I’ve been reading the Voice and love the translation of it. I just had to share this verse that has resonated in my mind this week.
“For we are the product of His hand, heaven’s poetry etched on lives, created in Jesus, the Liberator, to accomplish the good works God arranged long ago.” Eph. 2:10
So go and be heaven’s poetry to the world!
An End of an Era
We had a good-bye party today for Thang, Jennifer and Reyshawn. We already had ours because we are done at MSU but since we are still in Bozeman we went to theirs. They are moving to Seattle to be on campus at UW. It is so bittersweet for us and our team. Matt, Shana, Thang and myself met 12 years ago on a summer project and have worked together at MSU for 8 years along with Bob. We have walked through hard life things, great life things and watched God do incredible things in ministry together. We have grown to be more than co-workers and friends, these people (all of our MSU team) are like our family. So to say good-bye to seeing them every day is totally heartbreaking. We are so excited for what God is calling all of us to however.
One of the hardest things I think about leaving though is that it’s not just us that has to give up friends, Jenna does too. During out time there today Jenna turned to me and said “Look at all my friends.” She was looking around and admiring all the people who she loves and loves her back and to have to leave that is so hard. Thankfully we are moving to Portland with a great team who Jenna will love seeing and living life with but it’s still hard to leave these friends. I always pray that instead of us, and Jenna, seeing people come and go as a loss but as an incredible gain of friendships for the sweet season that it is. And we never say good-bye, just see you later.
So here’s to an end of an era and moving on to the next.
I Shall Not Want Ps. 23
I’m hesitant to even do this post. But here it is anyway.
I’m reading a book by Max Lucado called Safe in the Shepherd’s Arms. It’s been such a great addition to my quiet times with the Lord. God has used Psalm 23 in my life in some really intense ways and was a turning point in my relationship with Him a few years ago as a result of losing our first baby. We’re at such a different place in our lives right now but God again is using this Psalm and this book to challenge me. I may share a few times from this book. Here’s the first nugget that really rocked my boat so to speak.
The section titled “I shall not want” then has a statement below it and this is what it says.What you have in your Shepherd is greater than what you don’t have in life. I say that I believe that but do I really? Do I live that out? Do you? Is God enough for me all the time? Is God enough when we’re infertile and long for another child? Is God enough when our house isn’t selling? Is God enough when we lose support as a result of moving to a new city that He is clearly asking us to go to? Is God enough when we have to give up friends, the beauty of Montana and a whole lot of comfort? I could go on and on.
I am thankful for this: “You have a God who hears you, the power of love behind you, the Holy Spirit within you, and all of heaven ahead of you. If you have the Shepherd, you have grace for every sin, direction for every turn, a candle for every corner, and an anchor for every storm. You have everything you need.”