The Sabbatical

Friday, February 15, 2013, our first day of Sabbatical.  I have to tell you that this is both exciting and terrifying.  Excited to see what the Lord will show us and terrified at what He will show us.  This month we have consecrated to the Lord is a first for us.  Of course I want to say that we are always consecrated to him, all of our time is His, but then He knows that is not true.  But today was we were on our way up one crisis after another seemed to follow us via our phones, in my frustration I tried to explain how I felt how serious this time meant to us and it doing so I think I finally understood.  It is a sacred time, a time when we pour ourselves out so that the Lord can fill us back up.  How desperately I want to return different.  I don't know what that means yet, but I am praying that it is extreme.  All for the glory of the Lord. 

We chose Branson as our first stop, we will spend two weeks here and from here is the Lord's call.  I read that you should not choose a familiar spot but this is what we wound up doing.  I searched for  secluded place but decided on a condo just down from where we used to own one.  The website sold me Sabbatical stop #1 on the amenities and recent remodel.  I must say we are very pleased so far. 

I packed like I was going to be gone for a long time but I left nothing to chance.  We will eat in most of the time (our choice) and so we cleaned out the refrigerator and a lot of the freezer, the pantry is almost bare and I cleaned and looked through every drawer in the house just in case I might remotely need something in there!  Crazy huh?  Well, at least most of the house is clean!!!   We load down the Lincoln, grabbed some medicine at the pharmacy, took out a loan to fill the tank and grabbed breakfast at Braums along with some butter, eggs, cheese and a few other "essentials" and then headed north through Chandler to hit the Turnpike (love those pike passes!).  We wanted to stop and see Payton but her busy schedule wouldn't allow it so we moved on.  We did stop at Mardels in both Tulsa and Springfield, I was looking for a match to a study I want to do, but so far no luck.  Oh well, it will happen I am sure.

We have now unpacked everything and settled in.  I am unbelievably at peace in this uncluttered environment.  This is one area that I know the Lord has been dealing with me about.  STUFF.  I have too much and it is like a weight around my neck.  So the journey of renewal has begun, I am ready to be poured out and offered up, fully surrendered to His good pleasure.