can i be real for a second?
i'd be lying if i said i wasn't nervous about leaving home for the year. because honestly, as much as i love adventures and travel and missions, i love my home. my family. my friends. the pacific northwest. love them.
i don't want to go a year without family dinners, coffee dates with girlfriends, enjoying the beautiful water and mountains that are my everyday scenery, bon fires with my small group, hugging my mom, watching my friend's little ones grow, long soul stirring conversations with my best friend…home. where i am known. and where i am loved.
in john 15:4 Jesus says "Remain in me and I will remain in you…". other versions say abide, dwell, or make your home in me. make your home in Jesus, and He will make His home in you.
home is a place that is familair and where you are comfortable. where you are settled in for the long term. where there are books on the shelf and photos on the wall. a place where you're known and loved. in the deepest sense of both of those words. a place where the overflow of your heart is an invitation to others to come home. to know that same love. the same Savior.
in mazatlan this summer a sweet girl that i hardly knew let God speak some really gracious and encouraging words through her. she said "wherever you go, people find you familiar and comfortable. you remind them of home because they feel at home with you. because of the way you love Jesus, you show a picture of how we feel at home in the presence of Christ, where we are free to be ourselves while meeting grace and truth. what a beautiful and rare thing that you get to take home with you wherever you go!" i was so humbled and uplifted by these sweet sweet words!
recently i was driving and praying. sharing with God my worries and fears about leaving home for a year. about being uncomfortable. about missing loved ones. as i was asking for some comfort and encouragement, a song called 'home' came on the radio. i was gently reminded of those life giving words spoke over me this summer and the fact that i am about to join a new family. a new group that gets to be my 'home'. and we get to be at home and bring home to each place we visit.
so, N squad – i'm beyond thrilled to go 'home' with you guys. excited to know and love you all. anxious for the chance to share that with others we meet. and really, really blessed to know that while we'll miss our homes here, we'll get to experience new homes with each other. 11 of them!
