Over the last several weeks I've posted about all the yard work and house cleaning we've been doing. We're not neat-freaks by any stretch of the imagination! There has actually been a reason for all the sprucing up: we have a "For Sale" sign in our yard. You'll understand why my posting lately has been sporadic in light of the changes our family is facing.
The last three years we've spent here in Georgia have been the best three years of our lives. We love our church family. We enjoy having four seasons and playing in the snow. We love feeling like we've gone back in time to a laid-back place. For us, Georgia has truly been the "Promised Land". Now it looks like God is moving us from this beloved place.
our little country church
My husband preached his resignation sermon a week ago this past Sunday night. He shared his heart with the people and told them of our family's plans. I sat in a pew toward the back of the sanctuary and cried the whole service. Our hearts have been knit with the hearts of the people we have served with. Our children have many "adopted" grandmas who will miss them tremendously. We have been so very content here, yet we truly feel that the Lord is now moving us on.
My father-in-law has asked my husband to return to Florida to co-pastor the church there with him. After much prayer, my husband has agreed to do so. We have complete peace that this is God's will for us. This is the church we grew up in. Our family and so many friends are there, and you cannot imagine how excited the grandmas are to be getting their grandchildren back "home"!
There are some uncertainties that we are facing right now. We have not had anyone look at our house yet. The real estate market has changed all over the country, and we're experiencing a bit of a slump in our community. We do not know for sure where we will live when we get to Florida, but God knows all about it.
Our family will face lots of changes, too. We are going from a small country church to a very large ministry that includes a Bible college, Christian school, radio station, retirement community, youth camp, homeschool curriculum publishing, and so much more. You can read a little about it here. I mentioned to someone the other day that we are jumping out of the fishbowl and into the ocean. :)
To my human eyes and emotions, all of this is quite overwhelming. However, this is an excellent opportunity for me to grow in my walk with the Lord.
Each day I have the words "just keep trusting...just keep trusting..." running through my head. That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to trust the Lord with our future. Day by day, moment by moment, looking to Him and leaning on Him.
I received a card in the mail the other day from a friend (thank you, Carrie!). On the front of the card was a quote by Charles Spurgeon. It really encouraged me and sums up what is on my heart right now.
Faith looks back upon the past and remembers that God has never once failed any of His children. It recollects times of great peril when deliverance came, hours of awful need when strength was received, and cries, "Always before, the Lord has helped me, and He will help me now." ~ Charles Spurgeon