The Church Search

Well we are now into the end of our first month in Kansas and if I am honest I must admit that adjusting has been tougher than I was anticipating. I thought I was prepared and had it under control since I grew up a PK (Pastors Kid) and we moved around as much as if I had been an Army brat. But that was almost 20 years ago. I have since developed comfort zones and set up house and have been married 11 years, had 2 children and have fallen into routines. I miss my house. And I think I am missing it more because it is still OUR house. It has not sold and we really need it to. So many other people in our great nation have the same problem so I know that we are unique in this situation. But it is so odd to know that I have a beautiful house sitting empty right now......and we have to keep paying the bills for it. But the Lord is providing and it is still ours and will be until He sells it for us.

Our new home (a rental...and that stresses me out to no end...haha) is nice and new and we are the first people to live in it. It has carpet and everyone knows how much I like to vaccuum so that makes me happy. We have a basement to hold all of our "stuff" that won't fit anywhere else and a garage. And let me tell you.....that is sooooo nice. But the thing I am most excited about is the closets I have in this house. All 3 bedrooms have nice size closets and I have 2 linen closets and a coat closet. Now that doesn't sound impressive to most but I have lived in 2 different houses in my married life. The first had 1 closet....1....that is it and it was tiny. The second had 2...a total of 2. So not much storage area....I had to use a dresser to house towels and sheets and such. So 6 closets is rocking my world right now.  I still think I may need to have a garage sale because I have found that we still have too much stuff.

So that bring me to the whole point of this blog....in a roundabout kind of way. We are in this awesome little town and we are trying to get settled in. The residents of Greensburg are so nice and kind and it has a really nice feel to it. And we are looking for a church to get involved in. There isn't a church in town like what we are used to. And that has been a kink. But hubby and I both feel like the Lord called us to Greensburg and that we need to be involved in the community and in this town. And the best way to do that is to serve in a church here. The closest church like what we are used to is over 40 miles away. We wouldn't be able to get involved like we would like to if we had to drive that far. Plus how would we be able to invite people to church and expect them to drive so far. So that leaves us with the churches in town. We have visited a couple and think we have settled on one. We are still praying but we have a peace right now. I was talking to my sister about it all. Because I do have concerns as there are some faith in practice issues that differ from our beliefs. But the most important point....Jesus and salvation are one in the same.  She was so encouraging and challenged me to look at things from a different perspective. So we are still praying and seeking the Lords will. I know He will be faithful to reveal it if we truly want to hear what He has to say. This whole experience has been stretching us so why shouldn't this stretch us too? God wants us to mature and to grow into the people He intended us to be all along. And growing is sometimes painful and uncomfortable but He is with us. He has always shown Himself faithful and so I will stand on that Truth and know that He has a plan.

One last thought.........did you know that we live in the windiest area of the country? Yesterday it was blowing so hard you could hardly stand up. And it isn't just an occasional gust. It blows all the time. If you close your eyes you can almost inagine that you are at the beach. Ah...the beach.....

Freedom

I have a new favorite song. Actually I would call it a heartsong right now. I feel so blessed to have heard it on a day that was not a great one for me. It is a couple years old apparently but I had not heard it until a couple weeks ago. It is in my mind and in my heart all the time. I truly want freedom. I do..I do..I do. 

And I want freedom for my family. Some of you may read my sister in laws blog http://www.fearfully-wonderfully.com/ and know about what they have been dealing with the past 4 years. But if you don't, you should check her blog out. She and my brother have been through multiple miscarriages at various stages of gestation and have had to learn to trust even when trusting means having your heart ripped out. I am blown away by what I have seen the Lord do in them and in those around them. They have the sweetest little boy, Isaak, who brings joy to whomever he meets. I know that he is a miracle and I know that God is lining up another and another and another. So I want freedom for Amick and Christy.

I want freedom for my parents. I haven't talked about it on here because I was trying to protect their privacy but they are now divorced and I feel liberty to share. My father is not walking in the fullness of Gods blessing and I see how many chains he has picked up and is carrying around and it breaks my heart. It still seems so surreal that my parents are no longer married. I want freedom for them both. I want freedom from fear, freedom from doubt, freedom from selfishness and pride.

I will blog more about it all soon. I am just overwhelmed today. It is my sister's birthday. Her name was Kailyn and she would be turning 25 today had she not passed on almost 15 years ago. My heart is aching for my mom today because she is having to face this day alone. My brother lives 3 hours away from her. My sister and I now live 20 hours away and my father has become a completely different person and is not there for her either. Please pray for my momma today. She needs it, as do we all. And we all need to be praying for the people affected by these terrible storms swirling around our country right now. In the midst of it all, God is still God and I have to remember that.

It's My Birthday.

Today is my birthday. I am now 32 years young. I have received so many texts, facebook comments and actual cards and phone calls that I feel a bit overwhelmed right now.

I am one of those people that tries to act like it is no big deal (you know, just in case nobody remembers and I have to deal with "those" feelings) but deep inside it is a big deal. It is a day to celebrate the life I have lived so far and to express thanks and to look forward to the days and years ahead.

Here I am in a new town without all my friends, except for my bestie, my sister. And I am wishing that we could go out and have a girls night. You know, one of those nights that you go to dinner and laugh until you cry and then maybe actually cry for other reasons, then realize that everyone is laughing at you. I want a night like that. I have always felt guilty for asking for things like that. Why? So I am putting it out there. I want a night to feel special and revel in the fact that it is about me for just a little while. I think I am worth that.

So, now I need to make some friends out here because I know all my sweet lovely ladies back home are not going to be driving out here to have a girls night, NO matter how awesome I am....haha

The Way

Hubby and I are actively looking for a church in our new hometown. And I must say it has been a bit more interesting than I was anticipating. I know that the Lord has a place for us to worship, serve and to fellowship with other believers. The thing that has gotten me a little confounded is that there are so many denominations in our Christian faith that it makes things harder than it needs to be.

When the disciples first started spreading the gospel to the towns, provinces, and nations after Jesus was resurrected I am sure that the emphasis was on the good news of salvation through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Now we have churches that divide rather than unify with the differences that have emerged over the past 2,000 years. Some examples......salvation by faith or by baptism? Speaking in tongues or not? Eternal security or can you lose your salvation? Baptism by sprinkling or by immersion? I am so aggrivated right now. Can you tell? Perhaps I should settle down and just pray that the Lord will lead us where He wants us. I know what I believe but it saddens me to see so many believers putting energy into things that really don't make any difference in the end. Jesus is the only way. Belief that He is who He says He is and has done everything to offer me salvation is the only choice. Trusting in Him and walking daily to bring Him glory is what He desires. Leading unbelievers into His presence is His greatest delight. Let's get on with it.

Amber Waves of Grain

Hello from the great state of Kansas!!!

It has been 2 weeks since we arrived with a huge 26 foot truck pulling another U-Haul. So now there are 8 more residence of Kansas.

It has been a smooth transition and we are enjoying our new homeplace.

The boys have been busy exploring and checking out all the parks. And riding their bikes on our paved driveway......they are ecstatic about it.....haha

We are trying to play catch up with our schoolwork and finish up the year. My sweet little man is doing so well with his schooling!!

Hubby is loving his job! But the highlight was Sunday evening when he was able to lead a young man he works with to the Lord. What a blessing!!! Hubby is so excited! I am so proud of him and so inspired by what He is allowing God to do in him and through him.

I want to thank everyone who has been praying for us over the last 6 months. They have been felt and I know have made a huge difference in this new journey for our family. I never imagined I could feel this measure of peace about moving to an entirely new town 1,200 miles away from our home.

Our home is still for sale and we would appreciate prayers for a quick sell. We know God is working it out and will be faithful to complete the work He began.....just anxious to see it come to pass.....you know me and patience...lol

I will take some pics and post them soon. Trying to decide how anonymous I want to be with this blog.