2023 brought a series of circumstances to me that I did not see coming. That's probably due to my lack of precognitive mutant ability, but whatever. This past year I had to learn to roll with them punches in ways in which I was totally unprepared to do so. More on that shortly.
My family is safe and healthy and our needs continue to be met, and I'm thankful for that. God has been so good to us. However, my stepfather passed away this year, but I'm thankful for who he was and for how he gave to others for his whole life. That's something to strive towards--increasing generosity is a great goal for next year.
What has been the real struggle for me has been the effects of leaving a place that I had served dutifully and faithfully in worship and sacrifice for 26 years. It was very difficult to leave the establishment that I had brought my kids to learn about Christ for so long, and to put aside all of the work I had put into the worship environment there. But faced with the alarming paucity of integrity and accountability that has been damaging the leadership for years, it was a simple and clear choice to pull up our roots and seek new beginnings and a place of service.
I didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay and be part of the solution. But it became clear that was not going to happen. It was tough not to be bitter, because...
Just kidding. But resentment is a real thing to avoid.
So I wait. I trust, I obey, and I wait. And I do this while continuing to seek the best path for my family for a church home. Psalms 37:7 tells us to be still before the Lord and wait PATIENTLY. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. So God's got our backs. We trust, we listen, we learn, we wait, and we grow. I legit cannot wait to see what 2024 brings. Let's go!
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