7.06.2012

"Moving" Out in Faith


Vintage Panoramic of Italy on Metal by ArtHouseGraffiti


Recently, my family made a huge life change.  My husband who is a military member was transferred overseas and we were able to accompany him.  As of June, my husband, my son, and I are now in Italy.  Beautiful, amazing, yet completely terrifying!  Think of living completely away from all you are familiar with for as many as three years.  I wanted to go, I was happy to go, but actually going has been a very hard experience.  Transition is not always an easy thing. 





"Oh Poor Baby"

Before we left our home in Gulfport, Mississippi, I cannot tell you how many people responded to our news with sarcasm as thick as molasses with the phrase "oh poor baby, a transfer to Italy!"  At the time, I agreed.  How could I ever complain about having to rent out our house, deal with the pressures of packing, and the sleepless nights that go with so much change?  After all we were moving to Italy!  With the stress and the pressures from moving, I kept telling myself that no matter what happened it would all be worth it when I got to Italy and everything calmed down.  However, no matter how exotic the location, no matter how beautiful the terrain, or how wonderful the accommodations, moving is hard.  Moving is emotionally intense and I think everyone going through a move deserves a completely authentic "oh poor baby".  Let's face it with life changes, especially moving, it is hard no matter where you are going.

World Traveler Heart Necklace - Italy - TheGreenDaisyShop
How Vast Beyond All Measure

All I can think of is the song "How Deep the Father's Love for Us . . . How Vast Beyond All Measure".  My God is vast enough to wrap his love around the entire world.  How comforting it is that this move did not move me beyond God and his love.  Through this experience, I am learning how to depend on God and take comfort in Him.  Think of how we sing around Christmas how Jesus brought tidings of comfort and joy, but we do not often think about what it means to have comfort and joy through Jesus.  Look at how God wants to bring us comfort in our trials and tribulations:



Isaiah 54:10-11 (ESV)
"For the mountains may depart
    and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
    and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
“O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted,
    behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
     and lay your foundations with sapphires.

God can bring us comfort in many ways.  He can comfort us through other people.  He can comfort us through time spent with Him and in his Word.  I notice that when I am in a situation that is beyond me, stronger than me, and too much for me, I have to make a conscious effort to take hold of God's peace, comfort, and joy.  The more I hold on to my stress and my uneasiness, the less God is able to pour his peace out in my life.  By holding on to other things, I am basically telling God there is no room for Him.  In moving, the stressors are numerous, but God is stronger.  I need to continually grab hold of God and let go of my right to panic and get upset.  He is my peace, by comfort, and my joy.

Never Homeless

By most definitions, I am homeless.  I am uprooted and stuck in a hotel for up to two months.  We have yet to find a new place to live and for right now, this is where we hang our hat.  Though this be so in the physical, spiritually I am never homeless.  In fact, I am not at my actual home even when I am in a house that I call my home.  Heaven is my home.  Oh how corny right?  I have heard that said so many times that I merely want to point and laugh at my own little statement.  It has been said so many times that it has no meaning; however, I defy its commonality and I declare it to be reinstated with a full rich meaning.

- Heaven -
The kingdom of God where I will live with Jesus forevermore worshipping with the Saints in his glory

- is -
It is now, it has been since God accepted me as his own upon my acceptance of his salvation given freely by Jesus, and it will always be

- my -
This soul and body built by the hand of God created to glorify the Father

- home -
A place of acceptance, security, and eternal peace; a place that one belongs and has life, a place that was created for all of mankind to abide

Heaven is my home, thus I will never be homeless on this earth.  God says we are to live our lives a part of his kingdom; basically, heaven is not some far away place that one day will surface when we are all dead and gone.  The kingdom of God is present and alive.  Heaven (the kingdom of God) is (right now) my home!


Men's Map Cufflinks Rome Italy - by ivcreations55

La Fede Quotidiana (Daily Faith)

Trust me, though I write this, I do not have everything together with this whole stepping out in faith . . . across an OCEAN.  I labeled this section la fede quotidiana, which means daily faith in Italian.  The more we step out in faith the more we have to rely on God to support us.  And we wonder why God asks us to step out in faith!  Duh!  We pray, "Oh God, help me to draw closer to you and really learn to depend on You in all things."  Then God says, alright, then step out in faith in this thing.  So many times we say, "hold it God! That is a little bit much right now, but if You'll just bring me closer to You I'm sure I'll be ready next time."  Can't you see it?  We ask Him to draw us closer, He provides the opportunity to grow us, we tell Him to draw us closer so we'll be stronger next time to do the stepping out in faith . . . and the whole time God is telling us, "I Am."

While I have done my fair bit of grumbling and complaining about all the changes and stressors that I've had to deal with during this trip and move (only my husband knows just how much), I am so thankful that God can use this in my life and in my family to grow us closer to Him.  He is so amazing how He can use the fire to burn away the chaff and refine our lives to be molded more like Him. "Moving" out in faith is just what God wants for our lives so He can draw us closer and help us to learn to depend on Him alone.