“Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same.”
All At Once
The Fray
If you’re reading this, it means you’ve been close to Christi or myself on some level in my past. I’ve come to a fork in the road, and the sign pointing to Genoa is not the road God is pointing toward.
God has been orchestrating this for a short while now, and we have felt the calling elsewhere. God’s plan is always better, but no doubt, sometimes it comes with pain: especially, the pain of leaving friends behind.
This weekend, the weekend of April 20-22, 2007, has been one of the hardest few days of my life. I’m reminded of the feeling welling up in me months prior to the date of Christi’s and my engagement, and how every time I thought about it, the feeling of butterflies would come over me. This is what it feels like; except, this time, it’s bittersweet.
The lyric mentioned above rang true the very first time I heard it. The song was playing as background music, but my attention was focused as I heard that line.
“Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same.”
I think the song is in the context of a relationship. In this case, it’s a bit different, but much the same. Christi and I know with full assurance that God has been moving in our hearts the past few months, and we’re thankful for His direction and guidance. However, the melancholy feeling that comes over me when I think of leaving my friends behind is almost too much to bear. (I’m thankful that God is carrying me through).
I want to make it known that I am not bailing, nor am I fed up, or bored with the students of Genoa. I have more love for them every day that I live. I can’t explain in words, how much it hurts to leave, but please know that it is due to a moving of God. I promised the students at Genoa one Sunday morning that if I didn’t feel that God was behind my being at Genoa, then I’d step down. That day has come.
To all who read this, I hope this serves as a reminder that we crave your prayers. Christi and I began our relationship around Christ. It has been our mission to continue on with Christ as the center of our ministry. We don’t know what’s next, but we know that God is in the middle of our decision. For this, we need your prayer.
We are leaving, but this isn’t goodbye. The relationships we’ve made are matchless, to say the least, and we will always love to hear from you.
Most of all, we want to see the students of Genoa grow up to be the leaders of tomorrow. The fact that Christi and I are not around does not change the fact that God is going to do amazing things through those we’ve been with for the last 2 years. Continue in the faith. Grow. Learn. Love. Enjoy the life God has given you to the full!
We will pray for you. We miss you. We love you. May God do great things through you!
Monday, April 23, 2007
Friday, April 6, 2007
2 Samuel
The horrors of the world sometimes overpower our view of God's providence.
When life gets hard, and answers aren't reachable, or even in plain view, we begin to panic frantically, as if the One who watches us is sleeping. "He doesn't slumber, nor does He sleep (Psalm 121).
In the context of David's era, times were crazy. Like a mob flick, in which the characters stab each other in the back (sometimes literally), all of David's contemporaries were competing for honor, revenge, or blatant personal gain. We learn to love David as we walk through the book of 1 Samuel. His love, his patience, loyalty, and most of all, faith in God is inspiring. Continuing on in 2 Samuel, we see his story play out.
Having been in dire circumstances, running from Saul, and becoming friends with Saul's son, Jonathon, the table turns. Saul and his sons have died in battle. The one who killed Saul (upon Saul's own request) brought news to David, as if if were good news.
The power struggle begins.
David is made king over Judah, and Ish-bosheth, son of Saul is made king over Israel. However, his formal kingship stopped at the loyalty of the people towards David. A civil war breaks out. Abner, Saul's army commander, brings his best men, as David does the same. Without going into detail, many fall on both sides, though Abner lost a significant amount more than David.
The feud ensues.
Many are murdered in the interplay that follows. David, mourning the loss of many, follows God through the storm. What happens next is worth waiting for.
Upon being made king (after those in such a place had died), David calls upon God for every need. Then, in 2 Samuel, there is one, striking sentence that frames David's life.
"Go, do all that is in your mind [David], for the LORD is with you." 2 Samuel 7:3.
His friend, Nathan, a prophet reminded David that he could do most anything, because his heart was aligned with God. God promises that if our hearts are aligned with His, that we could ask for anything, because it would be on His heart, too.
May you be used by God in such a way as David. But may you desire God as David did.
When life gets hard, and answers aren't reachable, or even in plain view, we begin to panic frantically, as if the One who watches us is sleeping. "He doesn't slumber, nor does He sleep (Psalm 121).
In the context of David's era, times were crazy. Like a mob flick, in which the characters stab each other in the back (sometimes literally), all of David's contemporaries were competing for honor, revenge, or blatant personal gain. We learn to love David as we walk through the book of 1 Samuel. His love, his patience, loyalty, and most of all, faith in God is inspiring. Continuing on in 2 Samuel, we see his story play out.
Having been in dire circumstances, running from Saul, and becoming friends with Saul's son, Jonathon, the table turns. Saul and his sons have died in battle. The one who killed Saul (upon Saul's own request) brought news to David, as if if were good news.
The power struggle begins.
David is made king over Judah, and Ish-bosheth, son of Saul is made king over Israel. However, his formal kingship stopped at the loyalty of the people towards David. A civil war breaks out. Abner, Saul's army commander, brings his best men, as David does the same. Without going into detail, many fall on both sides, though Abner lost a significant amount more than David.
The feud ensues.
Many are murdered in the interplay that follows. David, mourning the loss of many, follows God through the storm. What happens next is worth waiting for.
Upon being made king (after those in such a place had died), David calls upon God for every need. Then, in 2 Samuel, there is one, striking sentence that frames David's life.
"Go, do all that is in your mind [David], for the LORD is with you." 2 Samuel 7:3.
His friend, Nathan, a prophet reminded David that he could do most anything, because his heart was aligned with God. God promises that if our hearts are aligned with His, that we could ask for anything, because it would be on His heart, too.
May you be used by God in such a way as David. But may you desire God as David did.
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