Downsizing into my next Upgrade

What do you do when your best friend is going through something that will ultimately change the course of their life, and you find yourself completely unable to help them with it? When the news is so hard for them to wrap their head around, that they decide the easiest way to cope, is to pretend it isn't happening at all? When you are frustrated and hurt and getting angry isn't a good option? (you know this for a fact because you tried)

It is from that place of frustration that my upgrade began.

I apologized for my anger. I offered my suggestions. I gave permission for them to handle it their way.

I became quiet.........

quiet..........

quiet..........

Until one day, when my friend, my husband, gave me permission to speak about it.....

I'm sure by now most people know about our house being foreclosed. The sale is final. We are waiting for the bank to give us a moving day. in the mean time, the agent suggested that we stay on the premises. I think they like knowing someone is here so it is not vandalized before they can put it back on the market. (a blessing)

The thing most people do not know is that we were not caught off guard by any of this. (well, maybe a little. It did progress much faster than we anticipated) nevertheless, John and I put a lot of prayer and thought in to our decision to let the house go. We knew when John left his job last April that it was a pretty good possibility that we would no longer be able to pay our bills and our mortgage.

The other thing most people do not know is that John developed signs of Parkinson's a little more than a year ago, his job, with the stress and toxins he was subjected to seemed to make his symptoms worse. He also suffered a mild stroke. It seemed like the best decision for him to take some time to try to heal and recover and hope the symptoms got better.

Now here we are a year after his retirement and his symptoms are not better, in fact they are significantly worse. John didn't want anyone to know, but it has become obvious and folks have started asking questions, and John has said I can now tell people. .

So........

You're probably wondering how the heck the title of this blog even remotely ties in to the content.

Let me explain.....you see.....

The Lord is my comfort and my strength. When you are in the middle of what seems like a crisis, you learn real quick where your help comes from. You begin to understand what it truly means to abide in Christ. When you turn to the Lord absolutely broken and lay all your cares before the Throne Of Grace, God will step in and bring sweet communion. He draws so near that you can feel His tangible presence in your midst. There is nothing else like it.

And that my friends, is where John and I are abiding. We know that whatever adversity life brings us, God will make a way. We have no fear of the future. We continue to pray and absolutely trust God has this entire situation under control.

I am no longer a tourist.... but a traveler

I have been in a transitional period in my life and I feel like I have crossed a threshold of sorts. Whether this has happened in the natural yet... remains to be seen, but it has definitely happened in my mind. I'm ok with that, because I have found that the inner territory is the place I face the most resistance anyway. Maybe you can identify with that statement, or maybe I've just completely lost your interest, but I would like to share my thoughts either way.

I have discovered that I am no longer a tourist but a traveler in the Kingdom. Let me define that for you.

As a tourist, I would tend to go places that I had gone before, places that were somewhat familiar. I would often choose a destination that would allow me time to rest, regroup and refuel. I have a tendency to pack light, knowing that I can pick up any items that I may have forgotten once I arrive. I really love to plan vacations that take me away from everyday life and allow for times of refreshing.

But.....

As a traveler, I am joyfully partnering with Papa God, as He takes me on epic journeys to places I have never been, to see things I have never seen and to do things I have never done. I don't have to worry about what to pack, everything I need for the journey flows to me from Him.

He leads me with His voice and I need only to listen. He encourages me with His love and I need only to trust Him. My heart is filled with joyful anticipation. I do not need to know what is around the next bend in the road, I only need to feel His leading and keep traveling upward.

A spirit of refreshing goes before me and I will follow Him anywhere.