6 Days to Go...

Yesterday I was reading in my Bible and I came across a particular scripture that really spoke to me. A while back I heard a song by a group called Avalon - the song is called "I don't wanna go" and it talks about not wanting to go somewhere if God is not there. The song really spoke to me, because even though I'm nervous and excited about England, I don't want to be there if God is not there. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that God is everywhere. There is no where I can go that is God not. And in Psalms 139:7-10 I am reminded of that very fact.
"Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."
How comforting those words are to me now. I feel I can truly start this adventure in peace. Something else I also found in my Bible was a little devotional called "Saying Good-by" it reads this,
"One of the toughest parts of leaving is saying good-by. We don't know what to say or to whom, so we either take off about 4:00 in the morning, or we fumble through with vague expressions that really don't reveal what we feel.
In Acts 20, we see the tenderness of saying good-by well. Even in the pain of separation, good can come.
Saying good-by servers. It helps us focus our thoughts and the thoughts of those around us on the transition we're facing.
Saying good-by encourages. It underlines contributions we have made and that others have made in our lives.
Saying good-by heals. The grieving process is helped along when we give words to our losses.
Final words of commitment. A prayer of thanksgiving for what was and of hope for the future. Tears. Hugs. A walk to the door.
We we come to transitions, let's learn to say something that matters. Then there can be "good" even in "good-by". "
That devotional comes from the New International Version, the Mom's Devotional Bible. If you are a Mom, I highly recommend this Bible. It's awesome!
And there is 2 more things I'd like to say today, one is for all my extended family and the other for all my friends from M2M.
To my dear family this is what I pray for all of you with all of my heart:
"I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is." Colossians 2: 1-5
I know it's hard to say good-by and we may all struggle with that and what to say and not say and on and on...truth be know all I truly know to say is this "I love you, I'll miss you, and may God be with you, always." But I too have struggled with what to say, how to handle it, and the best way I know to handle it is by leaving it all in God's hands and praying for all of you. I know some of you have drifted far away from God and I know some of you are still learning how to walk with God - so am I! I'm no-where near perfect or as mature in my faith as I'd like to be. It is a constant growing and learning process and the more I learn and grow the more I find myself praying for all of you. For you to find Christ, for your faith to grow, and for you to be blessed in ways you never imagined. God loves you, all of you. He sent his son to die for you, he will never leave you, nor forsake you. Remember that and remember that I am always praying for. I may not be here, but I love you and my prayers are forever with you.
To the women of M2M, you all know who you are...how could I ever leave you out! You've blessed me beyond my wildest imagination and I will forever treasure you.
Romans 12:11-13 "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
Devotional Reading from NIV Mom's Devotional Bible: "Apathy is like a flame that only flickers and sputters beneath our faith in Christ. It may flare up occasionally when blown by the winds of whatever seems interesting at the moment, but soon returns to only a weak flicker. Zeal, on the other hand, is the flame that feeds our Faith into a fire that burns steadily, whatever the circumstances or passing influences. In Romans 12:11, Paul exhorts, "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Note that the flame of spiritual fervor or zeal needs to be fed with service to the Lord. Verse 12 gives instruction on feeding the flame: be joyful, patient, faithful. We tend to reserve our passions, our fiery feelings, for our best arguments, for our ambitions and for our bedrooms. We seldom think of direction passion toward God. Oh, but God wants us ardently interested in and eagerly pursuing him. He longs to matter to us! He yearns for us to yearn for him! Zeal pushes us to give our best effort, to care when we don't feel like it, to try when we want to give up, to continue when we want to quit. How high and strong does your flame of zeal burn?"
I pray that your flame burns higher and brighter and stronger than ever before - than you've ever imagine. I pray God fans that flame and you reach more and more Mom's, because we all know how much they need you, they need God, and how important a safe group of friends is. Ecclesiastes 4:10 "If one falls down his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls & has no one to help him up!"
Go and let your light shine like there is no tomorrow! I'll be praying for you - maybe I'll see that light all the way in England. I love you!

Dear Father,
You know my heart - thank you for blessing me with a calming peace for this new transition in my life and the life of my family and friends. Thank you for making and including us all in your wondrous plans. Praise your Lord, for all your many blessings.
In Jesus name,
Amen.

~T~