Home is Calling.

Today is Tuesday – and maybe some of you have a picture to post?  Mine isn’t working right now.  But if you have one, please link up via the comment section.  Thanks!

Where is home for you?

Is it your own house?  Your mother’s kitchen?  Your childhood bedroom?

Where is your home?

Living in Chicago people are often surprised when I say home is Michigan.  It always has been, always will be.

For me, home is where my mom, dad, sister, etc… live – Michigan.

And I long to be home.

I want to spend quality time with my family.  Not just small talk on the phone.  Phone conversations sometimes just hurt ’cause it’s not enough.  I find myself even avoiding it on occasion.

God has placed my husband, my daughters and I in the Chicago suburbs.  My preacher-hubby is going on his 10th year at our church and it really is wonderful.  The work is good, ministry is good, people are good, friends are good.  The church feels like home.  Yet there are very important people in my life missing from this “good” picture.

As I mentioned yesterday, I believe it’s OK to long for home.  In fact I often wonder if this is a heavenly calling.

2 Corinthians 5:1-5 (MSG): For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less. 

God puts home in our hearts from the very beginning.  It’s a holy longing.

So I continue to pray today, to trust today, to choose faith today.

I long for home…  a little piece of Michigan… and a big slice of heaven!

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Is Prayer Enough?

I’m lonely for home today.

Friends are awesome but they don’t offer the familiarity of home.

God enrolled me recently in a course on prayer.  And today He posed the question: “Will you trust Me enough to give your family over in prayer?”

I have so wanted to take things in my own hands.  I’ve been trying to get myself home.  But my schedule just won’t allow.  Since I couldn’t be there – I asked them (my Mom and Dad) yesterday if they could come here (Chicago).  Nope.

And He aked once more, “Will you allow me to be ALL? All for you and All for them?”

But I want to help Lord.

Yes, but now isn’t the time Shane.

But Father, why?

Shane, am I enough for you?

Job offers this advise to me today from chapter 12:7-13 (via The Message)
But ask the animals what they think—let them teach you;
   let the birds tell you what’s going on.
Put your ear to the earth—learn the basics.
   Listen—the fish in the ocean will tell you their stories.
Isn’t it clear that they all know and agree
   that God is sovereign, that he holds all things in his hand—
Every living soul, yes,
   every breathing creature?
Isn’t this all just common sense,
   as common as the sense of taste?
Do you think the elderly have a corner on wisdom,
   that you have to grow old before you understand life?
True wisdom and real power belong to God;
   from him we learn how to live,
   and also what to live for.

Common sense.

I thought I was rich in common sense!  But it seems even the animals have more than me today.

So, I pray.

I pray for more.

More sense in knowing God as sovereign.  And more faith that my prayer does count.

Through prayer I give over my family.  I give over my need to control.

 

I don’t think God wants me to give over the desire for home.

So I still long for home.  And look forward to the day when I can rest at home.

Finding Home

I heard this song the other day. It really struck a chord in my heart. I wish I could find my “home”. My life is so different than I ever expected. I miss my old life.  I miss the Shane I know and am familar with. It’s hard to create a new life without resentment.  God is calling me to find complete dependence on Him and I’m scared to let go.  Funny thing, I have nothing to hold on to anymore.  But I still seem to be resistant.

Where’s your heart’s ”home” today?

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(If you are stopping by for the first time today this post may help to understand where I am coming from.)