It's over!
It's over...all the boxes are unpacked, everything put in its place, pictures hung, former place clean, keys turned over to owner, scouted the new neighbor for closest store, gas station, pizza hut and taco bell, (those last two are important). Cooked my first meal in our new place. If you are one who prayed for me during this move, thank you, thank you. I think I have come a long way in adjusting to stateside living again, I mean I found the closest Taco Bell within one day?
Last move it took me three or four months to realize God had given me several of my desires. 1. To live surrounded by mountains. 2. To live close enough to at least one of my children and grand children. And 3. a fireplace, got that. Depression causes a blindness that keeps one from seeing how God is not only meeting our needs but giving us some of our desires.
Something has changed for it only took me a couple days before I realized God had answered all my prayers concerning this move. 1. This place would be cheaper then the last, $55 dollars cheaper, praise Him. Second for a place with a washer and dryer hookup...got that. Third, the apartment would be downstairs, got that. Forth, it would have a fenced in patio for the grand children to play outside , got that too.
Since my word for this year is, "perspective" God has been helping me see from a different place. I love it that God gave me some of my hearts desires but what if He hadn't. What if...it had cost us more, what if there was no hook up and I had to go to a laundry mat to wash clothes. What if...they only had upstairs available. What if...there was no patio.
I love what Jim Elliot wrote in his diary, God I pray to you, light these idol sticks of my life, that I may burn for you. Consume my life God, for it is yours.” And then he said, “I seek not a long life but a full life, like that of Jesus Christ.” His prayer was answered, his life was not long, he died taking the gospel to the Auka Indians. His prayer was answered in that his life was full.
That prayer of Elliot's makes my prayers for my desires look so weak and well, selfish. You see, they were all about me...what I wanted, not what my Lord wanted. But as a blogging friend pointed out, God perspective was , "my child needs these things she prayed for." They will help me lead a more productive life for Him. Easy to compare and disvalue the answered prayer. I have lived a long and full life already but I know there is more to learn about God's perspective for the rest of my life.
I love what Jim Elliot wrote in his diary, God I pray to you, light these idol sticks of my life, that I may burn for you. Consume my life God, for it is yours.” And then he said, “I seek not a long life but a full life, like that of Jesus Christ.” His prayer was answered, his life was not long, he died taking the gospel to the Auka Indians. His prayer was answered in that his life was full.
That prayer of Elliot's makes my prayers for my desires look so weak and well, selfish. You see, they were all about me...what I wanted, not what my Lord wanted. But as a blogging friend pointed out, God perspective was , "my child needs these things she prayed for." They will help me lead a more productive life for Him. Easy to compare and disvalue the answered prayer. I have lived a long and full life already but I know there is more to learn about God's perspective for the rest of my life.
First, way to go God! he fulfilled the desires of your heart. Second, I think you are beating yourself up over something I don't think you should. God told us to pray. he knows our needs. He knows what the desires of your heart were. With fibromyalgia, I know steps would have been tough. Carrying baskets of clothes to the laundromat would have been tough. Consider it God's blessing for a future life of serving Him with all you have. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Bill, your comment made me realize the point you made was part of seeing God perspective in the answered prayer. I will add that to my post. Ace says this apartment we now live in is going to be much easier on me. Already I can tell not having steps make a difference. Even though you are not my pastor thanks for being a pastor.
ReplyDeleteI'm honored you would say that Betty. Thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteGood way of sharing. Sure grabbed me and my perspective in our world, our life And thanks re: Jim Elliot. I've told the story of how his death entered my life when I was 11 in Tacoma, and read this on the newspaper, and, even though not knowing the Lord, it entered my heart immediately to go to South America and be a nurse, etc. and help people. Well, I'd NEVER have been a nurse, and haven't been. A helper. And not in South America...but in Uganda, mostly.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, you really grabbed my attention, doncha think? Made me smile. Think we'd have a good time together.
Yes we would have a great time together sharing our stories of what God did with us overseas and is still doing. Thanks for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome news! I've prayed for you and Ace and knew our Father would show up in a big way! As if you didn't have enough wisdom… now you have some more. I am truly pleased for you. You sound great!
ReplyDeleteThanks Floyd for the prayer, it was felt, honestly. Today I was thinking as I clean up the patio from the recent rain how much I love this little nest God has us in for now. Have my hummingbird feeder up and already they are coming to drink...makes me happy. We work with couples who have had to come home from a field for various reason and they are grateful when we understand exactly how they feel. We have been home since Sept 2011 and still feel the affects of that huge move from Papua New Guinea to stateside ministry. It's a process and a time to lean on Him for He is not through with us yet.
ReplyDeleteOh Betty I'm so thrilled for you and your husband. All the way through your awesome post I was going, "Yes! Thank you Lord!!" He is soooooo good to us, isn't He? You weren't asking for fame or riches, just practical needs, and your Loving Father saw your heart and answered those prayers. I've been praying for you too. My move is only a couple weeks away, and I can hardly wait to have it "behind" me. ♥
ReplyDeleteBetty Jo...thanks for stopping by and for the prayer. I will keep you and your move in prayer, it does feel good to have it behind us. My husband has lost over 60 pound and he was able to do so much more with this move without being totally drained. I knew the process of the move would kick up my fibromyalgia a few notches which it did. But I am doing great, enjoying getting settled in and looking forward ot getting to know my neighbors. We live very close to stores and places to eat so Ace and I walked to lunch today. California has beautiful weather for walking.
ReplyDeleteBetty~ you sound so full of PEACE---without a doubt the move has brought its share of "Aches/Pains" to the body, but the good Lord has been with you and Ace all the way.
ReplyDeleteMy hope is for you to have wonderful lunches,walks, laughter, joy, and FUN with Ace!! We can learn from others --all that is needed is for our hearts to be opened up and Let HIS love flow among us.. I continue learning from your amazing Faith and it helps me as I live daily with very Rough Physical Pain. In simple terms, I know God will never give me "More than I can Handle!" It is my honor to know and love you Betty!!!!!!
Martha...it is you girl who grow my faith...ok...I'll concede we grow each others faith. They say getting old is not for sissy but neither is chronic pain for sissy. I have felt the prayers of the saints in this move and honest the depression that usually comes and stays for a while only came for a couple days. We have been here 10 days, five moving days, five settling days. What I use to do in one day needs more time since I do take plenty of rest times in between putting up things. For the last three days I have really loved our little apartment. Tomorrow we have a missionary couple stop by as they travel through and I can't wait to see them. Last move it was at least three months before I wanted to see anyone. What is a miracle to me is I am on only two pills at night to help my pain, none through the day usually. I so dislike the fog the meds gave me and told the doctor I want to try once again to get off them. Now I know I might have to go on something later but for now I am fog free. Know you understand all this, with chronic pain comes chronic fog. So good to hear from you my courageous wise hearted sister. Lets keep praying for each other...
ReplyDeleteHi Betty! It was a privilege to pray for you, and I'm so happy it worked out! I love that image you put up, I'm sure that's how you felt at many points in your move.
ReplyDeleteI think an extra $55 a month will buy a lot of Taco Bell, right! God is good :) But it's great that you are so close to family, and got so much of what you needed.
In the winter, there are seeds of spring!
Blessings,
Ceil
Ceil, thanks for the prayers as I have said to others I certainly felt prayed for.
ReplyDeleteOh I love that, $55 dollars for Taco Bell meals...I will sure keep that in mind.
Bless you for the encouragement.
I agree to that.
ReplyDelete“I seek not a long life but a full life"
It is better to live well and be happy in whatever you do.
Haddock, you go the core of the post...thanks for visiting my site.
ReplyDeleteBetty,
ReplyDeleteWow, you are fast! Moving is so exhausting. Good for you and your husband for taking some down time last Sunday. It's needed. I imagine that missionary would love to meet you for coffee later in the month or week though, and would completely understand.
May you find every item in every box you need this week! (Or maybe that was just my issue after moving. ;))
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com
Jennifer, you are funny...I am still looking for a couple of things that must be in some boxes in our storage. We had more stuff then we could fit in our new place...so we did the USA thing..rented a storage place. I think when our son moves out we will not need and I am sure those items will show up. It was a smooth more this time...I just hope we don't have to repeat in for a few years. thanks for coming by for a visit.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you move went well, we have done a lot of those moves and they can really take the energy out of you. I love that quote from Jim Elliot, I think I'm going to steal it!
ReplyDeleteCaleb...I knew you would understand exactly what kind of moves I meant. And really for the last 30 some years it's move without a place to call home. And this you understand too. Steal away brother...the quote is so powerful for Nate really lived what he prayed. Hope all is going well for you and family.
ReplyDeleteWhat a start, a list of blessings, a heart filled with gratitude, new opportunities!
ReplyDeleteGod is good ...
Linda, you just put what I said in many words to few words...thanks. He is good, all the time.
ReplyDeleteWe worry and fret when all the time God has our back! I love this post of thanksgiving and provision. Thank you for sharing with us here at "Tell Me a Story."
ReplyDelete(this is Hazel - I am just still in Robert's site after posting a story for him.)
He does have our back doesn't He Hazel? I think your book of stories is a testament to that truth.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on completing the move, Betty. Those Jim Elliot quotes are reminding me I need to think about re-reading his wife's book. The Shadow of the Almighty. A good place for me to get some perspective.
ReplyDeleteMicah...I am always stirred to lean in closer to the Lord so I can hear exactly what he wants me to do when I read Elliot quotes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping my brother, pray your bus rides are fruitful.
Praise God! So happy for you and thank you for sharing this. The last part of your post really blessed my heart. That God knows what His children need/want and He cares enough to give us more than we could ever deserve.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great God we serve!
Thanks TC for the prayers and encouragement. Moving is not a woman thing usually, we are nesters. I love the little nest we are in now, very cozy with lots of trees and flowers around. It is windy in California right now and there is an aspen tree outside our patio that makes the most heavenly sound when the wind blow through it. Yes, He is good all the time.
ReplyDeleteUsing our idols to heat the place up...to ignite our passions. Wow. that's powerful.
ReplyDeleteThanks David for the visit. Some ladies and I are studying the life of Gideon where God told him to tear the idols down...I pray for that kind of courage to first, recognize what my idols are , then remove them with the help of the Lord. Funny how they can hide even in our prayer request which show when God answers in a different way then we expected. I was just in a better place with Him for this move. Our son has already been witnessing to the neighbor. Just that alone made the move worthwhile. Blessing brother.
ReplyDeleteI don't like taking elevators or second story living myself. What a blessing to have God fulfill all of your desires. But that does remind me that we do have to put in at least a little bit of effort.
ReplyDeleteEd, good thoughts. We put in more then a little effort in our move. Just to have peace of mind about this move was huge to me. Thanks for visiting.
ReplyDeletePraise God for answered prayer! He is so good, all the time! Thank you for sharing this beautiful example of God's abundant provision, & God bless.
ReplyDelete"Depression causes a blindness that keeps one from seeing how God is not only meeting our needs but giving us some of our desires." So true, Betty, and how blessed you are to have this wisdom. Sounds like God was your moving company - glad to hear you are settled. BTW - it took me five years to get all my pictures hung on my last move, you're amazing!
ReplyDeleteBetty, I enjoyed your post so much I read the ones back to November. I'm glad you stopped by blog and looked forward to visiting yours aqain. Blessings, Diane
ReplyDelete