In the River is His Joy

Last Year's Peacock Tree

Last Year's Barbie Tree

First of all, I want to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS!! I love this time of the year as it brings family, friends, and loved ones closer together. We make family and time with friends a priority and show a little extra grace (EXCEPT IN PARKING LOTS  AND RETAIL STORES).

Let us remember that Jesus is the reason for the season and no package, gift, or event should overshadow this time in which we should reflect on Him who is the ultimate gift to each of us. 

That said, this Christmas is looking very different for me. The most obvious
differences are the lack of Christmas decorations, or furniture for that matter, in my house this Christmas season. I have always loved decorating for Christmas, yet my decorations, lights, and Christmas trees (I have three) have remained in their boxes this year.

 In preparation for my move to Guatemala, I am moving out of my little house at the end of this month. My house at the moment is boxes and piles waiting to be put into boxes. I am purging and pairing down, deciding what will make the trip to Guatemala, and what will be put in storage. I have sold ALL of my furniture and the vast majority of my household items. I currently have only two pieces of furniture in my home: my mattress and a love seat.

My Bedroom "Normally"

 I have sold everything I have owned and moved before, so it's not a completely foreign concept to me. (I am a self-admitted gypsy who sold everything and moved to Hawaii in a period of two weeks) However, there is one thing that makes this experience quite different from any other that I have had before. This entire experience is SATURATED in the PEACE and JOY of the Lord.

My Bedroom Currently

I will admit that I had my first "Oh my God.. what am I doing?!!" moment the day before yesterday. This was the day that I loaded up the majority of my furniture into a moving truck. A lot of people ask if I am "freaking out" or say that they would not be able to "handle" what is happening in my life. I will admit that if you told me I would go through this process a year ago, I would think the same thing. I would say "I can't do that.. there's no way." However, to echo the words of Rick Warren "Where God calls, He provides". That providence includes His PEACE that surpasses all understanding and His JOY which becomes your strength.

Recently, my pastor, Pastor Dan Backens, preached a sermon on the Joy of the Lord. In the message, Pastor Dan explained that often people look at Nehemiah 8:10 which states "the joy of the Lord is your strength" and assume that means that they will be happy or experience joy. However, Pastor Dan suggested another interpretation for the verse. He said perhaps it is that the knowledge of God's joy would be our strength. Maybe it is in knowing that God has joy, that He takes joy in us, that He is good, that His heart overflows with joy over us, that He sings over us.. maybe that is our strength. Our strength comes from knowing that He has joy. Wow...

The process of moving to the mission field is an emotional roller coaster. I have moments when I want to get my stuff, unpack, and say "Nope.. I'm staying right here". Yet, the JOY of the LORD and His PEACE anchors me. Even when tears flow from my eyes for whatever reason (Kleenex commercials, Christmas movies, and personal revelations bring tears lately) I have a peace that truly surpasses all understanding that anchors me and reminds me that it is going to be OK. Even when I look around my house and I am surrounded by half packed boxes and piles of stuff to be addressed, I know that this is His process. I have the JOY of the LORD.

So, let me encourage you. If God has you on a journey that you don't understand, let His JOY become your STRENGTH. Rest in His PEACE that surpasses all understanding. This is His journey. Sometimes we are called to just rest in the journey, and let it unfold. So, as I sit amongst my boxes and piles, I thank each of you for reading my blog and being a part of my journey.

Merry Christmas,

Meaghen

When the River Looks Dry

At the moment, I am on my way back to Virginia from what I am calling my "World Tour" on a

On the Bus!!

Greyhound bus. I flew to Mississippi; however,  I decided to make the trip back from Biloxi, Mississippi to Hampton, Virginia on a bus. It will take approximately 26 hours to make the trip (I can drive it in around 14.5 hours) and I am starting to wonder if it was a wise decision. I chose the bus because one way plane tickets were way too expensive, and the bus was cheaper than renting a car and driving... but still... 26 hours on a bus... ask me if I would do it again when you see me. At the  moment, I see it as a unique adventure and a chance to pray and catch up on things. Thus... blogging on a bus :)

During the past week I have visited both Ohio and Mississippi to see friends and family as well as work on support raising. I will admit, I was possibly overconfident on what the upcoming week held and I had MY OWN expectations about what it would look like. Well... once again... I was wrong. Initially, I expected enthusiasm and encouragement from my family. That didn't go exactly how I planned it. Even though I did receive a lot of encouragement and enthusiasm from most of my family... I also received skepticism and lack of understanding. It's always hard when those closest to you are skeptical of what you are doing.

Following that, I expected to receive more monthly commitments than I received. Unfortunately, the vast majority of my friends and family are facing MAJOR CRISES at the moment. Whether a friend recently had surgery, an upcoming court date, a recent job loss, the purchase and remodel of a new home, the birth of a new baby, or a scheduling conflict that kept us from meeting many of my friends and family are not able to give at the moment. AND YES, THAT IS O.K. 

My GREAT Nephew

Please don't take this the wrong way. My friends and family not being able to give is NOT a bad thing, and I am NOT COMPLAINING. However, by yesterday afternoon I was feeling very beat down and deflated. My unmet expectations had set me up for disappointment and I had to do some serious soul searching. 

So, after I went to Sonic and got enough fried food to feed a starving teenager AND a peanut butter cookie dough blast (highly recommend that one)... I sat down to do some soul searching. I quickly realized that I had created expectations that were NOT in line with those that God had for my trip. I realized that this trip was not about FUND raising. It was about FAITH raising. I had once again tried to take the reigns and drive when I was supposed to sit back and LET GOD work through me. So, I repented.. I realigned.. and I again consciously decided to STEP ASIDE. 

My last meeting before leaving was with my dear friend who I call Mama Holly. Well, Mama Holly had just had major surgery the week prior. Still bruised and at times uncomfortable, she sat across the table from me sipping coffee and encouraging me with scripture and uplifting words. Mama Holly looked at me and said "God told me that Mississippi would be dry for you... but wells are going to be springing up". I relayed the events of the week to her and she continued to encourage me. 

Through my conversation with Mama Holly and the events of the past 24 hours I have come to realize that sometimes the river SEEMS to run dry. Yet, even though the river SEEMS dry the WELL NEVER RUNS DRY. I have been reflecting on my time with friends and family, and I have had to say that it has been INCREDIBLE hearing the stories, the struggles, and being able to share what God is doing in this process and encourage them to keep hanging on. God is moving in my life in MIGHTY and INCREDIBLE WAYS and I could write pages of how He is coming through again and again. This time He came through in ways I didn't EXPECT. 

A New Orleans Courtyard

Even though I may not have met MY PERSONAL goal for this week in regards to FUND RAISING... I know that I have exceeded in FAITH RAISING. Even though I may not have stacks of new monthly commitments, I have PRAYER COMMITMENTS from amazing PRAYER WARRIORS. More than that, I now know how to SPECIFICALLY PRAY for my friends and family as they walk through this season of their lives. That is priceless. It would be easy for me to continue to feel defeated and give up, but fund raising is only part of this process. I am walking forward with more faith, and that is so much more important than any monthly commitment. 

So, let me encourage you. Even when things don't look like what WE EXPECT them to, they always look like what GOD EXPECTS. When we have unmet expectations, it is US who need to REALIGN with His plan. I hope you will join me as I reflect on this in the days to come. Remember... just because the river seems dry, it does NOT mean that the well is dry.  As always, I appreciate each of you who read my blog and pray for me. 

Blessings, 

Meaghen