Awoke thirsty…

It was April 16, 2023, I awoke from a dream, thirsty. There had been lots of stuff going on. In 2020, we moved. I have previously posted about living life in 2020 and all the change we had gone through. Those changes just kept coming throughout the next four years. However, we were about to embark on the biggest change of our lives. Something very untraditional.

In 2022, we laid to rest a dream. A dream of some day living at sea. Living aboard a sailing catamaran. Instead, we were led to purchase a new to us 2020 Newmar Mountain Aire motorcoach. One, when we spent the day with the tech who went over all the mechanics inside and out, was clearly directed by the Lord. I cannot recall the tech’s name, but I do recall the tattoo on his arm. It was in Hebrew, which I recognized immediately. Therefore, I inquired of him the meaning. Oh my, that definition just happened to mean ‘the will of God.’ Wow, such an incredible confirmation for us that we were following His lead in our lives. However, I will say that we are currently still in the process of navigating the when, where and why. We have had our own plans and thoughts regarding this, but God is still guiding us into His plan.

After 9 months of owning our rig and reviewing our calendar, we realized that 6 of those 9 months I was not at home. I was somewhere on the rig near family. Scott would be back in Michigan for work when necessary, but working remotely was becoming more acceptable. All of that made us ask why we were keeping the house in Michigan. Yes, it was a stunner of a house. A much smaller property than we had been used to, yet the corner property was beautiful. But it was in a community that we just were not a fit. There was an air of ‘better than.’ What we did not know when we bought the house was that it was in a highly sought after community in one of the area’s better school districts and right on the Rogue River by the social elite in the area. Someone once confronted Scott at the mailboxes about him getting a better car. Just not a fit for us community wise.

We had been spending those 9 months driving to and from family in Pennsylvania and South Carolina, as well as enjoying the winter months farther south in the warmer climate. Enjoying some places we had previously never been. When we arrived back home in April, we were encouraged by Holy Spirit to just reach out to a realtor to determine selling the house. A house we bought considering our family, if and when they would come to visit. Honestly, probably too big for just the two of us and the dog. We thought we would list the house by the end of May. Instead, ten days after contacting a realtor, the house was live on the market with multiple showings scheduled and an offer already forthcoming. I was wondering how we were going to process the possibility of multiple offers coming in and determining the right one. I offered up a prayer asking God to make it clear…….and that’s exactly what He did. It was really a simple prayer. Immediately, one by one showings started to be canceled for one reason or another. The evening of the listing going live, our realtor brought us the one offer to go over. In my prayer, I had asked for the perfect timing of closing. Scott and I had discussed that with all the moving parts, schedules, etc what that date really needed to be. And there was going to be more moving parts than we cared to admit. As we combed through the offer, there it was, the exact date for closing. One and done. One showing. One offer. And it was done. God showed Himself faithful. Once again, yielding and allowing Him to lead us and guide us into the unknown.

During the start of this process, when we had just gotten back to the house in April, I had a dream. I awoke very thirsty, at 5 in the morning; but first, I had to document the dream. In the dream, our adult children and families were arriving, one by one. It was a pleasant surprise! I was still in my nightgown, sweater, and slippers with coffee in hand. They were all acting as if it should not be a surprise. So, I asked, “What’s going on? Why are you all here?” Their response….”Mom, tomorrow is Thanksgiving!!” I recall looking at them as though I had no idea and I knew I was not prepared. That’s when I looked to our oldest daughter, who had a look of shock on her face and I told her I would go shopping to see what I could find. We would make it work. That was the end of the dream or at least all that I documented because I hadn’t recalled more than that. What resonated with me most was what I heard within my spirit, “traditions of men.”

“Traditions of men will never satisfy the longing (thirst) within us”, I jotted in my journal.

Remember the woman at the well and what the Lord Jesus said to her….”Everyone who drinks this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:13 NASB

This time of year, we especially need to be careful that we do not uphold traditions and have expectations of friends and family that would actually be harmful or take away from what truly satisfies the longing within. Thanksgiving is meant to be a daily response to God, not a one day celebration that tends to now have added expectations of perfection due to social media. Let me say this, Thanksgiving does not have to be Instagram worthy! Christmas need not be Instagram worthy. May we daily have a heart bent toward Him in thanksgiving and praise. Not just on a calendar holiday.

“A psalm of thanksgiving: Shout for joy to Adonai, all the earth! Serve Adonai with gladness. Enter His presence with joyful songs. Be aware that Adonai is God: it is He who made us; and we are His, His people, the flock in His pasture. ENTER HIS GATES WIHT THANKSGIVING, ENTER HIS COURTYARDS WITH PRAISE; GIVE THANKS TO HIM, AND BLESS HIS NAME. For Adonai is good, His grace continues forever, and His faithfulness lasts through all the generations.” Psalm 100

This psalm has become a cornerstone for me in recent years. More on that in the future.

Let us beware of the traditions we create and uphold that they themselves not become idols that take priority in our hearts and souls. It may not be the exact day or month of the birth of our Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ, but at least there is a day set aside to celebrate His birth. His coming to earth. His incarnation!! May the celebrations not detract from Him, but hold Him as Holy. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.