Home Is Where You Hang Your Heart

Floyd's condition continues to go up and down but he has been looking a bit stronger this past week.  Recently a Christian musician/worship leader friend who Floyd has mentored over the years came to visit him.  He played his guitar and sang worship songs.  Floyd listened with rapt attention!  It was very special.

Floyd's dream has been that Africans would take the Gospel to Africa, especially to the unreached.  That was what was on our hearts when we moved to this continent.  We wanted to help make that happen. This week we have a course being led by all Africans - and the class is made of those who are spreading the Gospel all over the continent - some of them in unevangelized areas.  There was a tearful, historic moment when it was pointed out that what is taking place is what was on Floyd's heart.  They took a video to share with Floyd.  I know it will encourage him.

A few days ago I heard this statement.  "Home isn't where you hang your hat - it's where you hang your heart."  It resonated to me.  I so agree with that.  That's how we've lived our lives.

My heart has been at home all over the world with Floyd.  We spent our first five years together living out of a suitcase.  Our first home was in Kabul, Afghanistan.  We had 3 different "homes" there - 4 in Holland - Calif. - Colo. - 2 in Kansas City - 3 in Cape Town.  We've lived in a lot of "places" (you might not always think of them as a "home" - often it was just a small room!).  There have been 14 of them to be exact - but my "home" has always been wherever Floyd is.  The last few years have been hard with him in the hospital and me at our house.  It hasn't been "home" without Floyd.  My heart is in that hospital room!

Growing up in Galveston, Texas I always knew I was going somewhere - but I didn't know where.  I knew God had called me to the world, but the "call" was never to a specific place like I heard some people explain when they talked about how God had called them.  As it turned out, my call was to many places as God led and directed our lives and ministry.....but the main thing is that it was to be by Floyd's side.

I'm still amazed when I think of how God led our lives to cross paths at a YWAM outreach - in Las Vegas, Nevada of all places!  Me from Texas and Floyd from Calif. - meeting at that outreach.  Floyd loved to tell jokes about meeting in Las Vegas!!  Can you hear it?  He took a real "gamble" when he met me!! :)  There are lots of fun details to that whole story of our meeting and falling in love!  

And then there was my Summer of Service in Samoa that Floyd helped sponsor and I didn't know it until we got engaged......and I was actually too young to have even gone on that outreach, but they made an exception for me.  I look back, and I see God's hand so very clearly, in so many ways, on our lives.  He had a wonderful plan for us!  I think much of it was an answer to the prayers of my mother and Floyd's parents.

Seeing this so vividly throughout our lives has helped me know that God has a plan for this season of our lives too.  I don't understand it all, but I have a sweet assurance that God is at work.  His plan for our lives, our destiny, didn't stop when Floyd got sick or when I got cancer.  God is still leading us - with the ultimate destination being in heaven with Him.

I know these years on our unexpected, very unplanned journey, haven't been wasted.  Without that sweet assurance in my heart, it would be easy to despair.  In some ways it seems like an anti-climatic ending to a very dramatic and adventurous life.  But I know God has been at work in this season.  Someday in heaven it will all be clear!  I sense His presence with us, His hand of involvement with us as clearly as I have over our decades of married life together all over the world.  God is still at work!

When "bad things happen to good people" as we often hear quoted - it doesn't mean that God has gone on vacation and left us alone.  HE IS STILL AT WORK in our lives!  He doesn't abandon us.  He doesn't throw up His hands and say "well, I didn't plan on that!"  We live in a fallen world, so bad things do happen......we do get sick....there are accidents.....but God helps us pick up the pieces and keep going.  He continues working to bring good, to bring meaning and purpose into our lives as we walk through the hard times.

In whatever situation we find ourselves, we can be 100% confident that God is at work in our lives to fulfil His plan and destiny for us.  We are in good hands!  He is with us, leading the way.

"Every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything."  Hebrews 3:4

"My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest."  Isaiah 32:18

"As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."  Joshua 24:15

"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures."  Proverbs 24:3,4 

A few days ago, I awoke early and opened the window shades.  To my surprise, because it hadn't been raining, I saw a large, beautiful rainbow as I looked out over the ocean.  I stood there admiring the beauty and thanked the Lord that He has been so faithful to Floyd and me as we've travelled and lived all over the world.  He has helped us have "home" wherever we were - because we were together.  Our heart was wherever we were.  I'm so grateful for that.

I've been reading the manuscript of a book written by a friend of mine.  It's not available yet - it's still in manuscript form.  I was privileged to be able to read it early.  It's her life story.  She and I are similar ages.  She has looked back over her many years of experiences, and drawn from what she's learned.  It's an encouraging narrative.

As I read it, read her journey, one thing kept coming through loud and clear to me.  It's the same thing I've been learning on our journey.  In every situation we face in life, it's so important to keep close to God and learn the lessons He has for us!  

We ALL have "unexpected journeys."  Some of you are probably walking through them right now like I am.  It's part of life.  While we live here on earth, we can't escape them.  But it is possible to miss the richness of what God has for us if we're not careful.  The lessons, the times of character building, the opportunities to choose to trust God, the closeness of fellowship with Him as we press into His grace in our times of need - we can easily miss these precious gifts if we're not careful.

Putting it simply, in our times of difficulty and need we can run TO God - or we can PULL AWAY from Him.  It all depends on the attitude of our hearts.  If we're hurt, disappointed, feeling let down, or angry - we may pull away from Him.  Regardless of what emotion we're experiencing, we need to remember to turn to Him.  His help, grace, strength, and sufficiency will be there as we turn to Him.

As hard as this unexpected journey has been, I wouldn't have wanted to miss the wonderful lessons He has brought into my life through the journey.  He has been exceedingly, abundantly good and faithful!

A few mornings ago I woke up to a melody in my mind with two phrases being repeated over and over.  I don't think it's an actual song - I think it's a personal bit of worship that God put in my heart.

“I just want to praise Him every day and every hour. I just want to praise Him for His goodness and His power.” 

The more I think about it, the more I realize this is such an awesome guideline for our thoughts, our attitude, and our worship.....day by day.  I would love for this to be the focus of my heart every day as I wake up!  God is so good.

"The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works."  Psalm 145:9

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"  Psalm 34:8

"The Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him."  Psalm 92:15

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."  Nahum 1:7

"Oh how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You....You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence."  Psalm 31:19,20

God is with us every day, in every situation we face with His rich mercy, grace, and strength. I couldn't have made it without His goodness. Just as my friend recounted all the lessons God has taught her, I want to keep doing that and giving worship and praise to Him.