Being faithful in waiting ...

I started this entry sometime last spring (like, perhaps the last time I actually blogged).  I had been offered a ministry job, in another state, and was wrestling with where I needed to be.  It's tough choosing between two good things!

I was still reading One in a Million as I prayed through the decision and in it, Priscilla Shirer said,
When I am in a season of life that I don't want to be in, it's hard for me to unpack my bags and trust God to move me WHEN IT'S AN APPROPRIATE TIME. My first inclination is to escape the shadow of God's guidance, to run out ahead of Him, to get out of here as soon as possible. 

I remember talking to the guy about the job and commenting, this thing is gonna take faith, but I'm not sure what kind of faith it is I'll need - the faith to stay here in a place I am loving where God has provided me an awesome place to live and a job that's just ok, trusting that if I turn down this ministry job that God can provide another some day ... OR the faith to pack up and move (again) to a place where I know no one to do a job that seems tailor made for me and trust that God will provide finances for my living in one place while I still own (and need to sell a house somewhere else).

Obviously, in the end, Little Rock is where I am called to be for now.  I love being closer to family!  I LOVE not missing birthdays and holidays anymore.  And two days into a new school year, I miss my college kids, but I am loving teacher life.

In Exodus, the Israelites have come to Mt. Sinai.  For Moses, this was holy ground, it was where God had first appeared to him in the burning bush.  But the reality is no different, that while it was a special place, it was not where they wanted to be.  They had been wandering through the wilderness of what and why and how long.  They wanted to be in the Promised Land ... yesterday, yet they'd come to the mountain, instead. 

No doubt MOSES expected to see and hear from God yet again in this place (don't we all do that??  expect to hear from God again where we've seen him move?)  And under Moses' leadership, there the people camped for 11 months.  11 MONTHS!!  And then ...

"The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain."  Ex.. 19:20

When you find that you're at the end of yourself, when it seems the gap between you and your destiny is more vast than it's ever been, look up so you don't miss God coming down. (PS)

I had my students write down today where they saw themselves at their 10 year HS reunion.  Oddly, many of them had no clue, really where they wanted to be.  They are 15.  That has to seem sooooooo long from now!  I kind of laughed to myself that my life has turned out NOTHING like what I ever pictured.  I wouldn't trade it ... but waiting is hard.  I'm thankful God gave me the peace to wait here in this season.  I've seen Him work too many times to doubt His ability.  I've been loved too fiercely to doubt His faithfulness.  And I'll keep hanging out here at the mountain  ... looking up, so I don't miss His coming down to me.