Moving on...

I am not one that has moved around a lot.... I lived with my parents in the same house of my childhood until the day I got married. My honey and I then lived in the same place for 19 years. In December of 2006, we picked up only the things that we needed and moved a whole 4 minutes down the road. When I tell you that we only took the things that we needed.... I am not kidding. We took our "current" wardrobe (not all the stuff that hangs in the closet for years without being worn), our pots, pans, dishes, small kitchen appliances, a few pictures off the wall, the toys that my children loved, and that is about it. We just left the rest behind. We owned the place... and we figured that we could go back for it if we needed it. We never did. Several months later, my husband had some family that needed a place to stay so we allowed them to move in there. They packed up the rest of our stuff and moved it outside to a storage building. I have seen their son having a recurrent yard sale for several months.... I don't go look. It is probably our stuff. If I see it, I will probably want it back.... so I have just let it go. I have completely left all that behind. For good. Never to go back.


So, I don't have a lot of experience with moving around.


For a week or so, I have been listening to some CD's of a Beth Moore conference called Spiritual Mapping. Absolutely awesome teaching. It maps out our Spiritual journey... from Egypt (our place of slavery and worldliness), to the Wilderness (not where we used to be, but not exactly where God is taking us), to our Promised Land (where we are being used of God to accomplish His purpose). I've been thinking a lot about this.


Egypt is a place of slavery... even if we don't realize it. Sometimes it seems like home, because it is all that we have ever known. But we are slaves there. It is where we live for ourselves. We do what we want to do.... and we think that it is a place of freedom... but it really isn't. Again, we are slaves there. I know that I don't want to live there. I want to be free. So, Egypt is not the address that I want.


The Wilderness is outside of the slavery. At first mention... the wilderness doesn't sound like a good place to be. It makes me think of a desert, dry, miserable place. But wait... think about it... this is where the Israelites saw God in the cloud by day and saw Him in the fiery pillar by night. There was evidence that proved He was close to them at all times. They were fed manna straight from heaven. They saw His provisions day after day. They saw miracle after miracle. Their sandals and clothes never wore out. (mine would have just gotten too small.... sigh) HE was their wonder. Now... with all that, it almost sounds like a good place to be. But we have to remember.... this is still not the place that God wants to take us. HE has something so much better for us.


The Promised Land is where God wants us to live. It is the place that He designed specifically for us. It is a place where WE are being used by HIM to bear much fruit. We will be the wonder there. We will be the blessing. God will work through us to accomplish His purpose. It is a place that bears much fruit. It is where He wants us to be. Where He wants us to be.... being what He wants us to be.


The Israelites lived in the wilderness for a long time!! Many died in the wilderness. Oh Father... I don't want to die in the wilderness. I want to make it to the Promised Land.... not only make it there... but stay there. I want to be all that you want me to be...


I don't think that I am finished thinking about this. I think that it is going to roll around in my head for a while. Where am I living?? Where are you living?? I know where I want to be... and I may have lots of packing to do.