Real Estate for the End Times

I have a confession. Sometimes I go online and ogle real estate. Just to see what’s our there. Efrain and I have only ever been homeowner’s once. We lived in a new home for a year and a half at the peak of the housing market. God used the sale of that house to pay off our college debt, a vehicle, and then, off to the mission field. We moved out of the practically pristine house before we ever painted it our own colors, or filled it with furniture and years of memories. Sometimes, looking at houses I imagine the comfort of the beautifully finished bathtubs with plentiful water, and clean perfect lines of tile and paint, with orderly smooth lines throughout. Then I imagine myself working at my nice paying job, going to church on Sunday, listening to the missionary speaker, and being moved to speed the coming of the Lord, to work in the last Harvest field. I imagine myself packing up my beautiful home, selling it all, and getting on the plane, full circle to right where I am now. 

You see, I know I can never really get away from The Call. I’ll never be able to not hear God speaking to me about where He wants me to be. I could only enjoy my beautiful home for a short while before I would once again feel the tug on my heart, the itch of the Holy Spirit to get moving, and in a moment of crazy abandon…obeying. You might as well obey The Call early and often because otherwise you will totally miss the adventure. The adventure is rarely glamorous, and the adventure won’t sustain you when things get bleak. But being in the perfect center of God’s will, trusting and obeying, is the real sweet spot. As they say...location, location, location.

About your weight loss...

For once, I’m not talking about my New Year’s Resolutions. I didn’t make any this year. January saw me following God’s will like this:

“God, you want me to get out of bed now? OK." I obey. "You want me to shower, dress and eat something? Yes, Lord. You’d like me to brush my teeth now? I could skip it…Sure, Lord. Can I go back to bed now and cry? No? OK."

By now, your probably thinking, get this girl some Prozac, (or whatever). I started a cilantro regimen instead and it helps a bit. 2012 was the hardest year yet of our ministry as missionaries. There were attacks on various fronts, but then Satan messed with our kids, and our peace. In the aftermath, we traveled to the States for Christmas, and I licked an airplane tray to get the flu. (No, I didn’t mom) For a week I laid under the covers sick, discouraged, and cried and cried. I wrestled with the Holy Spirit. I thought I signed the contract that said Christians don’t have to deal with this brand of Satan-in-a-can. Apparently, it’s not in the contract. I cried out to God for a breakthrough and it came in the form of this song I learned as a little girl, (Not the first time the weapons of childhood praise have saved me…)

Count your blessings, name them one by one

Count your blessings, see what God has done,

Count your blessings,

Name them one by one,

Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

In my perfect right to cry and pout, God showed me He had something different for me. My spirit of depression could not co-exist with my little song. I laid down my rights, and I began to sing my little song in the morning, brushing my teeth, and step by step just obeying the Lord. At first robotically, then with more vigor. The joy of the Lord is my STRENGTH. Whatever your challenge is for the New Year, be it weight loss, writing that book, or organizing your sock drawer, face it armed with joy. Here’s to a joyous 2013! (Pat self on back for not posting this in February.)