Chicago, seriously...

Sitting in my living room, it's late at night, the family is all sick and I'm reflecting on life... always dangerous. I'm reading tonight from 2 Corinthians and a bit from Jeremiah, as is often my habit on these late nights. I seem to find myself longing to hear from God, and He usually responds through the pages of Scripture.

My life, some would say, is far from normal. We move on what we believe is the leading of God. I was thinking about this tonight. It had been almost four years to the day from the time we had a conversation in my office at MissioDei, with two of my very most dear friends (more like brothers really) about me stepping out of the ministry there to pursue where else God might be leading... four years later, I'm announcing to my current congregation that our time here has come to a close.

A lot happens in four short years. We left Chicago with one newly adopted, beautiful, curly headed one year old... our return will be as a family of five, two more absolutely breathtaking children have joined our family through adoption since then. We left believing that we would be moving "home" and we did in some ways (family, familiarity, comfort)... but now we can think of no better home than with our MissioDei family, partnering together for the work of the Gospel. We wondered, "God what in the world are you doing..." "why are we leaving the city we love," "why now?" I can now confidently say we had no idea how big His plans are or how vast the expanse of His love.

Thinking about all this in the context of what I'm reading in Jeremiah tonight, where we find the nation of Israel under siege from Babylon and the city of Jerusalem falling in defeat. The prophet Jeremiah had been bound in captivity under the rule of his own people and not until the fall of Jerusalem was he set free to go about his calling again.

Pair this with the other place I'm reading tonight, 2 Corinthians, where I find the glory of the Lord reflected in the unveiled faces of those who follow after Him, so much so that we are being transformed more and more each day to look like Him... I can't help but wonder what God is up too in us.

Jeremiah's pursuit of God took Him into solitude, imprisonment, pain, suffering, wondering and even freedom. Paul who wrote 2 Corinthians, followed to much the same end. Both in following found freedom and peace unlike anything this world could offer. What is the cost in following God? For us it is a granting of our hearts desire, for better and worse. Those whom He calls, He is faithful to fulfill that calling in them.

I don't know what this next chapter in our lives holds. We'll be jumping on board with MissioDei as "church-planting associates" but beyond that is the great unknown adventure of following. My heart is primed for Chicago, much of it never left. Four years has taught me that I know very little indeed of God, yet as 2 Corinthians re-assures me, His spirit is alive and moving on the hearts of those who are willing to follow.

I'm reminded of this "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love him—"

our story is still unfinished, Bring on the adventure.