500 Emotions

I love this new song by Francesca Battistelli. (to the right) As we prepare to move back to Washington, I'm constantly flooded with relief, excitement, sadness, and even fear. My heart is broken by the fact that our dream to come out here and make an exciting life for ourselves was so short lived. While trying to keep in perspective that we are two very blessed people that have a home to return to when life turns out differently than we'd expected, I'm still mourning the loss of a big dream and an amazing place with even more amazing friends. In short, I am incredibly sad.

But God is good. He's faithful. And I'm encouraged and strengthened by the knowledge that this is the kind stuff He uses. I've mentioned before that this has been a growing experience for me. I think, and my prayer is that my real and continued growth will come from the Lord as we embark on a new adventure, with new eyes in a very familiar place. This is the stuff He uses to grow us. This is the stuff He uses to show His amazing, abundant love. This is the stuff He uses to reveal He is trustworthy with our whole lives so that we may glorify Him.

Ephesians 3
¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.