Note: this is the same blog entry as is posted at the Bump in the Road blog
We had a sermon at church a few weeks ago from the book of Luke - the parable about the widow's mite. She gave just a few cents, but it was far more precious than the hundreds of dollars the wealthy gave back to God.
But that's not what struck me. The point I walked away with (even if Jon didn't intend it) was that we are to surrender it all to God because it all belongs to Him in the first place. The point was from a financial perspective, and for our family, that's the easy thing - it's a tangible thing we can see if we are following through. But what struck me is that there's other areas of my life that I am selfish about and it's not tangible. I'm selfish about my need to escape - to be alone, do my own thing, tune out the world - essentially cut out relationships for a time. It's a huge need for me!
We were looking at houses to rent in Corvallis and came across this really cute place that was for sale with a remote possibility of being rentable. It was 1400 sq. ft on two levels. Now...how often are all my kids quietly tucked away in their rooms? Catchin' my drift? We would be 6 people and a dog happily living on top of each other in about 700 sq. ft. - actually less than that b/c the master bedroom was also on the main level. I just Googled the personal space needs for Americans and only came up with the 'two foot rule' which doesn't help in this scenario. But the point is, it'd be very tight (but do-able) quarters. I was spending my mental energy that week trying to come up with ways that I'd be able to find a good space to 'get away' from my family, even for a short time: putting a nice Adorondek chair in the back yard with a small fountain for white noise was the best I could come up with. I love my family, but I have a huge need for escape.
But this is not why God created us! The whole reason God made us was for relationship! What a bondage I'm living in when I don't want to fully appreciate His creation! Would not my life be more "full" if I was not such a slave to my isolation? Sigh. So often the things that bring us comfort are those things which keep us in bondage. We love to eat and be merry, but are then bound by an unhealthy body. We appreciate quality, but are slaves to dissatisfaction. Love children at the cost of a wholesome union with our spouse. Love recreation, but a slave to time. I show my biases in my examples, but what about the intangibles that we are slaves to? Finish the sentence for yourself, "I need to...." or "I have to..." "If I don't do XYZ...." These are the things to which we can be slaves! If you pursue these things, what is it costing you?
Granted, there's a healthy balance in it all, but for me, it was a 'hit me on the head' kind of realization. I may not hoard money, but I hoard giving of myself. Now I need to find the balance b/w healthy Amanda and the relational Amanda that God created me to be!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
6 weeks, 3 days
I'll probably be doing the countdown until departure as a way of giving perspective as to what we're up to before leaving. So... in exactly 6 weeks and 3 days we'll be in the van and on our way!
So what did week 7 look like? This was the week, I think for both of us, to freak out - and then gain perspective - about our prospective responsibilities. The honeymoon is over and reality sets in!
I have been doing the house-hunting and quickly learned that I shouldn't be doing that right now. As much as I'd like to have an address so that I can take care of switching insurances, switching schools, and any other 'change of address' things, it's just not the sensible thing to be doing. Since we're going to be renting, we don't want to pay an extra month's rent to hold a place until we get there, so getting excited about finding something is only serving to frustrate me. Therefore, I decided to only 'glance' and not actually 'hunt' until the first of April. We'll see how I actually do.
For Josh, he's realizing just how much work he's got cut out for himself. Time to tame the brain and narrow down the important stuff.
Other things that really begin to 'hit home' are silly things like shelves being emptied of their books and boxed up, the turtle being brought to a new home, making contact with the school to initiate their attendance in the Corvallis school district. YIKES! Since Josh will not be heading up the church plant here on the NW side of GR, he's having meetings to see if there's another point person to take that position. No turning back now!
We are forever grateful for the prayers of everyone. We have prayer warriors literally across the country and around the world. We daily remember that our family has been bathed in prayer for quite some time and we are profoundly appreciative.
Patti and I have decided that for the next several weeks, we have to be careful how we gaze at each other as it's getting to the point that we both might become weepy at any minute. Good-byes will be tough. (For those who don't know or have forgotten, we live with Jim & Patti Kenyon - 13 months and counting. So much for "temporary assistance!")
So what did week 7 look like? This was the week, I think for both of us, to freak out - and then gain perspective - about our prospective responsibilities. The honeymoon is over and reality sets in!
I have been doing the house-hunting and quickly learned that I shouldn't be doing that right now. As much as I'd like to have an address so that I can take care of switching insurances, switching schools, and any other 'change of address' things, it's just not the sensible thing to be doing. Since we're going to be renting, we don't want to pay an extra month's rent to hold a place until we get there, so getting excited about finding something is only serving to frustrate me. Therefore, I decided to only 'glance' and not actually 'hunt' until the first of April. We'll see how I actually do.
For Josh, he's realizing just how much work he's got cut out for himself. Time to tame the brain and narrow down the important stuff.
Other things that really begin to 'hit home' are silly things like shelves being emptied of their books and boxed up, the turtle being brought to a new home, making contact with the school to initiate their attendance in the Corvallis school district. YIKES! Since Josh will not be heading up the church plant here on the NW side of GR, he's having meetings to see if there's another point person to take that position. No turning back now!
We are forever grateful for the prayers of everyone. We have prayer warriors literally across the country and around the world. We daily remember that our family has been bathed in prayer for quite some time and we are profoundly appreciative.
Patti and I have decided that for the next several weeks, we have to be careful how we gaze at each other as it's getting to the point that we both might become weepy at any minute. Good-byes will be tough. (For those who don't know or have forgotten, we live with Jim & Patti Kenyon - 13 months and counting. So much for "temporary assistance!")
Friday, March 11, 2011
New Road, New Beginnings
For those who haven't heard...it's official, we're moving to Oregon - Corvallis, Oregon, to be exact! See it there in the background, pt. E? 1.5 hr. south of Portland, right smack in between the Coastal Range and the Cascade Mountains! For you Michiganders: we've been quickly taught that it's pronounced or-i-gun not or-a-gon. And that we are to root for the OSU Beavers not the OU Ducks. So... Go Beavers! Josh is already seeing season tickets in our family's future for the football games.
The Details:
We accepted the call to begin work on a church plant in Corvallis, OR on February 28, 2011. We'll pack up and move on May 2. In the meantime we're working on housing, fundraising, planning and saying good-byes. Emotions run the gamut! Excitement, sadness, anticipation, and completely freaking out sometimes. The kids will be entering school in Corvallis for the last 6 weeks or so in order to meet a few new kids and maybe get a feel for the community before summer starts. They're also a mish-mash of emotion. Noah's doing a lot of internal processing, but generally excited about the move; Abby is glad we're moving to a place that has lots of trees and grass (mostly b/c she likes to reenact the Warriors books); Esther's bumming that she'll have to leave the new friends she's made in 1st grade; and Levi just imitates what Esther's doing.
The housing market in Oregon is...well, in the boom their housing prices went soooo sky-high that even now in this depressed economy, the cost for a home is still significantly higher than here in MI. So given the increased cost in housing, we're really leaning on God to find a home that fits and suits our family. The plan is that we'll find a rental for up to a year and then purchase a home. This gives us time to learn about the city, the schools, let the church develop - all that good stuff, before settling on a permanent residence. Another option is to find an investor that will assist with the down payment on purchasing a home. Either way, we need a roof over our heads. So housing is a prayer request.
Another request is for the soon-to-be church. Technically, it's a restart from remnants of Knollbrook CRC which hasn't been meeting for about 1.5 yr. What will become will be drastically different from what it was and from what currently (seems) to exist within the city. Yup, Josh is gonna try out all his crazy ideas! Technology-driven Reformed theology. Already we've seen God moving in the hearts of the people there, Josh has a good lead on two people that might come along with us to run his crazy ideas, and now all we need is money to do it - a common necessity for all church plants. The budget is set, but it is based in part on fundraising. Bottom line: please pray not only for the physical/spiritual creation of this new church and its community, but also consider how you can partner with us financially.
On a personal level, I (Amanda), in reading over what I just posted, am keenly aware of the fact that our largest requests are for finances. In some ways, it feels like such a worldly concern for which we ask - and it totally IS. On the other hand, it gives me reassurance that those are such minor needs to be asking God about! Ya, it's important to have a place to reside and food to eat and money to run the ministry, but God is so much bigger than those things. Sounds a little trite, but I have no doubts that God will bring what we need. Now, if He's nudging you to offer us a home... pick up that phone!! Let God move in you - Mama needs a home! :)
The Details:
We accepted the call to begin work on a church plant in Corvallis, OR on February 28, 2011. We'll pack up and move on May 2. In the meantime we're working on housing, fundraising, planning and saying good-byes. Emotions run the gamut! Excitement, sadness, anticipation, and completely freaking out sometimes. The kids will be entering school in Corvallis for the last 6 weeks or so in order to meet a few new kids and maybe get a feel for the community before summer starts. They're also a mish-mash of emotion. Noah's doing a lot of internal processing, but generally excited about the move; Abby is glad we're moving to a place that has lots of trees and grass (mostly b/c she likes to reenact the Warriors books); Esther's bumming that she'll have to leave the new friends she's made in 1st grade; and Levi just imitates what Esther's doing.
The housing market in Oregon is...well, in the boom their housing prices went soooo sky-high that even now in this depressed economy, the cost for a home is still significantly higher than here in MI. So given the increased cost in housing, we're really leaning on God to find a home that fits and suits our family. The plan is that we'll find a rental for up to a year and then purchase a home. This gives us time to learn about the city, the schools, let the church develop - all that good stuff, before settling on a permanent residence. Another option is to find an investor that will assist with the down payment on purchasing a home. Either way, we need a roof over our heads. So housing is a prayer request.
Another request is for the soon-to-be church. Technically, it's a restart from remnants of Knollbrook CRC which hasn't been meeting for about 1.5 yr. What will become will be drastically different from what it was and from what currently (seems) to exist within the city. Yup, Josh is gonna try out all his crazy ideas! Technology-driven Reformed theology. Already we've seen God moving in the hearts of the people there, Josh has a good lead on two people that might come along with us to run his crazy ideas, and now all we need is money to do it - a common necessity for all church plants. The budget is set, but it is based in part on fundraising. Bottom line: please pray not only for the physical/spiritual creation of this new church and its community, but also consider how you can partner with us financially.
On a personal level, I (Amanda), in reading over what I just posted, am keenly aware of the fact that our largest requests are for finances. In some ways, it feels like such a worldly concern for which we ask - and it totally IS. On the other hand, it gives me reassurance that those are such minor needs to be asking God about! Ya, it's important to have a place to reside and food to eat and money to run the ministry, but God is so much bigger than those things. Sounds a little trite, but I have no doubts that God will bring what we need. Now, if He's nudging you to offer us a home... pick up that phone!! Let God move in you - Mama needs a home! :)
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