I Love It

When God speaks so directly and clearly. It makes things a lot easier, because in case you haven't noticed I'm pretty dense sometimes. Derek read "My Utmost For His Highest" this morning. He came into the living room and told me I had to read the entries for Aug. 1 & 2.

Now before I tell you what they said I will give you a little back story. Derek and I have been struggling a bit with this move. Mainly because it is such a big move and we want to do the right thing spiritually, financially, and professionally. There are some people in Derek's family who are to say the least critical and skeptical of this move. They have been making us worry and doubt every move we make. I briefly touched on being worried about Grandma Kay. It's a lot bigger than that. I'm sick to my stomach with worry. I actually got up one night and sobbed at the thought of leaving her alone and taking my kids 500 miles away. Reading M.U.F.H.H. this morning put those fears to rest and comforted me in ways I've greatly needed.

August 1 (not the entire entry, but the parts that spoke to me)

"If you stayed home when God told you to go because you were so concerned about your own people there, then you actually robbed them of the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left all the consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach, but as long as you were disobedient, you blocked His way. Watch where you begin to debate with Him and put what you call your duty into competition with His commands.If you say, "I know that He told me to go, but my duty is here," it simply means that you do not believe that Jesus means what He says..."Wait on the Lord" and He will work. But don't wait sulking spiritually and feeling sorry for yourself, just because you can't see one inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our own spiritual fits of emotion to "wait patiently for Him"? Waiting is not sitting with folded hands doing nothing, but it is learning to do what we are told. "

Amazing huh?

August 2 (not the entire entry, but the parts that spoke to me)

"The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling..."(Psalm 91:1, 10)-the place where you are at one with God...God does not give us overcoming life-He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment-"To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life..."(Revelation 2:7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can "be of good cheer" even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God."

I know it's long, but it's so great. It spoke volumes to my heart this morning. I am now at complete peace with this move. I know that God has gone before us to work it out. Not that we won't face adversity or complications, but He is building spiritual strength in it. And for that I am grateful for the strains of life.