Letting go...these two simple words describe past eight months of our journey. There are a lot of other words I could use such as crazy, bittersweet, busy, challenging, faith-based. But, the reality is, looking back, it really has been a journey of faith and surrender.
In February, Chris and I received a phone call from a guy named Jon Oakley. I had heard Chris mention him and his wife, Priscilla before, but really wasn't sure why he'd be calling Chris in Texas, since he lived in Tennessee. He called to ask Chris to become the next campus pastor of a church in Chris's hometown. Wow!!! I remember praying
I look back at my years in Texas with great JOY! Not only was God preparing me for the journey ahead, but He was also using me to teach, to share Christ, and as a friend recently shared, "to show her the way to LIFE!" As we said our goodbyes at Southcliff, I remember thinking, "I'm glad it's hard to leave." I'm sure you're thinking, ummm....you're weird, why would you say you're glad? It gives me joy to be affirmed that God used us to invest deeply in the lives of students and families, challenging them to walk with Jesus! Joy to realize that the tears came from a deep love and care for the ones we were asked to let go! Joy to know that we made miles that mattered!!
So after many weeks of prayer, seeking wise council, and considering God's direction, we knew God asked us to move. MOVE...such a simple word, yet one that brings HUGE change. I remember sitting in a service with Chris listening to a sermon on God's kingdom at a church plant in Fort Worth. The pastor explained God's kingdom sometimes is about small things, or about investing in specific people, but also, like selling everything to buy the pearl, sometimes God asks us to do CRAZY things! CRAZY...in our life was defined as having a baby, quitting our jobs, leaving those we loved, packing and driving 16 hours with a one month old, living in Chris' old bedroom for an undetermined time, looking for a house, starting a new job, and planting a church! Crazy was definitely the word, but God had asked us for obedience and to love Him MOST...so we did.
The best part of it all is that in the craziness, God was consistently by our side, providing in ways we never could have imagined. When a baby sleeps the entire trip in the car and at the hotel all night for two days straight, you know without a doubt that prayers have been answered. God has filled our lives with new people to love, who care for Moriah and desire to see her know Jesus. God has given us a wonderful home, a precious gift from him, that we are excited to use to share life with others! Obedience is not always easy, in fact many times it's about letting go of things or people you love, but I am amazed at the way God has blessed after our choice to obey.
It has been an exciting journey with many challenges and adventures that require a deeper dependence on the Lord than I've ever needed before. In the book, Just Walk Across the Room, Bill Hybels, explains it like this, "Jesus knew the heart of the Father so intimately that even when facing death he could not let go of his preoccupation with people. As he inhaled his last breath, his heart still beat for people." God has given us the opportunity to invest in people who need Jesus. A chance to share what God has done in our own lives and teach others how to share the same. Yes, it has been a crazy journey, but more than anything these miles matter!!!
