Sojourning

There have been seasons in my life when God teaches me a specific truth. The past two months have been one of those seasons.

I've been learning what it means to long for my forever home, to focus my energy on Heaven. This earth, this body - it's all but a breath. I want to invest in eternity. I want to be ready for the day when I go home to live with Jesus!

These past two months we've been living as "sojourners" in a way. Josh got a new job in Conroe as a middle school teacher and coach (praise God!!!), we were (miraculously) able to find subleasers for our duplex, and my parents graciously opened their home to us until we could find a more permanent place to live. We've found that more permanent place and we're closing on our new home in Montgomery this Friday! We truly couldn't be more excited and we believe with all of our hearts that God provided this home for us; it is far better than anything we imagined being able to afford. However, before we move, I wanted to put these feelings of "sojourning" into words; I want to remember this season.

Anyone who lives "on vacation mode" (because we're living with Mimi - and truly, no one can blame any Mimi for making her home feel like it's a 24/7 vacation for her grandkids) with young children gets my FULL respect. It can be hard at times. The daily ins-and-outs of cooking and doing laundry and training up kids can become quite draining. I know that I thought about our new home every day. No joke. Every. Day. In fact, I have a picture of it on my iPhone and Riley now asks to see the "new home" several times throughout the day. She's always good at showing me what I've set my heart on.

But during this "sojourn," I realized that I don't think of Heaven every day. How stinkin' silly is that?! I mean, we don't even know how long we'll be at this new home. Maybe 30 years, maybe 10 years, maybe 5 years, maybe 1 year, maybe only 3 months. I mean, we have no plans to up and move (I'm CRAVING stability people!!!), but then who am I to say my plans are greater than God's? Moreover, why would I spend more time dwelling on a place that I might live in for at most 60 years (saying I die there at age 87), when I'll be at home with Jesus FOREVER? Sixty years times billions. Wow. I can't wrap my mind around that.

And as a side note, Jesus has already prepared my place in Heaven. How cool is that?! I mean, I've spent a lot of time searching for furniture and various things like a lawn mower that we'll need for this new home. It can be exhausting! All you people who remodel or even paint the house before moving in, just imagine - it's already all done for you in Heaven! (Ok, I'm not saying we'll be living in homes that need painting, but you get the point.)

So while I'm thinking through this, and getting a tiny picture of the way I should be longing for my forever home, Matt Carter goes through a sermon series titled "Heaven and Hell." Hmmmm, coincidence? I think not. Anyway, you should go check it out at austinstone.org. Seriously. I can't begin to unpack it all. Well, I could, but it would take all night and I'm choosing to get some sleep tonight.

Finally, the thing that has truly opened my eyes to eternity these last two months? It's a life. A life lived for Jesus, a fight well fought, a race well run. Her name was Sarah. We lived in the same dorm during my freshman year at college. She was a ball of pure joy. Truly. I can't find an image in my head of her not smiling. She was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago and she chose to write (or video in some cases) a blog about her journey. She shared her journey with complete honesty and sincerity. It was a hard journey and today she went home to Jesus. But I will always remember her as one who kept her eyes on the prize. She suffered so well and never wavered in her faith. Her life and her trials have challenged me deeply. And I encourage you, if you want to be inspired, look at her blog. Take a peek into the life of someone who lived as sojourner on this earth.