I had a moving experience this past week and when I say “moving” I don’t so much mean that I was touched or inspired but that I actually had a moving experience, as in I packed everything up and moved, which in turn did prove fairly moving as well… Okay, I’ll cut to the chase.
Last week I was set to move out of my humble condo into a house I was buying with one of my dear friends, April. The evening before closing I got a call from our lender saying that there was a slight snag in the deal. (Interpretation: The loan’s not going through). This sent April and I into a minor panic considering we had people moving into both our condos the next day, were about to pack everything we owned into a truck that was supposed to be heading to a house we no longer had the loan to buy. And that was really just the beginning…
The next morning while I scrambled for a backup plan April left to rent the moving truck since we had to get out of our condos whether we had a place to move into or not. Upon hoisting open the garage-like door on the back of the truck April discovered a homeless man trying to get dressed for the day. I think she truly hated to take his home from him but we actually needed the truck to possibly sleep in ourselves that night! Was this a foreshadowing of our future? (We used a lot of Febreeze that day)…
With every box I set onto the truck I couldn’t help but think how strangely awkward it was that we were moving out without being certain of how we’d get to our new home, if at all. But to spare you the terribly convoluted details, I will tell you we did secure a loan with a bank that same day, HOWEVER, the seller did not show up to close, hence, we signed all the papers but got no keys! We had 10 people scheduled to help us move that night and had six pizzas to feed everyone. After canceling our friend-movers, April and I sat in a park drowning our emotions with 76 slices of pepperoni.
The irony was not lost on me. Nor could I forget the many of you who are leaving behind a myriad of false gods for the reality of following Christ wholeheartedly, unreservedly – many uncertain of how you’ll get to the next place or even where the next place is. At times the process will seem chaotic, you may feel alone, displaced, or even homeless – especially if you’ve had to leave some unhealthy surroundings behind. But I will close with this: Right now I’m writing this blog from the living room of my new home, April is banging dishes in the kitchen, and our friend’s dog is checking out our new pantry. God is faithful. He will not leave you abandoned. Keep pressing on… He knows where you’re going…
And, indeed, I find this quite moving.
Kelly — Thanks for such a great story. I completed NOGs in early June — and I loved it! Now, I’m leading a group at church. In fact, we’re starting tonight.
Thanks for a study that is obviously God-sent. And enjoy that new house.
Mary
— Mary Snyder · Aug 10, 09:37 AM · #
Kelly,
I am so happy for you that you didn’t have to sleep in the moving truck!! God is good, and He seems to enjoy totally freaking us out with His timing. Thanks for writing such a wonderful study and helping me to clean out those idols and wait for God to replace them with something far better than I can imagine. The wait is hard, but so worth it!
Love to you!
Cindy
— Cindy Cruse · Aug 13, 03:46 AM · #
Hi Kelly-
Congrats on the purchase of the new home. God always come through for us.
Thanks for your life-changing Bible Study – almost finish – with one week to go.
Enjoy your new home.
— Myriam · Aug 13, 06:53 AM · #
Thank you for sharing this….it is great timing !
Without going into all the details, things are “moving” around here and I’m so glad I became a 08 Summer Nog “graduate” before I began to take this new journey!
Blessings to you for your dedication and faithfulness!
I’ll be waiting for the next series!
— Tabby · Aug 14, 01:26 PM · #
Howdy do Kelly. I just stopped by your website for the first time today & I just wanted to tell you that I just finished your No other Gods bible study & it so moved me. I had no idea that I had so many false gods in my life! God really spoke alot to me thru this & some of it was hard to swallow but man I’m glad my eyes are now open! Anyway I just wanted to tell you how much i was blessed by your study. Thanks so much!
Joyse
Pampa, TX
— joyse · Aug 16, 03:50 AM · #
Hey Kelly. I just finished (I mean seconds ago!) No Other Gods. I’ve been having some girls over this summer as suggested by our good friend Beth Moore. Thanks so much for writing this study. It has been alternately moving, challenging, enlightening and irritating (in a good way!) We’re at different stages of life – I’m 46 and facing an empty nest as my youngest leaves home Wednesday headed for college – but I felt a sense of kinship with you throughout this journey. So, thanks. Our group will have our final meeting Tuesday and we plan to spend some time praying for you, your girls and the ministry God has for you! Thanks again! (Oh, and I’m glad you’re not homeless.)
— Leslie · Aug 16, 11:37 AM · #
Kelly, your site has a comfortable feel to it. Loved the moving story.
— Sandra S. Dobbins · Aug 17, 12:33 AM · #
Wow! It is amazing how God will give you just the words that you need to hear at the perfect time. I am sitting in my kitchen surrounded by what seem to be hundreds of boxes, feeling overwhelmed by the thought of moving in 6 days and not knowing for sure where my family will end up. Thank you for the encouragement. I know that even though I do feel “chaotic, alone and displaced”, God will not abandon me and will always be faithful. While doing the NOG’s study, I realized that my house had become an idol to me. We had it on the market at the time and it almost consumed me. I know God will provide the perfect place for my family and I am learning to trust Him day by day. He clearly told both my husband and myself that it was time to move. It is comforting to know that even though we don’t always know where we are going, He does.
— Emily · Aug 17, 07:53 PM · #
How appropriate, a “new” beginning after leaving behind functional gods! I was part of the Siesta group that did your study this summer. I am totally changed -totally! Thank you for being obedient to God’s plan to pursue writing a Bible study. I undertook this exciting journey myself this summer. God trusted me with 70 beautiful women and they were so kind to listen and participate in my brain child, “What Not to Wear from Rags to Robes – Transforming your spiritual wardrobe. I can assure you it was not “professional” quality but from my heart and faithfully guided by Christ to write each lesson! It was a blast – coupled with your study and my summer was RICH!
Sending you housewarming blessings!
Carrie
— Carrie Hester · Aug 22, 03:43 PM · #