Super Saturday: Let's Focus on Moving On

Gary made a big announcement in church last Sunday.

He's accepted a call to First Reformed Church in Platte, South Dakota.

Our time here at Trinity Reformed Church in Allison, Iowa is not over yet. We'll be here til the end of May, but we are definitely entering a time of transition.

It's time to start packing boxes. Time to give things away, sell a few things, and even throw away some stuff. It's time to move on.

Moving on is an expected part of being in ministry, but it's always difficult.

The excitement of going to a new church and community is tempered by some sadness about leaving a church and community we've grown to love.

So why do we do it? Why go through the hard work of moving and the pain of leaving friends behind?

It's because God leads us. He has plans for us and for the church we will be serving. None of us knows what those plans are yet, but we can trust Him.

The easiest thing would be to stay in one place for years and years (and I know some ministers do feel called to that), but the best thing is to stay open to moving on when God calls.

All of us can live that way. 

You may not be a pastor, but you can stay open to going where God wants you to go. 

Maybe that will mean a cross-country move to start a new job. 

Maybe it will mean a trip overseas to do mission work. 

Maybe it will mean staying right where you are physically, but you'll find it's time to move on from something that's been holding you back emotionally or spiritually.

Who knows? God does.

He loves you and He has great plans for your life. Think of the adventures you'll have as you stay open to moving on with Him.  

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you." (Psalm 32:8 NIV)

Are you open to moving on when God calls? How can focusing on God help you to follow Him wherever He leads?

Focus Friday: Let's Focus on...(what was that again?...oh yeah)...Forgetting

I almost forgot to post today. Seriously, I did. I mean, you probably think I almost forget every week since I post so late at night, but usually I'm thinking about Focus Friday most of the day and just put off writing it. Today I didn't remember it was Friday until about 4 p.m. Forgetting seems like a good subject to focus on this week. I forgot several other things today. 

I took the boys to get their physicals today and I couldn't remember if Blake had chicken pox as a kid. I vaguely remembered seeing a picture of him with spots, but I didn't remember a doctor's visit or lots of calamine lotion. I felt a little bit like a failure as a mom. Shouldn't I remember things like that?

This afternoon I was piddling around with some paperwork and the phone rang at 2:45. "Robyn, I have you down for a color at 2:30, did I mess up?" "No, I did!" I yelped and I assured my hair dresser that I would be right there. Luckily she only lives a few blocks away. I felt a little bit like a failure because I kept her waiting and wasn't responsible.

After supper I decided to read the end of "After the Leaves Fall" by Nicole Baart. It was great and I started to set the book down when I noticed a little lump. I opened the book and saw one Black Hills gold earring and I suddenly remembered that I had taken my earrings out at the salon and had stuck them in my book. Don't ask - I have no idea why I thought that would be a good place to put them. Anyway, I read my book for a few minutes while I was there so I checked my purse and then called Susan to see if was there. Yes, it was, so I ran back over to pick it up. I felt a little bit like a failure for losing something special to me in such a weird way.

I'm sure there were other goofs today, I just don't remember them. 

I really felt silly when all of these things happened, but as it nears midnight I'm realizing something very interesting. I forgot and goofed up, but life went on. The nurse didn't really care if Blake had chicken pox as a kid, he still needed a booster shot. My hairdresser wasn't upset with me being a little late, and she just laughed and said she was glad she didn't step on my earring before she found it. I moved on from each of these goofs pretty well. I felt "a little bit like a failure" but I didn't dwell on any of those situations.

The thing is, in the not so distant past these mistakes would have really upset me. I would have felt like a huge failure and probably would have cried a little about each of them, even if it was just by myself. Mistakes used to mean I was a terrible person and I wondered if I could ever do anything right. In recent years I've been learning to let mistakes go. (Maybe that's because I'm getting so much practice!) 

I'm learning to separate my worth from what I do. I've been reminded of that as I study "The Search For Significance" with a group of women on Mondays. God loves me completely and unconditionally. His love isn't dependent on how I act and it isn't taken away for the mistakes I make. It is always there. Now that's something I won't ever forget.

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13b-14 NIV)

Do you ever forget things? How can focusing on God help you to separate yourself from your mistakes so that you can remember that He loves you completely?