A new start

I was chatting with a friend last night on Facebook and it hit me.... In about 8 weeks, we will be relocating to Colorado Springs.  I will no longer be geographically close to her... that started the "waterworks".  I'm not going to lie, it will be fabulous to live in Colorado Springs, but I will miss so many people here.  I am like a 40 year old tree being uprooted.  I was born and raised in Independence.  I went away to college, got married, and returned to raise our family.  Much of my family lives here.  We LOVE our church!  We have so many connections and they are being re-routed from physical connection to wireless!  It is a painful experience.  Most of the time, I am caught up in the daily grind, but being the sole adult in a house of six people and a dog has been taxing.  Being 600 miles away from my Man, has been a long, lonely experience.  I miss him and we are ready to be all together again.  One of our kids is having a bit of an emotional time with the changes that are coming.  His tendency is to withdraw and avoid the painful reminders, but the pain is still there.  We are all learning to cope with change, loss, unfamiliar territory, pain, and the dichotomy of wanting to be in two places at once.  


How do we go on?  Five months ago, when we started this leg of our journey, I was confident in my declarations:  "God is in control.  He knows more than I do.  His ways are higher than our ways.  He has a plan for us - a plan to prosper us and not to harm us.  He will never leave us or forsake us.  He goes before us."  I said them loud and proud.  After all, He started this.  He will not forget us or abandon us.  However, with the realization that this is REALLY happening and SOON, my voice is becoming shaky.  My confidence is wavering - not in God, but rather in me.  In this realization, I am reminded that I am faltering because I am trying to stand on my own.  Did I really believe all those things I was saying five months ago?  Absolutely!  And in some ways, I think I believed them more - somehow.  In NOT knowing all of the details, I found it easier to trust God to take care of it all.  It was such an immense undertaking and new turf for me, that I knew I couldn't take control or ownership of the details.  Frankly, I didn't want the responsibility.  I was much more comfortable letting God take the fall for the pain.  After all, He orchestrated this!  I still believe all that I said, way back then, but now my heart has to get out of the way and let His word speak to me.  


As I am typing this, Air1 radio station is playing a song by Group 1 Crew titled "He said".  The lyrics take me back to the foundation of my faith.  God, in His Word, made promises.  He is the ultimate Promise Keeper.  He is integrity embodied.  He never breaks His Word!  Read through these promises with me:


So your life feels like it don't make sense
And you think to yourself, "I'm a good person,
So why do these things keep happening? "
Why you gotta deal with them
You may be knocked down now, but don't forget
What He said, He said

"I won't give you more
More than you can take
And I might let you bend
But I won't let you break
And know, I'll never, ever let you go"
Don't you forget what He said
Don't you forget what He said, He said

Who you are, ain't what you're going through
So don't let it get the best of you
'Cause God knows everything you need
So you ain't gotta worry
You may be knocked down now, but just believe what He said

He said "I won't give you more
More than you can take
And I might let you bend
But I won't let you break
And know I'll never ever let you go"
Don't you forget what He said

Don't fear when you go through the fire
Hang on when it's down to the wire
Stand tall and remember what He said

"I won't give you more
More than you can take
And I might let you bend
But I won't let you break"

"I won't give you more
More than you can take
And I might let you bend
But I won't let you break
And know I'll never ever let you go"
Don't you forget what He said

Don't you forget what He said.

"All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; He'll never let you be pushed past your limit" (The Message Version) The rest of the Scripture that this comes from is an important component:  "He'll always be there to help you come through it."  1 Corinthians 10:13 (The Message Version).  The key is that HE will be there to HELP ME!  I don't have to stand up on my own.  I need to hold onto Him.  He will give me the strength necessary.  

A few days ago I read some very applicable and poignant points from a friend as she was sharing parts of her daily devotional.  Her point was that it matters that you are following Jesus (claiming to be a believer), but it matters more how closely you follow Him.  This world is fraught with teeming masses that blur our vision and line of sight with our Messiah.  If I am following at a distance, not taking time to connect with Him, read His Word, commune with Him, I will get lost!  I must follow closely!  I cannot put it on Cruise Control and expect to get to the destination that He has in mind.  And as I stated before, His ways are higher than my ways, HE has a plan and I should follow it ~ closely!  

He has been so faithful and generous to allow us a glimpse of things to come ~ ways that He is providing for us: emotionally and physically.  Thank you God ~ for your love and provision.  Thank you for knowing what I need before I need it.  Thank you, Jesus, for coming to die on a treacherous cross... so "that I might have life, and have it abundantly!" (John 10:10).  I long for the abundant life, not a dull, predictable, routine; rather one that is full of YOU, full of divine events and excitement!  Thank you Jesus!

As we close out on this geographical location.... leaving this area.... moving west, I pray that I will follow Him closely.  I want to follow so closely that I am ticketed for tailgating!!!  I pray that in the midst of change and all that comes with it, I will trust Him and follow His ways to the abundant life that He has planned!

Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, Colorado

And if you are in the area - stop  by.  This is the view I get every day!  One great BIG reminder of His Majesty!