A New Song Unwritten...: March 2016

Dear Pastor and Friend, Major Deanna Gilliam. She is so beautifully demonstrative, that I consider it a personal challenge to capture her favorably amidst her movements! :-)

Well, this post does not contain unicorns or rainbows, as previous promised; but it does talk about a lady who wants to be a butterfly, which I consider to be close enough! :-)

I know that my friend will probably roll her eyes when she sees that I dedicated an entry in my blog to her, but I couldn't help but give her a bit of a shout-out. Quite frankly, I don't think we express enough appreciation for our pastors and local leaders. I want to do that more, so I'm starting here.

This morning, our women's ministry group had the privilege of leading a group of seniors in worship. I went to sit down in my seat, after presenting a solo, and I heard Mrs. Major comment, "I love to hear my friend sing about Jesus." I couldn't help but feel deeply touched by her comment. I love to share with others about Christ through music, and so I consider it an absolute joy to know that my ministry touches others.

I wish I had responded in the moment (it came to me afterward, as I was reflecting), but I can definitely say now that, while my friend loves to hear me sing about Jesus, I have discovered that I love to hear my friend preach about Jesus!

Now of course, I may be a little biased because Major Deanna is my friend, and because I've come to love working with her in the corps; but I think even aside from that, I could safely say that I do love every opportunity I get to hear and see her preach. God has gifted this itty bitty lady with a HUGE passion to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others, and He speaks through her in such a way that both encourages, convicts and challenges the listener, all in the same message! A teacher at heart and previously by profession, she uses anything she can to help others understand the depth of Christ's love for them, whether it be a story about her secret ambition to fly like a butterfly to help illustrate new life in Christ, or the action of nailing red ribbons to a cross to illustrate Christ's sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. I'm really thankful for the ministry God has called her and her husband to in officership, and for the heart that He has given her to share in the journey of so many people, and to introduce them to Jesus Christ.

Do you have pastors in your life that you are thankful for? Do me a favor. Show them your appreciation. Not because I think we have to fluff their egos, but because I think it's important to affirm and support them in a ministry that can be very challenging and exhausting by times. Love on them, and love on their kids. And pray for them. Daily.

I am trying hard not to lament over the fact that Major Deanna and I will be separated by 3,000 or so miles in just a few months; but, for the time being, I am cherishing the time we have left, and enjoying this leg of the journey that I get to share with her.

So, Major Deanna Gilliam, here is your shout-out! I am so very thankful that God has placed you in my life during this season!

Blessings.

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On Living Single Without A Dozen Cats And A Pint of Ben & Jerry's...

Hilarious graphic I found at Student Printz. Minus the Ben & Jerry's and finding relationships in a bar, this is pretty accurate!

Can we talk about the "pink elephant" in the room that not one thirty-something single wants to talk about? Well, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, I'm gonna talk about it. I have to talk about it, because it's a topic I've avoided for far too long. If this is not for you, I won't be offended if you move on. I promise to follow up next week with a post about unicorns and rainbows. Maybe.

This past weekend, I was faced with an issue that I didn't realize was plaguing me as much as it was. It was the first time in a while that I wasn't invited out over a holiday weekend. Being so far from my family, I'm usually "adopted" into a family's home for a meal or fellowship over a holiday that I'm not home in Canada. Now, I didn't write this post with the intent of whining over how I wasn't invited out. Please don't take it that way. It's merely a springboard for what occurred in my head and heart over the weekend.

For the first time in a while, I experienced a feeling that really grieved my heart: loneliness. Even to utter that word makes me feel a little bit pathetic, if I'm honest. And yet, it was a very real emotion that I was feeling on Sunday, even after a morning of INCREDIBLE worship with my corps family, whom I love and appreciate so very much. But as I watched several families leave our church after the meeting, all with plans for lunches, get-togethers and whatnot, I suddenly felt very alone. Singular.

Once I picked myself up off the ground (with the great help of ample rest), I really started to look at this issue (Yep. Leave it to the over-analytical introvert to start thinking!). The reality in front of me is this: I am 32 years old, and I am single.

Now, before you immediate jump on the bandwagon and say, "Oh, Chelsea, don't talk like that! You'll find someone!"...don't. Instead, replace those phrases with phrases about how gorgeous I am. Kidding.

I have to be realistic about my single-ness. But more than that, I feel a need to start living an existence that doesn't solely serve the purpose of waiting for my "Prince Charming" to whisk me off my feet. In addition to that, however, I want to live an existence that doesn't allow me to settle for the first guy who looks my way. I must live single with purpose.

So, I picked up a book I found online and started reading. I'm only a chapter into the book Party of One: Living Single With Faith, Purpose and Passion by Beth M. Knobbe, and I'm already identifying with so many of the insights presented through the stories of people, just like me, who are attempting to navigate the single life:

"Many singles live with the myth that we need to wait until we are in a relationship before we can live the kind of life we want and do the things we love. Life does not start the moment you walk down the aisle. Life is happening in front of your very eyes! Life is not a dress rehearsal for when you have a relationship. So, what are you waiting for?"

YES! How long have I lived with the notion that I cannot be truly happy until there's a ring on my finger, a man on my arm, and little darlings running about my feet? The answer? FAR TOO LONG. You see, I've dreamed my whole life about being a wife and mother, and throughout my young adult life, that dream turned into desperation far too many times, not to mention that it fueled so many feelings of loneliness, inadequacy and loss of self-worth.

Why, oh why have I been allowing my single-ness to define me in such a self-deprecating way? I'm not sure of the answer to that question, nor am I sure that I'll discover that answer. But I know that I want to change this definition. I want to live single with purpose. I want to live as a woman after God's heart, truly living with passion.

"Our single years are a gift. When we are able to see the purpose in singleness, it is easier to stay present to the moment right in front of us. What is the gift that God wants to give you during this time? What is God asking you to do or accomplish or become? Being single affords us ample amounts of time to pursue a career, develop new friendships, devote time to family, travel to places we’ve never been, cultivate our relationship skills, volunteer, dedicate time to prayer, and invest in hobbies we enjoy. None of these is dependent upon whether or not we are dating someone."

So, to my Abba, I begin posing this question, be it a little late in the game: "What are You wanting me to become, in this season of single living?" I need to shift to this particular line of questioning, rather than the usual, "God, WHY am I still single? Where is this man of my dreams that everybody keeps telling me You have in mind for me?" I'm so tired of asking that question, and I'm so tired of waiting on a mystery man that perhaps God has not even planned for me. I need to stop dwelling on the "Why?" of this season, and start seeking God's wisdom and leading in my life. And, as I've been learning on this journey already, I need to be present.

I may have lied about the next posts containing unicorns and rainbows. I may be sitting with the concept of single-hood for a while. And honestly, I don't think I'm the only one who needs to sit with this. I really hope and pray that other people, women especially, find some encouragement in my discoveries and musings.

But in the meantime, check out this book by Beth Knobbe. It is written primarily from a Catholic perspective, but that does NOT mean we of the Protestant perspective will not gain some insight from her writing.

So, single friends, let's ditch the cats and the Ben & Jerry's, and embrace our single-hood! :-)

Blessings.

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It Is Finished...

Lyric Art - "Buried in the Grave" by All Sons & Daughters

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:28-30

"It is finished."

Amazing that those three words hold both sorrow and joy in the same breath.

Today is Good Friday, and today, we remember the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for sinful man by dying on the cross. But it's so much more than that. Jesus, being perfectly God and man at once, took on the sin of the world. The same people who once shouted "Hosanna!" as He entered Jerusalem, they were now screaming, "Crucify him!" He was brutally beaten, tortured, mocked, spat upon, belittled. And, as if that weren't enough, in addition to the heavy, heavy weight of our sin that He already carried, He was now to carry the very cross that He would soon be nailed to. Those who loved Him, betrayed Him, denied Him, would now watch Him be put to death, a humiliating and horrific death, being crucified on the cross.

What sorrow and grief Mary must have felt, as she watched her son, her beloved, the One she once carried inside her, be nailed to the cross. The confusion. The anger. The bitter sadness that must have gripped her heart. And yet, she obeyed her Heavenly Father, and, as the song lyrics remind us, she delivered the One who would soon deliver us (lyrics from "Mary, Did You Know?").

But first, He must endure the cross. He must do the will of His Father.

We must not forget what our Savior did for us. I confess that I often do. I take for granted what my Lord endured for my sinful ways. I mustn't forget.

But we who know Christ...we know how this story ends. And so, along with great sorrow, we hear those words: "It is finished." We hear our Lord take His final breath and give up His life.

But oh, the joy, because we know what happens next. Because of what Jesus did for us, we are no longer in bondage to sin. We are set free from it's chains, if we only confess our sin, turn away from it, and accept the gift of God's forgiveness. Because of what His Son did for us. Because He died, brutally, on a cross, bearing the sin of the world.

We know that Sunday is coming. We know that Jesus' death defeated sin, when He rose from the dead, three days later. That stone was rolled away, and Mary and the other Mary peered inside the tomb, only to find an angel there, telling them that Jesus was no longer there. He is risen!

Don't let today pass you by as another day. Remember what our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, did for us. And if you've never accepted God's forgiveness before, ask questions. Get your hands on a Bible, and read the Gospel of John. Find someone who knows Christ, and ask them to lead you in the steps to accepting this amazing gift.

Remember, today. Grieve what our Savior did. But remember that Sunday is indeed coming.

Blessings.

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Give Yourself Some Grace...

Various beautiful words of truth from The Brave Girls Club website.
As Ann Voskamp often says, these are like little "Sticky Notes for the Soul." :-)

Grace. Grace. God's grace.

How often have you been told to "give yourself some grace"?

If you're a self-proclaimed perfectionist and self-beater-upper like myself, you've probably been told this several times. When I hear the words roll off the tongue of a friend or colleague who cares, my ears hear the phrase as if it were in a foreign language.

This morning I visited with a nutritionist for the first time in...wow...I can't even recall how long it has been. I know that I was in junior high or high school, and that it was highly, highly frustrating. I think I blocked everything else out.

This morning's visit was a lot less frustrating, which was an encouragement to my discouraged soul. I have been hovering around my 97-pound weight loss for about a month and a half now, and it's been a challenge to my brain and to my motivation, to keep going. Now, before you hurl tomatoes at me, understand where I'm coming from. I've lost a large amount of weight in a short time, with great thanks to the support group I am a part of, and most importantly, to my Heavenly Father, who is walking me through this process. When the high-speed weight loss and progress slows down, it's a full-out, drag-down battle with your brain, to keep yourself from throwing in the towel.

The nutritionist was impressed with my food choices, my sense of self-awareness, my level of strictness with my food prep (I'm sure that it probably borderlines on OCD, but we'll talk about that another day!). Basically, I was not one of her typical clients. A lot of things, I had together, for the most part. What she was not-so-impressed with, really, was more concerned about, was my inability to cut myself some slack. The theme of my appointment tended to be, "You need to give yourself some grace!"

And so, being the overanalytical being that I am, I turned it over and over in my head, as I drove in my car. "Grace? Grace? I'm having a hard enough time wrapping my head around GOD's grace that He offers to me... How in the world do I master this fine art of offering grace to MYSELF?"

Let me tell you that I don't have it figured out, yet. I'm continuing to turn it over and over in my head. How do I get from the point of criticizing myself, beating myself up over minute mistakes, and wanting to throw in the towel when I have a slip in my eating lifestyle, to the place where I can FORGIVE myself when I go over my calorie goal, or I gain a pound, or I pass in a report late, or I forget an appointment?

Wow. I had to take a minute to shake my head. That just seems more than I can process.

But then I think back to yesterday. I had the opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a room full of wiggling little kiddos. I got to tell them about the great love that God has for them, that He sent His Son to die on the cross, and then rise from the dead three days later...for the sins of the world, so that we could be in right relationship with God, Jesus died for us. And in a moment, when we recognize our sin, our wicked ways in which we betray our Heavenly Father, and we confess our sins, and then we TURN AWAY from them (repent), Scripture tells us that, because of the sacrifice Christ made for us, God forgives our sin. Again. And again. And again. Because of what Christ did for us.

So, when I can't even offer myself grace when I mess up, turn away from the wrong things I do and move on, what does that say about how I accept God's grace? Grace. Unmerited favor. Love and mercy that I have done nothing to deserve, nor can I do anything to change. Because of what Christ did for me, if I confess my sin, and turn away from that sin, God offers me forgiveness. Grace.

So today, I'm reading these words from Ephesians 2:1-10, and I'm going to soak them in:

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

I have a feeling that I will be returning to this Scripture several times over this leg of my journey.

I read in a book yesterday about the importance of not only admitting our fault when we make a mistake, but also the importance of making the change and moving forward. I am an expert at pointing out the times when I am at fault; but the art that I must learn is the art of making amends. I need to accept that the past is what it is, make the changes I can in the present, and move forward to the future.

As the well-known Serenity Prayer says:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

So I shall move forward, one day at a time, one foot in front of the other, from one self-grace-offering moment to the next.

Blessings.

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On Making And Taking Time...

Fun lunch and cherished conversation with a dear one.
Further proof of my need to make and take time!

I have discovered the eccentric beauty of Cuppies & Joe,
a quaint little coffee shop in the Paseo District.
Note to Self: Go early in the morning,
when the college students are in class, or in bed! :-)

"It's just so busy."

"Life is just crazy, lately!"

"I wish I had the time..."

Sound familiar? I am so guilty of using these phrases. If I'm honest, I will sometimes use phrases like these as a way of getting around the fact that I forgot to do something, or just plain didn't take the time, or make the time to do something.

It's funny how a major shift in your life's journey can cause you to start making and taking time to do things, and to connect with people. Now that I am preparing to move back to Canada in a few months, in the midst of my "remaining present" with my job and ministry, I am making lists. Crazy lists. Lists of places I want to visit. Places I want to eat. People I want to see.

Yesterday, I made time to visit with my friend Amber. Amber was one of the first people I met when I moved to OKC back in 2011. I remember sitting in her office at DHQ (Divisional Headquarters of The Salvation Army, for my non Army-acronym savvy friends!), when she was Director of HR, navigating my new job, and the details of my R-1 Visa, and just plain adjusting to life in the South. Amber was a person whose soul connected with mine instantly. We shared so many stories, laughs, tears, and an abundance of hugs.

When we sat down to lunch yesterday, we realized that it had been roughly three years since we last saw each other face-to-face. Amber lives about 30 minutes outside the city, but she also works in OKC.

3 years. 3 years.

As I was getting ready for bed last night, that phrase kept spinning in my head. I've started making these lists of places I want to see, people I want to spend last moments with, and being the overly analytical lady that I am, I couldn't help but think, "Why on earth am I just now making the time to do these things? Why have I not been doing this over the past four years?"

I try not to beat myself up over this, because it's in the past, and I can't change what's in the past. But I can change what I do now. My time in OKC is now limited to five months...but it's not too late. I can still make and take time. It will require a fierce battle against my inner-procrastinator to complete some of the tasks on my list; but I know that part of my "finishing well" will involve making and taking time for the people in my life that have played significant roles in my learning, living and growing in OKC.

It amazes me how much my thinking about time has changed in the past year. When I first moved here, a bright-eyed-with-wonder-scared-to-death Canadian girl, I couldn't get to work fast enough. And along the way, I made meaningful and precious friendships with people, and in many instances, I took the time to cultivate them; but often times, I was still "too busy". But as I start to look toward moving home, while I realize that I will need to acquire a job to pay bills, I also look with great anticipation to making and taking time for things like sitting on the patio of my parents' house, Bible and coffee in hand, watching the sunrise over the water, and connecting with my Savior. Things like sitting in my friend Amy's kitchen, cradling her newborn baby, watching her son play, drinking coffee, nibbling on homemade muffins that she will swear are not quite right, but that I will savor -simply because she made them- while we talk about everything frivolous and everything profound. Things like walking along the beach with my nieces, running and playing in the water (provided we don't go numb from the waist down), hearing their sparkling laughter and bubbling chatter, hugging them and kissing their red little cheeks every chance I get. There are so many "things likes" that come to mind, and more than I can list. And my heart dances at the thought.

But for the moment, during my last months here in Oklahoma, I am praying that God will help me to make and take time. Time with Him. Time with my dearly-loved Okie friends and adopted family.

For a self-proclaimed procrastinator like me, this takes work. But I so want to do it. So much.

So, I will share a bit of my list, a bit at a time, and challenge myself to do those things...

MY ARKIE-OKIE BUCKET LIST (because this is my beloved A-OK!)

1. Go see a movie at the Warren Theatre. In the Director's Suite (Excitingly, that one is in the works, thanks to a dear one!)

2. The Ozarks of Arkansas. I simply must see them again. And maybe even hike some of that area. :-)

3. Visit Pops. Even if I can't drink the soda, I can at least enjoy a meal around the table with someone! :-)

4. Explore some of Route 66. Because, seriously, how can I not??

5. The OKC Memorial. I first visited it with friends Anna and Rachel, back when I was on Conservatory Staff at camp. I need to revisit this place again.

6. Ride the Gondola in Bricktown. Because it's fun. :-)

7. See at least ONE Shakespeare in the Park show during the summer in Downtown OKC. I've talked about doing this for four years, and I still haven't done it. Unacceptable.

8. Hot Springs, Arkansas. It feels like driving to the end of the earth to get there, but it's beautiful, and some of my favorite people live there. :-)

9. Especially for the Morris Family: that little Japanese restaurant by DHQ. We've talked about going there since you guys discovered it. Let's do it. :-)

10. Coffee Dates. In eccentric little coffee places like Cuppies & Joe, or Coffee Slingers. I'll even take Starbucks or Dunkin. But my love language is coffee, and time spent in conversations about anything and everything, around the table.

11. A pedicure at Angel Nail on Northwest Expressway. My friend knows exactly who she is, and because she took my for my first one, we simply need to revisit it! :-)

12. Sunsets at Lake Hefner. I don't think any more explanation is needed. My Abba is a fantastic artist. :-)

13. Major Deanna, I'm taking you up on the offer you once made on Facebook that involves two good friends and a full tank of gas. :-)

14. As many cups of tea as I can share with Angela Morris. Period. :-)

15. As many snuggles with our beautiful Citadel babies as possible. :-)

16. As many hugs as my "kids" from around the Division and Territory can tolerate. :-)

17. Beautiful moments spent in worship with my Citadel Family. These will happen, and I will cherish them all.

18. Quality time. As much as we can spend together.

Oh, there are so many more. And I will write of more as I think of them. And there will be more.

Here's to making and taking time. Let's do it.

Blessings.

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On Kindred Spirits, And The Lessons We Learn From Them...

Women's Auxiliary - March 2016 Meeting

"Kindred Spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's so splendid to find out there are so many of them in this world." - Anne of Green Gables

I first met Leona a couple years back, when I was helping to organize and run the Christmas Kettle Program at the Salvation Army in Norman, OK. I came upon her one day in her office, over in the Social Services/Shelter building next door to the corps. I can't quite remember why I had wandered over there, or what I was looking for that morning, but I remember meeting Leona, seeing her sparkling eyes and hearing her joyful laughter. I knew from the moment I met her that we would get along splendidly.

Well, circumstances made my time in Norman short-lived, and I was so sad that I would no longer see and visit with Leona every day. But being apart has made me appreciate the few times that I get to see her, whether it's at an Auxiliary meeting, a staff appreciation meal, or even a staff meeting.

I love the fact that every time I see or speak with Leona, I leave encouraged and strengthened in my faith. Some of that, I'm sure, can be attributed to her bubbly personality, but I know that it runs even deeper, for Leona is a woman who absolutely radiates the love of Jesus.

During today's meeting, I watched her speak about her experiences as a Director of Social Services for TSA, and her eyes danced with delight, as she spoke of how she loves to serve each and every person that walks into her office. And even that love she has is deeper than just a love to serve. She loves to "tell the story of Jesus", to coin that beloved song lyric. Sharing the Gospel with others is priority in her life, and her job flows out of that.

I was so very challenged, today. How much do I get wrapped up in overanalyzing everything I do in ministry, when really, ministry should flow out of my love to tell the story of Jesus? It does not mean that I neglect the planning and intention that goes into ministry, for God grants me the wisdom and the intellect to do so; but should I also be spending time cultivating and preparing the heart He's given me to love others?

In this season, as I continue to "be present" in my ministry in OKC, I pray that I will take time, not just to prepare for events and ministries, but also to cultivate my heart, and grow closer to my Savior.

And even as I pen those words, I think to myself: Funny how this aching wrist has kept me from doing my normal weight-training class this evening, but in a strange and beautiful way, it has allowed me to take time, to reflect, to study, to grow closer to Him.

Leona, thank you for sharing your heart, today, and for speaking truth into my life. I am indebted to you, a true "kindred spirit".

And I know that there are more out there, some that I've met, and perhaps some I've yet to meet. Anne Shirley was quoted in L.M. Montgomery's novel, Anne of Green Gables, speaking often of how glad she was to know that there were so many kindred spirits in the world. 108 years following the publication of L.M.'s first novel, I'm delighted myself to find that there are still so many kindred spirits in this world. God has introduced me to so many, here in Oklahoma, and I look forward to meeting so many more, along this journey.

Blessings.

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Boxes...

"I've put out a lot of little roots these two years," Anne told the moon, "and when I'm pulled up they're going to hurt a great deal. But it's best to go, I think, and, as Marilla says, there's no good reason why I shouldn't. I must get out all my ambitions and dust them." - Anne of Avonlea

There is something very final about boxes, especially when you are shipping them. You carefully assemble the box, sealing and securing it with tape. You place the contents inside, you fill out the necessary labels, paperwork (in my case, when shipping internationally, you fill out customs paperwork), etc. You carefully close and seal the box with more tape. Step 1 is complete. Done. The next step will be taking the boxes to the post office, sliding the parcels across the counter to be shipped. Step 2 is complete. Done.

For those of you who may not have seen on Facebook, I have decided to move back to Canada in August of this year. My heart still feels great peace about this decision, and I feel that God's hand is completely and totally upon this process. I've been experiencing differing emotions since the news of my returning to Canada went public. Most days, my heart is excited with the anticipation of being home with my family and friends. Other days, I feel a sadness in my heart, as I know that, in order to be home with my family and friends, I have to leave my "adopted" family and dear friends behind in Oklahoma. In between, I feel slight pangs of anxiety, as I ponder what the next steps are going to look like, such as what I should take home, what I should sell, where I will work, and the list goes on.

And then I pack those first boxes. Four sealed and addressed boxes sit on the floor in my livingroom, like a fierce reality, staring me square in the face.

This is really happening. I'm really going home. No turning back.

Sometimes being an adult is hard. Man. Sometimes merely doing the right thing is hard. But then I remember the Scripture I taught during our Sunday School preliminaries a couple of weeks ago:

There are two paths before you; you may take only one path. One doorway is narrow. And one door is wide. Go through the narrow door. For the wide door leads to a wide path, and the wide path is broad; the wide, broad path is easy, and the wide, broad, easy path has many, many people on it; but the wide, broad, easy, crowded path leads to death. Now then that narrow door leads to a narrow road that in turn leads to life. It is hard to find that road. Not many people manage it. (Matthew 7:13-14, THE VOICE)

I realize, of course, that Jesus was speaking particularly about seeking salvation through Him, in this passage. But can we not apply this Scripture to being obedient to His teaching, and following where He leads us? Jesus goes on to say, in verses 24-25:

Those people who are listening to Me, those people who hear what I say and live according to My teachings—you are like a wise man who built his house on a rock, on a firm foundation. When storms hit,rain pounded down and waters rose, levies broke and winds beat all the walls of that house. But the house did not fall because it was built upon rock. (Matthew 7:24-25, THE VOICE)

Many of us have entered through that narrow gate. We've accepted Christ, and we've made the decision to follow Him, and to honor Him and serve Him. Oh, but being obedient. Being an adult. Doing the right thing in His sight. Now there's a challenge for we who follow Jesus.

So, yes. I'm taking a step in "adult-ing", as I've so often heard it said. I'm taking responsibility for things that I have not given my attention to in the past. I'm learning and growing, yet again, and I'm doing the hard things that I didn't want to do before. It hurts. And then it's exciting. And then it hurts again.

But it's worth it. Following Jesus, the One who died and rose again, paying a great price for my freedom from sin, is worth it. Even when it's the hard thing. Even when the road is narrow, and lonely, and not everyone around you understands. Even when your mind is on the things ahead, but you must remain present, right where you are.

Even when you have to pack and seal those boxes. Even when you will have to say those goodbyes, hug those necks, wipe away those tears. Even when you will have to step on that plane, and return home.

It's worth it. Every single time. And the light will come, when your family welcomes you home, smothers you in hugs and kisses, and you begin again, on a new adventure.

I will experience a new "normal", a new chapter, a new journey. And for now, I begin my preparations, with just a few boxes.

Pray for me, friends, as I continue through this season of "finishing well", and onto a season of transition.

Blessings.

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