Relocating
Changing Position
That's what's been happening at my daughter and son-in-law's this week. They are selling their first home, the one they moved into as newlyweds, the only home their little toddler has ever known, to move into a newer home that they've been blessed to purchase. So of course my mind has set to reminiscing ....
My husband and I moved 10 times during the first 10 years of our marriage. We didn't purchase a house until we had been married 25 years. But in every one of our moves, God helped us make a home wherever he planted us. Even if that meant we were living and sharing a house with gracious friends for several years. Starting over after a cross-country-move meant that belongings deemed important enough to save were shipped by UPS to our parents' home to be stored just a little longer. And when we moved into our own place again? None of us felt comfortable spreading out in that large rented house, so we found ourselves often huddled together on one couch in one room.
So all of that moving planted in me a restlessness for change. If we stayed in a place longer than a few years, I found myself changing up the furniture arrangements every few months. When our children's friends came over, they would say, "I never know where your couch is going to be when I walk in!" Sounds fun, but when the room is not very big to start with, or the budget is too limited, there were some "creative" arrangements over the years! (Yeah, the fabric covered cardboard box for an end table didn't last too long.)
Still, I wouldn't trade any of those living spaces for something more spacious, or modern, or dreamy. When I look back I can gladly say that each place became exactly what it needed to be: OUR HOME.
So today, when I am in a place of INNER change, and I feel like my heart is being relocated to somewhere strange and unfamiliar, why do I find myself looking back and wanting to stay the same? Perhaps all of this upheaval that I grow anxious over, is actually the way that Jesus is rearranging the furniture of my soul.
He moves us closer to Himself, and knocks down walls that were blocking the view. He opens windows and changes the lighting. And all along the way He brings us closer to the neighborhood of Heaven, giving us glimpses of the MORE that He has planned for us.
Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." John 14:23
WELCOME HOME is what He whispers to the deep places of my heart.
I have been blessed by Natalie Grant's song "Home" during this season:
I'm linking this week with some great Bloggers over at #TellHisStory and #TestimonyTuesday Won't you go check them out too?
Bettie, you must read Holly's take on "home" at www.hollybarrett.org today!!! I am your #30 neighbor at Jennifer's today!
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, Wow, thank you for telling me about Holly's post on "Home" today! Isn't God amazing how He connects and joins us with each other? I linked up with her #TestimonyTuesday after your comment here, because I'm so thankful for the big-ness of God's Family! HE truly is our HOME! --Blessings to you!
DeleteHi Bettie,
ReplyDeleteMoving all those times in your early years of marriage sounds stressful but you let it inspire your heart for change and variety -- I love that! I also like what you said about Jesus knocking down walls that block our view -- oh that is so true and I love how you articulated it! When he moves things around in our lives, it changes how we look at things, doesn't it? Even though I'm a homebody I get restless for change too and look forward to decorating a new place when it seems I'm anchored somewhere . . . .so I rearrange the furniture and move all the pictures! :) So good to read this today, Bettie! xo
Hi Valerie, Thank you for your kind words! Yes, isn't it so good of Jesus to help us see things differently? His perspective is always so much better than my own! I am glad to meet another re-arranger! Even though I don't get many chances to move the furniture these days, it still does my heart good to be able to shift those pictures and little items into new & bright places! --Hugs and Blessings to you!
DeleteThank you for encouraging me today, Bettie. This was especially meaningful to me - "He moves us closer to Himself, and knocks down walls that were blocking the view." And that in Him, we are HOME, and as the song says, never alone. Blessings and hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteOh Trudy, I am thankful you were encouraged. Yes, isn't it such an amazing thought that we are HOME with HIM? And, I am so blessed that He is joining us all together in HIM too! Hugs and Blessings to you!
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