Home. Home is where the heart is. Home Sweet Home. "There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home." Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz All very familiar sayings when talk turns to home. If you are anything like me, you've lived in more than one place in your life. (I’ve lived a peripatetic life.) If you are like my husband, you have stayed in the same area, but moved into different houses, a few times. Moving is hard. In most research results it turns up in the top five of most stressful situations a person can go through. Up there with 'Death of a Loved One' and 'Divorce.' International moving completely depletes. As does moving when in the midst of other struggles. These can wipe us out for years. Moving while going through a job change, while dealing with death of a loved one, or even while going through a divorce are all monster emotional upheavals. Moving is a hard time. And when we are moving from one HOME and entering into the beginning of another new HOME, nothing feels secure. We must struggle the unknown: find new doctors, new schools, new churches. Once again facing the uncomfortable place of being on the outside. ![]() In 2006, I packed what few belongings I had left and entered the adventure God was calling me into. I climbed onto a plane and landed in a country I’d never been before, listening to a language I’d never learned before. I found the most delightful apartment in a tiny resort town in Germany and lived the life of a struggling ex-pat in a foreign world. I moved back to the USA at the end of November, 2014. I had no job, no car, no voice. But what was most disconcerting was no home. I was blessed. My dear friends opened an extra bedroom to me, as they were in the process of moving themselves. I lived there for almost a year. This passage, Psalm 84:1-4became real to me in that time of upheaval. "How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD: my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house ever singing you praise!" Psalm 84:1-4 ESV Granted, I had moved every few years in my younger days. But in my 30s, I had settled into a more stable environment. ( a teacher as opposed to daughter/wife of engineer, and wife/military) I lived in Germany for almost ten years. I did not plan on leaving. I was called onto the mission field. For years I told my adult children in the USA life on the mission field wasn’t my idea; I had to do what I was being called to do. Until He led me back to USA, I was staying. It was hard for all of us to understand, and I honestly didn’t expect to return until my retirement years. And yet, God turned me upside down with certain events and led me back. Being led, isn’t something you debate. I’ve learned the hard way. I never want to be somewhere God doesn’t want me to be. If God hasn’t gone before to prepare a place, I’d rather wait. But when He does close and open doors to direct me in a certain direction, I best get about going where He’s pointing. However, home isn’t home until we know this truth: one day in His presence is more important than any place. When I returned to re-enculturate, it took years before I felt at home. And yet my spirit was being confirmed moment by moment, I was with Him, in His presence, in His courts. And I could praise and rejoice, I knew He had me. My mom is turning 90 in a few months. She’s had a hard time in a facility over the last months due to a compound fracture of her tib and fib. She says she’s ready to go to her eternal home. But God must not be done with her yet. She lives and gets feistier! Oh, how I love her. My my mom loves being in His courts. Some day we will enjoy them together. Because one day in his court is worth a thousand days elsewhere. Do you long to live in peace and joy worshiping through eternity, being fully and wholly complete. I wait patiently for that day. Right now, I must be satisfied with shouting from the airwaves, God is my home. He’s our Home! Mine and Biff’s. Is He yours? I hope I never have to move again. But if I do, I know he remains my home. And with that I am secure. He is my abiding place. I run to Him and am sheltered in place. Is He your abiding place? let us know. Robyn Cox RR&BC, LLC
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Few things are more difficult than illness.
I have a tiny infection. I am not here to complain, simply to explain. What I have is minor. My head is simply too stuffy to put thoughts on the page. I will return next week. But, I did not want to go one more day without telling you - I pray for you. I don't have to know who is reading this. I only have to lift you to God, who does. I will return next week. Antibiotics are working! Reminding myself of this truth: God is for me not against me. Romans 8:31 This infection is simply a gnat in the ointment. Please pray for those that are dealing with serious illness. They are in need of peace and comfort. Would you join me. Abba, You are here with me right now and in some mysterious wondrous way you are also with anyone that is reading this post. I know that right now I, like this reader, have friends and family that are dealing with cancer, heart problems, chronic pain, and even loss of a loved one. I even have one of my sweet young friends of the family dealing with the death of their baby before their baby was theirs to hold. Daddy, hold those that need your comfort right now. Heal those that you see are best healed, and bring peace to us all. All of us that seek Your face and desire to touch Your hand. Give us guidance in our days. Bless us in these days that are hard. Let us be a sweet aroma for Your glory. We pray these thoughts in your holy name Jeshua. Come LORD Jesus Come. Amen. Because He IS the I AM, i am robyn cox God has more to share with us. Consider reading the bible to find nuggets for living life well and wonderfully. We would enjoy your thoughts here on RR&BCommunity. The cost is minimal - we know it is good for some financial commitment - but the cost is less than 3 coffees from McDonald's . Come along. Until next week on Monday at some time... Thanks for meeting me here today. See you then. Robyn & Biff Cox RR&BC, LLC©2016 http://www.readthebiblewithrobyncox.com/ Come and join us for reading the bible together... Just click here "He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' " (Hebrews 13:5)— Vol. 2, Chap. 268/6/2018 I failed you last week. I failed to post. I am sorry. Please forgive me. I should have given you at least a heads up of what was going on. I simply did not. I have failed to be on time before, put the blog out the following day, I think three times in the last two years. But I have never not shown up at all, for an entire week... All I can say is I am sorry. Our RR&BC community ran without a hitch. I have those in the queue and I myself show up to read and respond. And I did. But the blog and the Wednesday Wellspring did not get published. I failed you all. Again, I am sorry. What I do find interesting is that the topic I had planned on writing was: God never leaving/deserting nor forsaking us. Me— I'm not so perfect. Enough groveling! Let's get on to the good stuff. God has spoken to us! He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5 NLT. And God never fails. Think about those words for a moment. "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Spoken words straight from the mouth of God. How many times have you heard them? How many times have you read them? But, have you ever let God say to you, 'I will never desert you nor will I ever forsake you?" NASV He said this. Someone didn't say it about Him. He spoke out and said this. I remember the first moments I began to honestly understand and embrace this statement that He Himself said. I was a single mother. My husband left. I had no job. I had no career. I was the cliché. Dropping out of University and putting him through University on a modest secretary income. Then when he graduated, and he was just making enough money for some breathing room, he left. My youngest was in kindergarten. I had waited to return to school until then. A community college/one course/take it slow/ I had a family. Husband left. No job, no career. I dog-paddled. I wasn't as desperate as many women, my ex-husband paid child support. Granted it was under poverty level. But, I was determined to get a degree. I believed (and still do) that it was the best thing for my children. I didn't know how good it would be for us to be in the situation of deep dependence upon God. We were forced to depend on Him for our provision, for our stability, for our guidance. I cried out to God and expected a miracle. But no miracle came. The day after I heard of my ex-husband's remarriage it was so hard to put one foot in front of the other, to go to class, to talk to people, to be a mother, to be half-parent not yet whole. Their father would not be returning to our family. I had been forsaken. It was in this time frame that I read this passage. Hebrews 13:5 New American Standard Version "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, 'I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU.' " "HE HIMSELF has said." He didn't tell Martha to tell Mary to tell me. NO, He Himself has said that He will never leave me nor forsake me. Was I living like that? Was I living a life with the understanding that God, the God that owns the cattle on a thousand hills, had promised to never leave me, nor forsake me? He Himself had said it. And He doesn't speak without His following through. This incredible truth sent me reeling. Sitting in my bedroom with many Elementary Education projects surrounding me, crying, recognizing the God of the universes would never desert me. I pondered on this for weeks. Everyday, driving to school, cooking dinner for my kids, working on projects I would repeat to myself: He is here. He said He wouldn't ever leave. He keeps His promises. At some point I remember having my eyes opened to the next verse. It wasn't long afterward. But isn't that how God has given me His word? In pieces. He will show me a verse and let me chew on it for awhile. Then He opens my eyes, my heart, my mind to another truth. And He did it that time as well. Listen to the verses in the New American Standard Version: "...for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," so that we can confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?" Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you: and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:5-8 NASV I can come confidently/boldly and make my requests known to Jehovah, the most HIGH GOD! He will never desert/leave me nor forsake me. For He Himself has said! Reminding myself of this truth in this time of upheaval. And Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Amen Because He IS the I AM, i am robyn cox God has more to share with us. Consider reading the bible to find nuggets for living life well and wonderfully. We would enjoy your thoughts here on RR&BCommunity. The cost is minimal - we know it is good for some financial commitment - but the cost is less than 3 coffees from McDonald's . Come along. Until next week on Monday at some time... Thanks for meeting me here today. See you then. Robyn & Biff Cox RR&BC, LLC©2016 http://www.readthebiblewithrobyncox.com/ Come and join us for reading the bible together... Just click here I wish to share these verses from the Amplified Classic Version of the Bible: Hebrews 13:4-8 AMPC You need not read further (unless you simply want to). I feel compelled to share. His Word amplified, not mine. 4. Let the marriage bed be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be undefiled (kept undishonored); for God will judge and punish the unchaste [all guilty of sexual vice] and adulterous.
5. Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and what you have]; for He (God) Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] 6. So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my helper, I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? 7. Remember your leaders and superiors in authority [for it was they] who brought to you the Word of God. Observe attentively and consider their manner of living (the outcome of their well-spent lives) and imitate their faith (their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ, and their leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness). 8. Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday,today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). Hebrews 13:4-8 AMPC |
Robyn Rochelle Cox
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