Preparing for Jordan

'set foot in the Jordan...'

and the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.  Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.'" Joshua 3:7-8

As our family counts down to the inevitable move ahead, the feeling of anticipation increases.  As a friend of mine related her stepping out in faith this year to the crossing of the Jordan, I was touched by how picturesque and poignant that was to exactly what she was doing - isn't God great to give us stories in His Word that reveal to us exactly what He's doing?  At the time she spoke of it, I hadn't thought to relate it to how God was working with our family... lo and behold, as I studied it this morning, it strengthened and encouraged me; brought me peace and comfort.  The waters may very well not part until I'm already wet... and not a moment before, I thought to myself.


It's so sticky and uncomfortable isn't it?  From secular to Christian thought, we have role models of how to plan out our life - its laced with words like stewardship and wisdom.  But just a few weeks ago I spoke with someone who over the recent year has felt the move of the Holy Spirit on her life in a way she'd never experienced before; she knew His whispers and she acted in obedience to His calls - daily and moment by moment.  Just before that she and her husband had closed the books on trying to plan out their financial situation via one of Christianity's famous financial planning strategies... it just wasn't how God had asked my husband and I to steward our finances, she said.  It was so refreshing and beautiful - I wanted to dance and shout for joy!  Is what you are doing right now God's purpose that you've adopted?  Or is it your purpose that you've asked God to come bless?

But how can we know for sure what His purposes are for us?  How can we adopt what it is we aren't certain of?  What if its His purpose and my desire?  That'd be awesome!  But what if it's...

I want to live in that tension... wrestling between my desires and God's.  It's uncomfortable and sometimes messy; we sin because our flesh pulls us; it requires 'pressing on' and 'straining toward' as it says in Philippians.  Yet in chapter 3, verse 15 it exhorts that all of us who are mature should take such a view of things.  And if on some point you think differently (gulp!), that too God will make clear to you (phew!).  Only let us live up to what we have already attained'  What have we attained?  In our life we become dependent on, and comfortable in, our own plans - we pride ourselves on being prepared and ready for the unforeseen circumstance and yet in many of those scenarios (not all!) its at the expense of the sanctifying process of sin which demands forgiveness which leads to repentance which brings redemption back to the Father.  Have you allowed God to build for you the most exhausting and seemingly insurmountable obstacle course where its only by His grace that you attempt it or have you chosen to purchase Rainbow Play System's most recent set?  A stamp-guaranteed structurally sound 'adventure'.  Guaranteed.  Guaranteed.  Guaranteed.

Guaranteed not to dive into God's Word.  Guaranteed not to seek advice of wise, Christian counsel.  Guaranteed not to experience the exhilaration of falling into the arms of a powerful God.  Guaranteed not to learn more about Him.  Guaranteed self-preservation and ego centrism.  Guaranteed to not be a witness of His strength in your weakness.  Guaranteed.

Jumping back to Joshua: the ark of the covenant was full of that which God had revealed about Himself on Mt. Sinai.  His command was that when the ark passed the Israelites by, they would follow it.  He had asked them to consecrate themselves, to set themselves apart as sacred, and be ready for that moment when they were to move.  He was about to do amazing things.  The only way for us to not plan but still prepare is to be on a continued trajectory of consecrating ourselves to Christ.  Setting ourselves apart from what the world demands of us and finding our soul fulfillment in Jesus Christ... it takes the act of mourning our filthy human state and asking to be made holy through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross - then when the ark passes us by, with all God's revealed about Himself and asked us to live according to, we will move.  Just as He's commanded.

In pursuing His purpose, I'm experiencing His continued faithfulness.  I'm capable of jumping a little bit higher, trudging a little bit deeper and reaching a little bit further - He's been equipping me for my good and His glory.  And I'm trusting that the waters will be dammed up river and I will cross through Jordan only by His amazing power.  

He is not concerned for our happiness, He is concerned for our holiness. 

 - unknown source

    

Dear friends,

He is good - His mercies are to eternity...

This year in Bible Study Fellowship we've studied the Acts of the apostles - we've become 'friends with Paul', as a woman today so beautifully put it, we've been encouraged by Peter and warned by Jude; we've been convicted of grumbling in our trials and being entitled in our happiness; we've been affirmed in our alienship and have wrestled in our plenitude.

It has been, of course, the perfect lessons at the perfect times.   

The Schei family is once again on the move... where to, we do not know!  We've spent the recent 10 months in the most beautiful of homes, on the most lovely of properties with the most wonderful of neighbors - God did it.  He did it all.  Who would have thought...

Remember when you had your child and you can't remember what your life was ever like before you had them?  Even at a mere 2 weeks old you're thinking 'I can't remember what it was like without you.'  THAT is what has happened here in this place... what did we do without Bob and Cheney and the girls?  How could we not have known Apollo and his sisters?  When was it ever not an option to go jump on the trampoline or go make forts at the park while Mom cooked dinner?  When did I not expect Lily's knock on our door to go the park?  Our life is forever enriched by this experience and this group of friends... lifelong friends.

And once again, we see as God has planted us, ignited us and let us explode -- all for the purpose of refining us and moving us along with the encouragement of knowing that He has, once again, accomplished exactly what He wanted to accomplish.  As He has promised, he is finishing the good work in us and bringing glory to Himself.  Just like He did with Paul!  What an incredible study for this year!

After days of warmth, the clouds slowed over us and became increasingly heavy.  The air smelled of the impending rain and we all, for a moment, slowed as well -- until we decided instead to dance.  Cheney and I and the kids walked outside and flinched as each drop hit our dry bodies... then began to relax under the inevitable drenching.  I grabbed my camera and captured some of the greatest moments to date... we laughed and danced and screamed as we walked under waterspouts and through puddles; we giggled and looked sadly at our now soaked new suede boots; we hugged each other and pointed out Ben's crazy antics -- we loved the moment... nothing else mattered.

I continue to revel in what God has done, is doing and will do with this experience - in our life and the lives of those around us.  When it seems the clouds have opened and let loose its rain, when it feels as though I'm surrounded by the unknown and want to crumple in not being able to plan, when I'm tempted to succumb to society's demand for explaining why we do what we do and when I'm peaceful with where we are but feel the need to justify it with anything other than Jesus' call...

I must hold tight to my plumb line - I must smile and dance without regard for the world around me.  And I must be obedient... its how I got here in the first place.

Praise be to God.

 

It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere.  Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.  - Deuteronomy 13:4

"Hey, Schei kids, let's go..."