It seems like the countless number of lists to complete never end. Once you have finished sone list, it is time to start the next. That exciting moment when you just finish a group of tasks seems to be the constant light at the end of the tunnel for us as we continually prepare for our journey to Africa.
We have cleaned out the house of unneeded items (yet the house still looks oddly the same) and have begun to pack away the non-essentials. The process of getting rid of items throughout the house has served as an eerie reminder of our human nature to want to collect and hold onto material items.
One of the "big ticket" tasks that we have recently finished is getting our house listed for rent! A For Rent sign is out front and we are ready to show at an hours notice. Another task is that little D.R. has gotten 2 of his 3 Rabies vaccines to protect him from death by rabies. Donald is still working out the house insurance updates and finding a way to bring our dog Lazarus along with us on our journey.
Day to day seems very normal until I think, "wow, we are moving to Africa in less than 2 months." With Thanksgiving and my 29th birthday around the corner, I can't help but think about the deep joy I have to be alive. This morning I woke up early and read some of Spurgeon's sermon about Nehemiah 8:10 "The joy of the Lord is your strength." One statement he made was "But the joys of time cannot satisfy an undying nature, and when a soul is once quickened by the Eternal Spirit, it can no more fill itself with worldly mirth..." I pondered on that statement wondering, "am I trying to make the worldly mirth, or earthly happiness, fill my soul? Is my soul, which is (in Christ) a resident of eternity, living fully in eternity?
I feel challenged during this time of lists and check-boxes to find full joy in eternity with Christ and less satisfaction in checking off boxes. I encourage you to reflect on what your salvation in Christ means and what the joys of eternity bring! It is so tempting and easy to be filled with the material desires of this world, but as God's adopted children and temples of the Holy Spirit we are called to live for something so much greater!
May Christ dwell in you richly my friends!
