I was Shoved.

Looking back on the past two years of my life, I feel almost like Chris Farley in that awful movie Almost Heroes - where he falls down the mountain and gets to the bottom and replies, "What was that all about..." or something like it. That feeling he had at the bottom of the mountain is the feeling I have had before. The beauty of it is that God was the one who kinda shoved me down the mountain. He was waiting at the bottom, too. I am glad that I took that tumble though. Just like Chris' character, I collected an experience by hitting rocks, dirt, and grass. I have often wondered when I share our story if people think, "so was Boston a failure then?" Or "was Tennessee a failure?" OR "was Texas a failure?" I can't help but chuckle, because it is really me asking those questions. Someone asked me once "did you follow God?" Yes, was my reply. Yes I believe that we followed God from PCB to Boston and from there to TN and then He moved us to Texas and now He has us here in North Alabama. Following God is not failure. The author of the book of James says that anyone who hears God's words and does not do them is like a man who doesn't remember what his face looks like. It's not that he can't it's that he doesn't remember. The thing about remembering is that it requires some mental struggle. How hard is it really to remember what your face is like after looking in a mirror? Being obedient to the word of God then, after hearing the Truth plainly, was never the difficult part. The difficult part is convincing others that you're not crazy. I have discovered that obedience is not glamorous or even the thing that looks good. I desire to glorify God with my life. That means that I have to die to myself and my selfish desires. Especially when they look like they going to please other people. That is terrifying to a people pleaser. But, God has really helped me to walk 1 Thessalonians 2:4. The problem with truly trying to walk in this truth is that you can hurt people who love you. It's usually people who don't understand the call of God or the way He does things that get confused and angry. God's people have for the most part loved us through these difficult times. I have no idea why I had to move to Boston for God to get me 375 miles from where we were in 2005. All I know is that I met some great people, had a great adventure and have grown in a deeper understanding of the Way of Jesus. The Way of Jesus is difficult. I am glad He shoved me.