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It’s hard to believe it’s only been a little over a year
since we moved to our current home. Over the last 14 months, we have developed a
strong sense of community and friendship within our neighborhood, found a church
that believes, preaches, teaches, and lives the Word of God, forged friendships
within the church, and gotten involved in several outreach ministries. It has
been a year full of blessings!
Over the course of our marriage, Dick and I have moved 16 times. This is the third time we have lived in Chambersburg, so it seems this is where God wants us to be. And I am good with that! It’s a town just big enough to have lots of good restaurants and stores to meet every need, but without the rat-race feel of a large city.
Naturally, we miss being close to immediate family, but they are spread across the U.S from the eastern seaboard to the Rio Grande! However, as Scripture promises in Mark 10:29-30, everywhere we have lived, God has blessed us with wonderful, caring, Christian brothers and sisters who make us feel part of their families.
Though each time we moved, our hearts mourned the separation from people, places and privileges unique to our old, familiar locale, God has always provided warm friendships, intriguing adventures, and un-thought of opportunities in our new location. We just needed to be open to the change.
Change can be hard. No, change IS hard! While some of my readers may have lived in the same place their entire lives, each one has experienced change. Everyone does. However, God and His love for us never does. (Malachi 3:6) No matter what changes we face—whether it is in our location, our age, our health, our employment, or our relationships—Jesus goes with us, stays beside us, and is our reliable constant. (Hebrews 13:5, 8)
Back in the day a praise song came out called "I Go To The Rock”. The style may be 70’s, but its message is eternal. It shares the calming assurance that when life is changing, Jesus is our unchanging friend, our shelter—our Rock.
Be encouraged!
