Sunday, October 25, 2015

Flying to a Summer Land

The owner of the tenement which I have occupied for many years has given notice that he will furnish but little or nothing more for repairs. I am advised to be ready to move.
At first this was not a very welcome notice. The surroundings here are in many respects very pleasant, and were it not for the evidence of decay, I should consider the house good enough. But even a light wind causes it to tremble and totter, and all the braces are not sufficient to make it secure. So I am getting ready to move.
--Streams in the Desert

So I am getting ready to move. And though the pain of being separated from those we love seems unbearable, though the uncertainty and anxiety and fear and apprehension threaten to choke His joy from us, we know that to obey means to follow the One who leads.

So I am getting ready to move. And we become attached to people, to places, to memories, to countries to cities, to cherished things.

It is good that we cherish. Do not be fooled into thinking that it isn't. That because this life is temporal we should treat people, memories, traditions as less than what God created them to be -- cherished. The key is not to hold onto things so lightly that they fall into the cracks and become inconsequential. The key is to hand the cherished things back to God in surrender.

And that is when we truly receive them: a gift. A gift of life that will echo eternally.



So I am getting ready to move.   

This life is temporal. The places that we call home will not be forever. This truth hit me like a brick over the past several months. I am the kind of person who becomes attached to a certain way of doing things, to a particular chair, to a certain kind of food or exercise program and will stick to it for years and years and years.


But an event in my life, a prompting of obedience from the Lord pressed this truth into my heart in a deeply personal way.

It was painful. It was lonely. I knew His presence through the pain that I thought that I could not face.

And I understood the truth of Elisabeth Elliot's words--

Sometimes... fear does not subside and... one must choose to do it afraid.

Obedience involves the pain of letting go of things that a person thought that they could not let go of. It involves clinging to the One who requires it. Obedience is the child of surrender, and the two walk hand-in-hand.



But in order to obey, we must realize that this life is not what we live for -- We live for another world, another home that will never be destroyed or worn down or taken from us.

We live for a home whose Builder and Maker is God.

And He is our home. 
It is strange how quickly one's interest is transferred to the prospective home. I have been consulting maps of the new country and reading descriptions of its inhabitants. One who visited it has returned, and from him I learn that it is beautiful beyond description; language breaks down in attempting to tell of what he heard while there. He says that, in order to make an investment there, he has suffered the loss of all things that he owned here, and even rejoices in what others would call making a sacrifice. Another, whose love to me has been proven by the greatest possible test, is now there. He has sent me several clusters of the most delicious fruits. After tasting them, all food here seems insipid.
Two or three times I have been down by the border of the river that forms the boundary, and have wished myself among the company of those who were singing praises to the King on the other side. Many of my friends have moved there. Before leaving they spoke of my coming later. I have seen the smile upon their faces as they passed out of sight. Often I am asked to make some new investments here, but my answer in every case is, "I am getting ready to move."
--Streams in the Desert



A painful act of obedience to the One who leads will produce the fruits of righteousness. The fruit that clings to its hard casing will never be free to ripen in the sun of His love. We let go so that we may receive. We go, as the missionary David Livingstone spoke and lived, in the confidence that His Presence goes before us.

And if His Presence goes before us, fear is swallowed up in joy.

We leave homes, lands, possessions

For the possession of Him, Himself.

He is our home.

Our home is with Him. In that beautiful Summer-land of glory. Where every tear will be wiped away from our eyes and all the promises in Him are Yes.


So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 NKJV

Possessing all that we truly loved. Possessing Him. Our eternal Home. 



The little birds trust God, for they go singing
From northern woods where autumn winds have blown,

With joyous faith their unmarked pathway winging

To summer-lands of song, afar, unknown.

Let us go singing, then, and not go crying:
Since we are sure our times are in His hand,

Why should we weep, and fear, and call it dying?

It's merely flying to a Summer Land.


--Streams in the Desert



You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on EarthInspire Me MondayThe Modest MomWhat Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate MondaysSo Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every SeasonA Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony TuesdayTell His StoryA Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention WednesdaysMessy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Theology ThursdaysChildren Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking ThursdayEvery Day JesusCount My Blessings, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul SurvivalGood Morning MondaysThe Weekend BrewBlessing Counters Link PartyThe HomeAcre HopMommy Moments Link UpGrace and Truth LinkupFaith Filled FridaySaturday Soiree Blog PartyTell It To Me TuesdaysSHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog HopMotivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-UpA Little R&R WednesdaysTGI Saturdays Blog HopTotally Terrific TuesdayRaRaLinkup

31 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for this great blog. I read it today and it comfoted me. It was a spiritual lesson. Have a great week and may GOD bless you.

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    1. Thank you, Jedidja; I'm so glad that it was a blessing to you! The Lord bless you!

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  2. I will be looking up Streams in the Desert. What an awesome analogy!

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    1. Helene, it is a wonderful book!!! I think that you would really be blessed by it! It has been an encouragement to me.



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  3. So much to learn in these words. May you be in peace as you trust God in moving. Blessings!

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    1. Thank you, Joanne! Blessings to you, also; have a wonderful week :-).

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  4. Bekki, That is absolutely beautiful! Your obedience to the call of God is such a testimony and an encouragement.

    I had never read Streams in the Desert. I will definitely need to download it and read. :-)

    I have been praying for you all as you adjust to your new home and surroundings.

    Miss you! I will email you soon. :-)

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    1. You will so love Streams in the Desert. It is one of my favorite devotionals.

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    2. Thank you, Karen, for your encouragement and your prayers. I really appreciate them.

      I think that you would really enjoy Streams in the Desert--so, so rich. It has really been a blessing to me as I have been reading it.

      I will e-mail you back soon! Much love to you. :-)

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    3. Bekki, I wanted to let you know I will be featuring Flying to a Summer Land on my blog tomorrow. :-)

      I didn't realize Streams in the Desert was a devotional! I will definitely need to get it. :-)

      Blessings to you dear sister!

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    4. Thank you, Karen! I pray that it will be a blessing. Yes; it's a devotional with many of the older writers like George Matheson--I love the way that I can read a little at a time.

      Blessings to you also, Karen!

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  5. Oh, my! I so needed this right NOW! We are in a place of needing to release our wills and follow God's and His alone. Thank you for writing the words that God has given you for He knows I need them. I am a near neighbor at Jen's Unite tonight and here I am! I am praising Him.

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    1. Linda, your words are such an encouragement to me. I praise the Lord Jesus that this post was a blessing to you. May He give each one of us the grace to surrender to Him.

      The Lord bless you!

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  6. This truth here..."The fruit that clings to its hard casing will never be free to ripen in the sun of His love." Last week, all week I prayed for Him to flood me with His light. In order to receive the light, I have to be willing to release the hard casing. Mmm. A tough truth but a necessary move. This post is a difficult read because it DEMANDS action. True disciples obey. Thank you friend for the courage to convey tough truth but in love. So so happy to have come over from #RARAlinkup

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    1. Tyra, yes; that is so true --that true disciples obey. It seems so "simple," and yet the daily working out of obedience is difficult and costly. But it yields such joy and peace. I was so blessed by your words. I pray that the Lord would work in and through us to yield completely to Him.

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  7. So sweet. :) "The key is to hand the cherished things back to God in surrender." Love that. Thanks for sharing. :) Happy to be neighboring you this morning on the Women with intention linkup. ((blessings))

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    1. You're welcome, Brenda; I'm so glad that you stopped by! Blessings to you, also!

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  8. I am comforted by the fact that I am not the only one who is facing a season of letting go. I found your blog on the Wedded Wednesday's link-up, and if you look for my post, you'll see it's on a similar topic as it relates to marriage. Trials In Marriage - Homesickness and Letting Go
    Blessings to you! And I am a huge fan of Lilias Trotter, so your headline caught my attention right away. Thank you for your beautiful blog.

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    1. Oh, you're welcome, Debi! I am glad that it was an encouragement to you! It is so nice to find a "kindred spirit" who loves Lilias Trotter, too! If you haven't already read it, Miriam Huffman Rockness has a wonderful autobiography of her life--truly beautiful --I think that Elisabeth Elliot endorsed it. I'm heading over now to read your post! :-)

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  9. Oh, dear friend! I was so touched when I saw that you included excerpts from Streams in the Desert! My dear mother read this book almost as much as she read her Bible. And my Papaw (her father) read it before her. Now both of them are gone on to glory, and this precious book rests on the table beside my living room recliner. It is truly the deepest, most spiritually-profound devotional I have ever read. I am so happy to see that you read it, too, and I trust it will continue to bless your dear heart. God bless you as you make adjustments in your life. It can be so hard, but He promised to carry us through. Sending you much love and big hugs, my friend. :)

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    1. Yes, Cheryl! It is truly a beautiful, grace-filled book. I am enjoying it so much! It seems like the Lord uses different devotionals at different times in our lives-this one has been been ministering to me in my present circumstances. I am grateful that you recommended it to me. What a beautiful, beautiful testimony of the way that it touched the lives of your mother and Grandfather; thank you for sharing that with me. I have my Mama's copy of My Utmost for His Highest, and I cherish it so much; these things are truly precious reminders of the Lord's Spirit working in the lives of those who have influenced us so greatly towards a closer walk with Him.

      The Lord bless you, Cheryl; you are a dear sister in our precious Lord.

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  10. Simply beautiful! We are in fact just strangers and pilgrims on earth! Thank you for sharing this touching peice on the Art of Home-Making Mondays! :)

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    1. Thank you, JES! I am grateful that I could share it. The Lord bless you, JES, as you serve Him!

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  11. Thank you for this post. Trust Him as you move. He will lead you where He wants you to be.

    God bless.

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    1. Thank you for your encouragement, Victor! The Lord bless you, also. :-)

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  12. Beautiful post. Obedience. Perspective of home. hmm.. I will be looking up Streams in the desert, such beautiful words. I loved this, "The fruit that clings to its hard casing will never be free to ripen in the sun of His love." thank you for sharing. Be Blessed always. Misty

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    1. You're welcome, Misty. Streams in the Desert has been such an encouragement to me; I think that you would really enjoy it! The Lord bless you, also. :-)

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  13. I haven't read this but it sounds beautiful from what you shared.
    Thanks for sharing on the Shine Blog Hop!

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  14. Rebekah, you are quickly becoming my go-to gal for book recommendations and deep heart inspiration each week. Thank you for this... And I think I am going to have to create a book budget for 2016 :-)

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    1. Sharita, you're welcome, That is very humbling. Yes; I think that a "book budget" is a great idea! :-) I'm going to have to talk to my husband about that! ;-)

      The Lord bless you, Sharita ; thank you for your kind words and encouragement.

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