Friday, May 29, 2009

Rejoice

 It has been a crazy couple weeks as we have exploded our house and we have packed up everything to get out of our house.  It has been quite stressful to us, and unfortunatly when you don't have anything to direct that towards, I seem to take it out on my most loved ones. Not exactly my finest moments, but there is comfort in that we do know it is the stress and tiredness speaking, not our hearts.  This is more stressful than I had imagined and we have far to go before we are in Panama and I start at Crossroads, but we need to get this house closing behind us. I need to look at the rays of sunshine during this time. 


Clare is awesome at organizing and packing. I have a strong back and truck that works. (You can see who the brain is and who is the brawn.) Ro is aware of everything.  Every piece of furniture or toy she asks if we are selling it.  She was great with selling toys to other children at the garage sale. She now asks if items are going on the big boat to "hanama."  Essie is great with anyone that comes around and is willing to hold her.  She is now paci free and is talking up a storm (not always a blessing). Field is the most content baby. He has cut a tooth and working on  a second one without hardly a peep. He will also jump for 2 hours in the johnny jump up, having a great time.  God has truly blessed me and I can't wait to share them with the people of Panama. 


 In the midst of two back to back day trips with a uhaul trailer, I was blessed with some time to listen to some podcasts of Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church in Seattle. He was preaching on 1st Peter and talking on how we all face trials.  He was reminding me that trials are different for everyone, and the old addage that of walking in someone else's shoes goes both ways.  They are not walking in your shoes either.  I know I have found myself in this time, telling myself and others' that atleast I am not losing a child or my marriage.  It is just money and a house. We should not blow off our own trials though as that is what God is giving us to sharpen us in that area.  In light of eternity it is not a big deal, but it is painful and fills my heart with poison towards mankind.  We are told we are going to have trials, not one trial, but many.  The good news, that Mark was saying is that it is just life.  There are going to be very hard times in life and I know there will be many more to come. But the beautiful thing is that it is just life. Better to have a terrible hard life and a glorious eternity than to have a comfortable 80ish years and be in anguish forever.  We need to rejoice in our trials, as we serve a Lord that has conquered death and saved us from an eternity of anguish.  I dont want to short change my own trials and what God is carrying me through.  It is just money, it is just a house, but that is part of the fallen world we live in. I want to accept how hard it is for me and my family and rejoice that I have a Father I can lean on in these times and praise forever.


Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, "The Lord reigns."   1 Chronicles 16:31

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Be Still My Soul

It is always amazing to me how a song at church can be perfect for where you are in life right now as if they asked you what was stirring in your heart during the past week. We sang this at church last night right after I worked on the last post.  It reminds me of the need for corporate worship and fellowship with other believers.  This song was written for us this week a few hundred years ago. 



"Be Still, My Soul"
by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?
Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.


Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.


Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.


Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Worldly Possesions, Eartly Treasures

The past week has been full of trials, and feeling more attacked by Satan as we proclaim God and what he is doing.  We have confidence in the fact that everything is in God's control, but there were definetly angry moments of asking God "why is it happening like this?"  I believe that God is trying to prove over and over to us to lean on him.  I find myself thinking I have everything figured out in my head and he is wanting to prove that he is guiding us and that we are going to have to completely rely on Him.  One day I may learn to fully lean on Him.



We had our garage sale this weekend and it was such a blessing to "thin the herd" of our possessions.  It was great to know that we made people's day by giving them great deals on great stuff.  Clare was practically giving things away to any hispanic family that came. She has a great soft spot for hispanic people (Good thing we are heading to Panama).  Materiallistically I am ready to go, ready to get started in Panama, even though there is plenty left to do. 



Relationally, I am not close to being ready. We are in a great place surrounded by great friends and a family that loves us and our kids very well. I have found myself wondering "Why am I taking my kids away from this?"  It is very hard to answer at times as I feel like I am sacrificing my kids. Ro thanks God for her cousins every times she prays.  Thomas and Paige get to drop by regularly.  We get regular visits from both sets of grandparents.  Ro won
t let me sing in the car becuse she needs to practice so she can grow up and "sing with Drew and Ellie"  We got to go last night to see Drew and Ellie play probably for the last time before we go.  They were sweet to dedicate a song to us that they had written for our kids "Live Forever"  I could not catch my breath or swallow for half the song. It hit me, that as much as we are loved by our earthly family and friends, it does not come close to the love that our Father has for us. It's His love that I hope is shown to our kids and to us more and more through going on the mission field.  That is when I come to the realization that is what I am blessing my kids with. I am praying that they can learn to shower strangers with the love that is lavished on them.  We know that God is wanting us in Panama and we are excited to love people there, but we love those we are leaving here more than we can communicate.



Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. Psalm 63:3

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Change

We obviously have lots of change going on in our lives and we will keep you updated as we know what those changes are. Here are our new emails.

Clare: clarehrichardson@gmail.com
      simplanize@gmail.com

Nathan: nathan.richardson@yahoo.com

Family: thenathanrichardsons@gmail.com

Praise be to God for His Faithfulness!

Friday, May 1, 2009

Sold


Five weeks, one looker, followed by one offer, a few counters and 8092 Canonbury is sold! 
Total confirmation that we are on the right course. I prayed specifically for just one person and just thanked the Lord for how he was going to surprise us and that is what we got! 
We have until June 1st to pack up life here in Nolensville, TN. Bittersweet.
This is going be our third move in just over a year. Good thing I am a Professional Organizer and this is what I do! I don't usually have three children at my feet, an added challenge!
Praise to God for His Faithfulness!