Our house is sold. In just a few days, it won’t be ours anymore.
Our garage sale is over. People have picked over our possessions and offered (and sometimes paid) pennies on the dollar. Not for our junk in the garage…our things from inside the house. Some that we’ve had since we got married…literally.
Our kids have sifted through their things and come up with small piles of things they would like to take to Ukraine…leaving the rest behind.
We’ve had so many people ask us…how? why? why now? why Ukraine? why your whole family?
The answer is hidden in our hearts and I can’t put into words the answer to those questions.
Yet, I was listening to the new Steven Curtis Chapman cd re:created this morning and heard “For the Sake of the Call” in a brand new way this morning and the words struck my heart and pierced it and reminded me what’s going on in our lives. Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the grander picture because of the details. The second verse of the song expresses the answers to the questions people are asking…
Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea
No turning back for the water cannot help but flow
Once we hear the Savior’s call we’ll follow wherever he leads
Because of the love He has shown
And because he has called us to go we will answer
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
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Nobody stood and applauded them
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame
All they really knew for sure was Jesus had called to them
He said “Come follow me” and they came
With reckless abandon they came
Empty nets lying there at the waters edge
Told a story that few could believe and none could explain
How some crazy fishermen agreed to go where Jesus lead
With no thought for what they would gain
For Jesus had called them by name and they answered
CHORUS
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
For the sake of the call
Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea
No turning back for the water cannot help but flow
Once we hear the Savior’s call we’ll follow wherever he leads
Because of the love He has shown
And because he has called us to go we will answer
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
BRIDGE
Not for the sake of a creed or a cause
Not for a dream or a promise
Simply because it is Jesus who calls
And if we believe we’ll obey
In case you’re wondering if we are sad about the things we are leaving behind. I will tell you that we are a bit sad. BUT we know that what lays ahead is worth so much more and obedience brings new growth and life. So whatever we think we are giving up now, God has something else. The sadness is just a season…we have eternity ahead of us. Mary was telling someone last night about our house sale and quick move to the rent house. Their first response was literally “What about your wedding china? Are you keeping your wedding china?” Mary’s response reminded us both, yet again…”it’s just stuff.” And it IS just stuff. If we hold too tightly to our “stuff,” we can’t turn loose of it when God calls. So we remind ourselves daily to hold it all lightly and with an open hand. It’s all HIS…anytime He wants to remove it and put something else (or nothing) in its place…it’s okay.
Blessed be the Name of our Amazing and Powerful God.