3 Lessons On Moving – Again

After years of talking about it, my husband and I have decided it’s time to move. Now, this won’t surprise anyone who knows us well. I counted the number of moves we’ve made in our 53-year marriage (we had an anniversary this week). This will make our 15^th move if I counted all of them. Man! That makes me feel like a nomad and it wears me out thinking about all those boxes.

Scripture is filled with people who were called to leave behind the familiar, trust God with what came next, and that home is less about a place than about the God who goes with us. In Genesis 12:1 , God tells Abram to leave his country, people, and father’s household and go to the land God would show him. I give you three lessons about moving.

LESSON 1

Every Move Means Leaving Something Behind

Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and aa time for every matter under heaven (ESV).

 For me, the most difficult of all the moves we made was when we decided to leave our home in Birmingham, Alabama and move to Ft. Myers, Florida. True, my sister, beloved cousins, my nephew and niece, and extended family lived there. But we left behind a church we loved. Friends we’d grown close to. Mostly, we left behind Hubby’s family. Now, that was hard.

We didn’t make the decision lightly to move, with three small children, miles away from the only home they’d known. They were 6, 3, and 2 when we headed out. I literally cried all the way as I drove my car, hubby drove his, and the movers moved a lifetime of memories packed inside boxes.

We couldn’t have imagined the things and doors God would open when we crossed over that Florida state line. God moved us quickly from the first church we joined to another one. It was a vast improvement over the first. And even this new church came with its own set of challenges. Through it all, we had to learn to lean on God. We weren’t the people then, either, that we are today, so trusting Him didn’t come so easily.

Still, we know the Bible tells us there is a season and a time for every purpose. That includes our nomadic lives.

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LESSON 2

God Has Always Gone Ahead

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you (NIV).

God opened so many doors each time we moved. In Ft. Myers, I got to spend time with my sister and her family that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Jim’s job there opened doors for an even better job when we moved to the Tampa Bay area. Yes, we gave up the daily visits with my family, but I gained friendships that are still alive and well to this day. As I write this, I am so thankful for both of you, Doris from our church, and Wanda, my precious “other sister” and friend for all eternity. How I miss both of you. I truly believe God led us to that place and time and to those relationships. He knew I needed people I could lean on who would be there for me through all manner of things.

This next move will be a hard one. We love where we live. We love our home, but it has had challenges that have been the catalyst of all manner of discussions about whether we should move or not. But recent events led us to the conclusion that it is time to make that decision we didn’t seem to be able to make ourselves. I truly believe God has had a hand in this. Without a doubt, He is already in the home He has picked just for us. We would appreciate your prayers for wisdom and discernment in this matter.

LESSON 3

None of These Houses Was Ever Our Permanent Home

Hebrews 13:14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come (ESV).

In John 14:2-3, Jesus speaks of His Father’s house and the place He prepares for His people. Hubby and I cling to and talk about getting to spend eternity together. It was one of the main things we talked about yesterday as we celebrated our 53 years of being joined by God, as one.

After all those years, and many, many moves, one thing has become abundantly clear. Home is not simply the house in which we dwell. Home is the life built together—and beneath that is the promise from Jesus himself—eternity with Him. The minute you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead, you are guaranteed eternity with Him. Read Romanas 10:9. Know this–you can’t just pray this and think you’re good. This is from a heart and a life change, evident in how you live.

While we move into our 15^th earthly home, as exciting as that is, nothing can compare with the promise of spending eternity in the presence of God, Jesus, our Savior, and Holy Spirit, the One who has been our Comforter and that still small voice we’ve listened to for all these years. Our address may change, but our God does not.

Do you know where your final move will take you? There are only two choices. Choose wisely, my friends. Hubby and I would love to spend all eternity with you.

Blessings, y’all!

We recently found Brothers of the Heart. The lead of that group is Jimmy Fortune, seen here on the right. Had no idea he’d been a Statler Brother. You may find his story of how he joined them and sang with them for 21 years on YouTube. Fascinating. We LOVE Brothers of the Heart!! Find them on YouTube, too. So good!