This weekend we moved from our first apartment into our new one. I didn’t anticipate how much work it would take to get the place ready to move (i.e.: packing boxes, wrapping breakables and organizing). Neither Bobby nor I are pack-rat types so we don’t have a whole lot of stuff. However we do have enough that we filled an entire U-haul truck and a few trips in my Explorer. With some much needed help from some good friends the mission was accomplished and all of our earthly possessions are now at our new home. Nothing is unpacked yet, but they are all there nonetheless!

Naturally I got to thinking about the move and how we are making a new home somewhere else now. I considered the blessing this new home is in that instead of our small one bedroom apartment we now have a large three bedroom apartment which allows a room for the baby and even a spare room where Bobby can study and [1] Godsong can do their recording. Praise the Lord for our new home!

I had several long thoughts about moving as I packed last week at our old place, directed boxes to different rooms this weekend and consider all I need to get done to make this new place “home”.

Time–The months and years seem to have flown by. I was remembering that before Bobby and I were married he was up having an interview here and I had flown up here to attend it with him and also to look at apartments together. Bobby’s potential boss, Cliff, took us around to many apartments he had seen, but we weren’t able to find any that we liked or fit our budget-to-be. I remember driving home after our honeymoon to this apartment. Bobby had picked it out and was so excited for me to see it. I loved it and until now we had lived there since. Over the last few years many memories have grown from that home. We’ve enjoyed the company of visiting family and nearby friends, Monday night dinners, late nights of CivIII and Texas Hold-em poker, lots of “Keuer” chicken and many conversations. It feels like so much has happened in the time we’ve lived there, but it really hasn’t been that long.

I can see how it might be easy to get all sentimental with warm fuzzies as we ponder the past, but I cannot help but ask myself, how have we changed? How have we used the time that God has given us? The Bible talks often of how short our time is and commands us to redeem the days we are given. I’m reminded of a verse, 1 Peter 1:17 “And if you call on the Father who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout your stay here in fear.” This verse is saying that if you are a Christian you must conduct your whole life in fear of God, because He is the one who knows your heart completely and redeemed you with the precious blood of His Son. It brings to mind the fact that I should enjoy the time given to me not for some kind of earthly spiritual fulfillment, but out of reverence for God as I live each day for Him. If we are not living each moment to bring glory to the One who gives it, we are wasting each day.

Possessions–Another thing I thought alot, especially as I packed, was all the stuff that we have. We don’t have a whole lot of stuff, but definitely more than when we first moved in. I know well Jesus teaching in Matthew 6 warning us not to store up treasure on this earth. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” By no measure would Bobby and I be considered “wealthy” for our area. But before I put the preoccupation with possessions out of my mind I was reminded again in Bobby’s lesson yesterday as he talked about the rich young ruler who came to Jesus requesting eternal life. Jesus tells the man, “If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21). This is a very sad story because the man turns and walks away full of sorrow because he had great wealth and was not willing to give it up to follow Christ. It is so easy for us to become so occupied with physical possessions, money even attaining comfort that we forget God. I definitely don’t want to be like this man, but rather hope I can say truthfully, “Jesus, You are all that I need or even want, You are more than enough for me.”

Provision–There is a verse that says, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!” (Psalm 68:19) Not only is He our salvation and hope, but each day He grants us forgiveness, mercy and strength. He reveals His will in His Word, hears us when we pray and gives family and friends to stir us up in our love for Him. He doesn’t only provide our spiritual sustenance but also our physical needs with food, shelter, clothes, jobs and transportation. When I am thinking on all the things I’m given, not all the things I selfishly want, it is not hard to see that the Lord does indeed “load us with benefits”. I pray that our whole lives we will be thankful for what we have, be it much or be it little as we live each day to bless the Lord for His overwhelming and undeserved goodness in our lives.

Every blessing You pour out
I’ll turn back to praise