Letting Go & Looking Up

One year ago today we moved from La Porte, Indiana back to Texas and look what the Lord has done!

Nikki and I were talking earlier today about how each year of our marriage has been so unique and God has taught us very specific things in each of them so far. This is a good thing, because as each year passes, Lord willing, there is a measurable aspect of growth within us personally as the Holy Spirit admonishes and refines us to look more like Jesus Christ, in His righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).

This year has been marked with that of fully pressing into the goodness of God, seeing Him as the Provider and Sustainer that He is, and being grateful for the life and blessings we’ve been given in Christ (Psalm 65; 92:1-2; 119:68; 55:22; 2 Thessalonians 3:5; 1 Timothy 6:11).

God has taken us on a journey for sure. From coming back to Texas, doing ministry with a new church family, welcoming our second son, and later transitioning out of that ministry position due to leadership changes. From living with family for all of this year when that’s not what we originally ‘planned on’, working harder on our photography business, and stewarding extra time well with our sons. As well as, plugging into a new church, doing life with new people and friends, loss of loved ones and new life with others, sorrow and joy, fear and peace, and an overwhelming sense of God’s unending grace on our lives.

To say this past year was easy wouldn’t be true, but to say that it wasn’t as hard as it could’ve been because the Spirit of God has awoken us to a new understanding of finding peace in the finished work of Christ IS true. It could’ve been so much harder had we tried to go through each moment of this recent journey—with all its ups and downs—trying to survive on our own power and strength alone. But thanks be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has adopted us and given us every spiritual blessing and has sealed us in Christ, with the Holy Spirit, to the praise and glory of God the Father (Ephesians 1). This is why we are so grateful and choose not to let our gaze be on the things that are momentary, but on the hope we have in the joy that the morning brings (Psalm 119:15; 90:14; Proverbs 10:28; Isaiah 51:6; Romans 14:17).

If there’s any encouragement I can give you all out there as you read this from me looking back on this past year, it would be the same thing I told people over two years ago when we moved up to La Porte, Indiana…

Stop holding so tightly to “your plans”. Learn to hold things (i.e those “plans”) loosely.

If you’re holding so tight to your dreams, goals, and ideas of what your life should look like, then there’s a chance you may be missing out on the incredible adventure God has for you, the amazing ways He wants to use you, and the humbling lessons He wants to teach you. His reality for you is so much more abundant and life-fulfilling than the reality you think you live in or have made for yourself. Don’t sell yourself short because you think God has made your life to be one that coasts through the years once you’ve got your life ‘all figured out’. Don’t believe the lies of complacency, rather learn to be content knowing that God has given you everything you need in Jesus (1 Timothy 6:6-8). You can be content to realize that what you have isn’t even yours in the first place, it’s all gifts and blessings He’s CHOSEN to lavish on you (James 1:17). Hold loosely to the things of this world and step fully into the ambassadorship you carry as a citizen of heaven (2 Corinthians 5:20; Psalm 105:2) and a conduit of His love (1 Timothy 6:11-12).

Let go and look up. God’s not done with you (Psalm 121).

Wow! What a year indeed! And to our sweet La Porte, Indiana People & Songs FAMILY… we love you and miss you every day and pray for you with great expectation for what God does in and through you for His glory. Look what the Lord has done indeed!