I am amazed at the timing and am thankful for Facebook “memories”! I’ve been feeling incredibly homesick these last few weeks for both Stokes County (NC) and Myrtle Beach (SC).  I consider both places “home” as I grew up in both, and have lived in those two places longer than I’ve lived anywhere else.  I am on the patio this morning outside the beautiful home the Lord has most recently placed us in, enjoying a quiet morning with just me, the singing birds, and Jesus. It is so peaceful, and yet I sit here contemplating the one-year anniversary of our move to Anderson. (Ed has been here one year this month, and next month will be one year since I joined him.)  I miss my friends and the beautiful places of my former home towns, and sometimes wonder what we are doing here. Then THIS came up in my memories… something I wrote myself three years ago but needed to read again today.  And just like that, all is right with the world again.

I love my husband, my home, my job and my Lord. He is using us daily in our jobs, and with pastors and evangelists who He continues to bring across our path. Will we pastor a church here one day? Online or in a building? Will we finally launch that mobile ministry from here? I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future, and I know who holds my hand.   What I wrote three years ago:

I am feeling so grateful but also overwhelmed at the goodness of God, and the people he has placed in my life. When God led me to move away and start over two and one-half years ago, it was bitter-sweet. It was sad to leave everything comfortable and familiar, including some very dear friends and the small church that I pastored. But I also knew it was to time to move on, and God has placed not only an amazing husband in my life, but also many wonderful NEW friends, and an awesome new church home. I was blessed to spend the last two weekends with close friends and members of my old church in North Carolina, and also new neighbors and friends in South Carolina as well. In the past few weeks I’ve received Facebook messages from friends as far back as grade school! It reminds me of a song I learned in Girl Scouts, probably in 2nd or 3rd grade: “Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver and the other gold.” Perhaps MORE appropriately is the scripture from Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Will I ever pastor again?  I have no idea – if the Lord so directs, I will let you know. But no matter what HIS plan is for my life, my life is in HIS hands. And all is right with the world.