Things Are Getting Pretty Serious Right Now

“Well, things are getting pretty serious right now.” – Kip, Napoleon Dynamite

As I signed my 427^th letter today the thought crossed my mind that this is for REAL.  In the more than a decade that I’ve been a Financial Advisor, my team has sent many letters to our clients.  However, this one was different.  The letter I signed today was to tell our clients that I would be leaving our team and our industry on March 31, 2014.  I'll be unemployed and our family will be without health insurance until Manila as we start to really experience what it means to depend on God.

Each day, the idea that we are leaving one life behind for another becomes more and more tangible.  It's big things and little things.  At the end of October, my CFP designation lapsed.  I've been a Certified Financial Planner practitioner since 2006.  It took me two years, eight graduate level classes and a ten hour test that about 50% of takers fail to get that designation and I just let it expire.  

We passed the snowball stand near our house the other day and wondered if we have tasted our last one in a while.   Heidi cried at Bible Study when our Worship Leader played "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and we met with a Real Estate Agent to talk about selling our house.  Isaac is thinking about missing friends and we are planning a busy Christmas as it might be the last time we see extended family for four years.  We feel like there is so much to do and time is running short.

I've been studying the book of John in school and noticing how often Jesus says that his time has not yet come or that it was coming.  (John 2:4; 4:21-23; 5:25-28; 7:6-8; 7:30; 8:20)  Jesus used this phrase to indicate that the Father's plan was not to be revealed until the time was perfect to carry out his mission of mercy and redemption.  I wonder sometimes if Jesus was anxious for his time to come, conflicted in his human emotions of excitement, anticipation, and sadness.  I suspect that in knowing all things, he was patient and trusting of the Father's plan to an extent that we can't understand.  And yet, it is helpful to remember his humanity.  We have a Savior that experienced all of the trials, temptations, and emotions that we have.   

Later, when the time comes "for the Son of Man to be glorified," (John 12:23) Jesus asks to be saved from this hour. (John 12:27)  He knew that suffering was to come and yet he was willing to make the sacrifice.  Unless he fulfilled the role that the Father had for him, mankind would be lost, never to be reconciled to the Father.  "He looked up to heaven and said, 'Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you." (John 17:1)

Jesus left home, just like he is asking us to do. When we think about it, we are not giving up nearly as much as he did.  The trials we face can't compare to being despised and rejected by those he created and loved.  Beatings, mocking, scorn, and a cross are probably not in our future.  But sometimes, we are still afraid.  How will I support a family without a job?  Will anyone buy our house?  25% of support seems far away from 100%!  What about cheese?  Cheese is hard to come by in Manila!

Then, we remember Jesus.  Paul handled stress by remembering that Jesus' grace is sufficient for us and his power is made perfect in weakness.  So, for the sake of Christ, "I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Jesus knew that God had a plan for him.  Jesus was obedient and God was faithful.  For every moment we tremble in trepidation, there are one hundred moments when we rejoice in remembrance.  No job, no problem!  Our God gave his Son for us and to pile on the joy, he chooses to use us for his glory!  Fleeting fancies of temporary comforts pale in comparison to the joy of serving our Savior.  

Sometimes, it feels like we are living in a dream.  We look at each other mystified that God is sending us to Manila and overwhelmed by his power and grace to do it.  We find ourselves asking so many questions.  "So, if we put 'security' on hold and take a risk for God, we get to grow closer to Jesus and work with him to advance his Kingdom?"  "Do you mean to tell me that giving up cheese means we get to speak hope into people's lives and teach those with no access to the Gospel about God's love?"  In perspective, everything seems small in the greatness of God's plan and glory. 

I guess you could say things are getting pretty serious.