Coastal Callings

In my last blog post, I asked if you were running from anything.  I think for the first time ever, I hadn’t been just running from something, but I was also running towards the same thing I was running from…CHANGE.  Carter and I just entered another phase of life full of changes.  Is this a good thing?  Yes!  Is this change full of lots of unknowns? Yes! (That’s where having faith comes in.)  Does change come with a variety of emotions?  Of course!  I couldn’t have been more eager to get down to Florida to be with Carter and our new church family…BUT, I had a super hard time leaving the friendships I truly cherish as well as a job that I love!  It was so obvious that God was calling us to Boca though.  Did that make the move easier?  YES and no.  God, like always, kept teaching me and reminding me of a variety of things over these last couple months, which helped shift my mindset.  Instead of the dread of leaving some awesome buddies, I started cherishing the time I had with them even more as we continued to add memories to relationships.  I continued to be thankful for what many would call “the small things.”  I really did start to look forward to what God had in store for us and the church down in Boca.  He was The One who called us here in the first place…He always has a plan.  But back to my title, one of the biggest reassurances I received over and over again was that despite all the changes going on in our world, Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  He isn’t going to change!  He will remain who He says He is!  He will keep His promises!

Boy was I enjoying the sunshine for all of about 5 minutes until the brightness was pushed aside by dark thunderstorm looking clouds and a cool wind.  I get up from my chair, grab my towel, chat with my friend’s dog Harlem, start heading towards the door, and guess what catches my eye?  An atleast 4 foot snake!!!!  Coming right towards me. If you know me, you know what came next…  I let out a loud screech.  Froze in my tracks for a few seconds.  Stomped my foot. Felt my heart rate jump up to about 350 bpm (okay, maybe not that high.).  Heavie geevies covered me head to toe.  Leaped (like a split I would have done back in my gymnast days).  And ran to the door hollering for little sweet Harlem to follow me.  I am pretty sure all of this happened in about 5 seconds!

As I continue to think back to all this (over and over again), God asked me what I was running from these days?  Are you running from God or anything right now?  What are you afraid of?  What’s making you run away from God instead of towards His open loving arms?

Jonah 1:10 This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.

Jonah was asked to go preach repentance to Nineveh.  Instead of following God’s command, Jonah’s stubborn self ran from the Lord. God sent a storm.  Jonah was thrown overboard and then the water calmed.  Jonah was swallowed by a whale.  While in the belly, Jonah repented and cried out in prayer.  God had the whale spit Jonah out to dry land.  Before, Jonah thought he was better than God, but after 3 days in a large fish, Jonah realized how important it is to obey the One who loves him the most!  Jonah heads to Nineveh this time. He warned the people that they must confess their evil deeds to God. Otherwise, God would destroy their nation. The people obeyed Jonah. So, God forgave the people in Nineveh and did not destroy the land. God wanted nothing more than to bring Jonah back to a place of fellowship and service.  He wants the same for us!

Are you running from God’s direction?  If so, talk to God about it.  He’s listening.  He’s in control.  He knows best.  He never leaves us.  I believe He is always there ready for us to stay close to Him and not go in the opposite direction.  However, if you steer away, it’s never too late to run towards/back to Our Father.