Tuesday, September 20, 2011

A Temporary Home Mover-Part 2

“For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come.” Hebrews 13:14

Texhoma, Lubbock, Copperas Cove, Texarkana, Carthage, and Jasper are just a few of the places I have lived in the last thirty plus years of my life. As I look back on each of these places the Lord has shown and revealed to me His hand,  His presence, and His love that has been upon me. He has opened my eyes to see moving as something positive and for His purpose, name, and honor. Here are the last of now!

Copperas Cove-was my first town to live in as a young college grad and working woman. I unfortunately allowed some insecurity to carry over into this town which caused for poor decision making at times. I was introduced to working in the real world with people who believed in all different kinds of living. It was a place where the Lord taught me that reading my Bible and not applying it out was useless and would make no impact until I actually lived it and used it. Copperas Cove was the place where the Lord introduced me to the love of my life-my husband.

Texarkana-was the town where Garrett and I moved as a new married couple. It was a place that really did turn out to be greener on the other side. It was where we purchased our first home and where the Lord heard our cries to be parents, and where I brought God’s beautiful gift of life home all wrapped up in blue. It was the town where we started new and fresh as better followers and imitators of Christ. Texarkana became the town where we fell in love with some of our dearest friends that we still love, adore, and have in our lives today. It was the place where God showed His faithfulness to those who seek Him through prayer with unwavering faith, and taught Garrett and I to depend on one another. Texarkana became the place where the Lord would begin His amazing work and call in my life to pursue Him through ministry, as He opened the door for me to stay home and be a mom and seek His face hours upon hours.

Carthage- it is the place where I felt the most at home. But I need to tell you, I did not feel that way at the beginning. I had no desire to live in Carthage, I was comfortable right where I was and that was at 5005 Pinecrest circle. When I first drove through Carthage I thought how could you live somewhere that had no Super Wal-Mart and no homes available to live in. But I also knew it was an opportunity given to my husband to pursue his dream as a coach. The first year was rough, living in a rent house, having a 6 month old, living out of a storage building, and re-modeling a home right smack dab in the middle of football season. But in those four years we welcomed another beautiful gift from God wrapped in blue, were apart  of a church home that surrounded us with the godly friends we have always prayed for, and a wonderful group of College students that God so graciously placed in our lives to teach and love on. We were able  to watch as the Lord’s seed began to sprout in the lives of our boys, and as He worked in Garrett’s life through His ministry as a coach, and also in my life, as I daily sought to serve Him through the ministry of writing, and building friendship’s with women throughout the community. Carthage has been and will be a place we will always hold close to our hearts and call home, no matter where we are.

And now Jasper. God has HUGE plans for us in Jasper and we are thrilled to take on the calling of the Lord to serve Him in this community. We have already seen the Lord at work and we have joined Him in those places. We are excited to see all He has in store for us and we are even more excited to see all He wants to use us for. We have been placed outside of our comfort zones and are thrilled to be uncomfortable for the Lord. For in that our faith has, is, and will be strengthened, and we are realizing our complete need for Jesus, thus opening our eyes to take it one step at a time, trusting in Him to equip us with each step. We are clinging to that promise, comfort, and protection and are very thankful to be found available and useful for the Lord to use.  

As I look back on these places I am comforted and filled with joy to see the Lord’s hand, presence, love, and guidance have never wavered or went away. It brings me assurance that when He calls us to move again He will be there as well. He will have already prepared that place for His work, His ministry to be spread through a family who desires nothing more than to be servants and messengers of Jesus Christ.

Which leads me to this conclusion; just as Jesus had no home here on earth, either do we, our true home that awaits us is only a blink away and it will be a home that will last forever! It is the home I long to be at with my family and brothers and sisters in Christ. So until then, I don’t mind being a traveler or a temporary home mover. Because all these places I have been and will be at until I reach my final and permanent home, are places where I get to see more of the Lord at work and where I am challenged to grow stronger in my relationship with Him and step out and live by faith.


 The Lord desires to use us for His glory.  He is constantly removing us from our comfort zones, so we never become complacent. Thus, developing an intimate love and trusting relationship with Him. The Lord has not called us to another country to be Missionaries, He has called us to be town to town missionaries who are willing to go to the places where His children need to hear His name and be encouraged, helped and loved. Now I understand why we have moved so often, because the work He has wanted us to do was completed, and I know without a doubt there have been lots of mess ups and ignorance, but He always accomplishes what He wants done through every situation. 

Lord we commit to go wherever You send us, for we know and have seen all that You can do through Your children who seek Your face, humble themselves and pray to be used to the max capacity our weak mortal bodies can be used. Lord we will continue to follow in the footsteps of Your Son until we reach our final home in glory. Amen