biggest concerns with becoming career missionaries is how will it effect our children (especially Noah who is in high school) and how do we survive if I leave my job?
On Sunday, I went to Sunday School and the passage of the Bible we were discussing was the following:
Luke 14:25-27
The Cost of Being a Disciple
25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
I shared with Becky (who had been in the nursery) how the pastor had talked about moving while his son was a senior in high school. People had told him it wasn’t a good idea, but God had other plans for him. As I wrestled with this and went more to God with more prayer, Monday morning came… and this was in my daily devotional:
Our Greatest Fights Are With God was the title and it talked about how Jacob had to wrestle with God (Genesis 32:24). It went on to say, “God is the divine intruder in our lives. He sometimes invades our lives, not to bring comfort, but to wage a war. As strange as it may sound, some of our greatest battles are with God. Often it is easier to say no to the Devil than it is to say yes to God.”
“But I have a great job that I enjoy,” I said. Then came the next day’s devotional:
Title: The Key To A Good Job
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
“Good teaching. I can do that! I’m doing it now,” I continued to explain in my prayers. Then came the next day’s devotion with the title Finding God in the Desert (Exodus 3).
It seems God and I are having a conversation and I feel a little like Gideon continually asking Him to give me a sign. It reminds me of a story/joke I once heard:
A very religious man was once caught in rising floodwaters. He climbed onto the roof of his house and trusted God to rescue him. A neighbor came by in a canoe and said, “The waters will soon be above your house. Hop in and we’ll paddle to safety.”
“No thanks” replied the religious man. “I’ve prayed to God and I’m sure he will save me”
A short time later the police came by in a boat. “The waters will soon be above your house. Hop in and we’ll take you to safety.”
“No thanks” replied the religious man. “I’ve prayed to God and I’m sure he will save me”
A little time later a rescue services helicopter hovered overhead, let down a rope ladder and said. “The waters will soon be above your house. Climb the ladder and we’ll fly you to safety.”
“No thanks” replied the religious man. “I’ve prayed to God and I’m sure he will save me”
All this time the floodwaters continued to rise, until soon they reached above the roof and the religious man drowned. When he arrived at heaven he demanded an audience with God. Ushered into God’s throne room he said, “Lord, why am I here in heaven? I prayed for you to save me, I trusted you to save me from that flood.”
“Yes you did my child” replied the Lord. “And I sent you a canoe, a boat and a helicopter. But you never got in.”
Pray for us. I’m a little slow sometimes… but I want to be open to God’s plan for our life and need help seeing the boat He sends.
- Doug