The Big Move
I think we all have defining moments in life. Sometimes they are big and obvious, time stands still and as it moves forward change has occurred which cannot be reversed. Other times it is subtle, a whisper only audible to you yet it reaches deeply down leaving an imprint on your soul. Whatever the case, these moments are not easily forgotten. They often indicate significance and alter your course.
Thursday, December 17th, 2016 was one of those defining moments for me. I was in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on dinner as the kids raced around the house with their usual force of excitement and volume. Paul returned home from work. met me with a kiss, and began to share about his day. He had received an e-mail, "out of the blue" from our home church in Appleton asking if he might be interested in applying for a Youth Pastor position.
Our immediate response was no. We love where we are at....the city....the church....the people...the job. Life is sweet and Eau Claire is home. Why would we leave what we love? As we continued to discuss the details, my defining moment happened. This time it came in a whisper- an overwhelming feeling that despite the handful of seemingly huge obstacles that stood in the way, (ourselves included) this was it. This was our next. I felt it with clarity and certainty yet honestly, hoped I had misread it. My heart ached and yet a twinge of excitement and anticipation began.
Let me back up to last spring. Paul and I often take time to evaluate our life, to step back and see if any adjustments need to be made. After a handful of conversations we had decided we were going to take the next full year to really focus in on prayer, asking God to align our heart's desires with His.
We asked for awareness, for clarity, for vision, and for direction day after day as one month rolled into the next. I don't know why we were surprised when He answered or why we would expect the answer to be predicable or comfortable. As usual, He had immeasurably more in store for us than we dared to think or imagine.
He was calling us out onto the water when we never really intended on having to leave the boat. Classic.
I won't go into the details of it all but from that ordinary day in December leading up to Paul accepting the offer the first week in March, we simply decided to follow. As God led, we simply said "OK" and took the next step that was placed in front of us. After endless conversations, interviews, counsel, prayers, and tears it became clear He was calling us to "go".
So "go" we will and bittersweet is the only way to describe it. Eau Claire and Jacobs Well Church have been such a huge part of our story. It will not be easily forgotten rather treasured in our hearts for years to come. Grateful doesn't begin to describe how we feel about our experience here and leaving will be nothing short of difficult.
At the same time, our call back to Appleton and to Appleton Alliance Church fills us with great excitement and anticipation. If we believe this is truly what God has next for us (and we do believe that!) there is no other place we would rather be. Adventure awaits.
This process has taught us a lot about ourselves and our God already. I could write a book (and maybe I will do that one day) but for now I will just tell you that He is good and working all things together. Last Monday we accepted an offer on our home after only 7 days on the market. That same day we put an offer in on a house in Appleton and it was accepted. We close on both homes on the same day. Already He is reminding us of his faithfulness.
So that's the big news- Appleton, ready or not, here we come.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
Thursday, December 17th, 2016 was one of those defining moments for me. I was in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on dinner as the kids raced around the house with their usual force of excitement and volume. Paul returned home from work. met me with a kiss, and began to share about his day. He had received an e-mail, "out of the blue" from our home church in Appleton asking if he might be interested in applying for a Youth Pastor position.
Our immediate response was no. We love where we are at....the city....the church....the people...the job. Life is sweet and Eau Claire is home. Why would we leave what we love? As we continued to discuss the details, my defining moment happened. This time it came in a whisper- an overwhelming feeling that despite the handful of seemingly huge obstacles that stood in the way, (ourselves included) this was it. This was our next. I felt it with clarity and certainty yet honestly, hoped I had misread it. My heart ached and yet a twinge of excitement and anticipation began.
Let me back up to last spring. Paul and I often take time to evaluate our life, to step back and see if any adjustments need to be made. After a handful of conversations we had decided we were going to take the next full year to really focus in on prayer, asking God to align our heart's desires with His.
We asked for awareness, for clarity, for vision, and for direction day after day as one month rolled into the next. I don't know why we were surprised when He answered or why we would expect the answer to be predicable or comfortable. As usual, He had immeasurably more in store for us than we dared to think or imagine.
He was calling us out onto the water when we never really intended on having to leave the boat. Classic.
I won't go into the details of it all but from that ordinary day in December leading up to Paul accepting the offer the first week in March, we simply decided to follow. As God led, we simply said "OK" and took the next step that was placed in front of us. After endless conversations, interviews, counsel, prayers, and tears it became clear He was calling us to "go".
So "go" we will and bittersweet is the only way to describe it. Eau Claire and Jacobs Well Church have been such a huge part of our story. It will not be easily forgotten rather treasured in our hearts for years to come. Grateful doesn't begin to describe how we feel about our experience here and leaving will be nothing short of difficult.
At the same time, our call back to Appleton and to Appleton Alliance Church fills us with great excitement and anticipation. If we believe this is truly what God has next for us (and we do believe that!) there is no other place we would rather be. Adventure awaits.
This process has taught us a lot about ourselves and our God already. I could write a book (and maybe I will do that one day) but for now I will just tell you that He is good and working all things together. Last Monday we accepted an offer on our home after only 7 days on the market. That same day we put an offer in on a house in Appleton and it was accepted. We close on both homes on the same day. Already He is reminding us of his faithfulness.
So that's the big news- Appleton, ready or not, here we come.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
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