My Best for God's and How that Relates to Moving 5 Times In 6 Years

Since our big move to this area 2 years ago, something our college pastor said way back in the 90's, came back to my memory.  He told us that in our futures, we should consider moving/relocating on the sole basis of attending a good church.  At the time, I pondered it for about 3 seconds before it bounced off me as "not for me".  Little did I know.
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Friday night, Ryan and I were visiting with some friends.  The subject came up that we had lived in a nearby  neighborhood 6 years before.  I added that we have lived 5 places since then.  (3 of which stemmed from our one decision to relocate here.)  We laughed and shook our heads.  One of them asked if it had anything to do with Ryan being former military.  I conceded that that could have something to do with it.  After all, when you are military, you know that moving is part of life and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.  You realize that it is just part of the job description.  Yes, I suppose that experience made me realize moving is just a "thing".  It was a piece of my past that made me understand that I could pick up and go and that life would reset and then go on.  It made the decision to help with this church plant that much easier.

I didn't verbalize our personal struggles with the Lord over it all.  We had settled in nicely to a home and a life near friends and family and a church community that would easily see us through all the ups and downs of  life.  But God had other plans for us.

I'm not saying these things I wanted were wrong. They were good!  But God desires good gifts from us.  He wanted our "perfect life" on the altar.  He wanted my dreams of being settled.  He wanted our social lives. He wanted our educational plans.  He wanted the best we had to give.

Even though the decision was hard and the reality is sometimes harder, He has been faithful. He has given back what we thought we were losing.  It is different what we have now, but given by Him to experience and enjoy.  Being a part of our church family here has been truly an amazing blessing that I wouldn't trade.  Seeing God work in my children's lives through their own sacrifices has been priceless.  Getting occasional glimpses of what God is doing in other's lives in this community is such a privilege.  All along the way He has blessed us with laughter, friends, beauty, rest and good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagle.  We feel at home.  We are glad we came.
     
There is this adventure we are all on as believers.  An adventure of following the Lord, of trying to please Him in all respects, of bearing fruit in every good work.  Many times it calls us out of our comfort zones into the unknown.  Sometimes it has us plugging away, being faithful right where we are.  But always, it His story being written, not ours.  As much as we think we have it figured out, as much as we think we are settled in our houses and communities,  He is choreographing our lives and adds beauty, intrigue, suspense and His beautiful grace.