I want to start by saying I know His plans are better than mine.
When we first came home from Peru in February with a plan to move to Peru, I also carried the weight of knowing what I needed to give up in order to follow God’s leading.
The life I’ve been building for my family for a long time, centered around country living and a life long dream, and to be honest check lists too, was being changed. My focus on a life style, a specific address, and doing all the things was becoming a hindrance to my ability to walk with Christ in contentment. What I thought was a worthy life style was being ruined by my own vain glory.
So began the process of letting go. I was resolved and contented in the plan to move to Peru, even excited. But asking me to leave the other life behind is hard.
In order to move to the mission field, even part time, I needed to give up some valued possessions. These specific possesions are considered by some as good as family. I might not call them my fur babies and dote on them better than my own children, but I will never deny my adoration and respect for the four legged. I love my critters.
This spring I decided to sell my dairy cows and donkeys. The time, love, work, and hopes tied into those critters, just to make all the calls and watch them roll out of the drive way in foreign trailers. Holding in the tears as you load up a piece of yourself, or so you thought. But the crazy part is is that God had already been working in my heart to free me from holding on too tight. “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2
The amazing love He showed me through it all with the perfect homes lined up for my beloved critters, peace in the good byes, even a couple final good byes, and the reminder of how great an honor it is to sacrifice for our Lord. How much greater does God have for us when we let go of what we desperately think we need. How great is His comfort in our heartbreak and pain. The Lord gave me a desire to give to Him. It had become not because I had to give, but because I trust God to provide and protect I want to give. There are people who do not know Him like I do, and I can change that with God’s leading. “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
“We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
God’s got this, He’s got me, He’s got you too.
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:1-11 ESV
Written by: Danielle Coulimore
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