Journeys of Change

“The heart cannot rejoice in what the mind rejects.”

Sometimes in our lives we remain constant, scheduled, predictable, and unchanging. Those are usually the times we find ourselves comfortable, at least for awhile, and we are relaxed. When we look back over the years we can usually see these times as the “lazy days of summer” in life. These times usually fall just before an impacting change occurs in our lives.

When the change comes, it is sometimes something out of our control. Something related to a phase of our life. Maybe it’s a coming of age, an empty nest, an illness, a loss of employment or the loss of a family member. Other times, we find God bringing change into our lives through promptings of His spirit. Whispers of new directions begin to adjust our path. Maybe the lives of our friends push us to a new way of thinking. When these changes begin, we can embrace them, rebel against them or completely reject them.

Our family seems to be hitting one of those seasons of change. It is amazing to watch how God directs us through small decisions that seem to be unrelated. Yet as we look back we begin to see how they all affect one another and go together.

We are making the decision to live a little healthier. As we make life style changes (not big ones mind you, just small ones-slowly) we feel prompted to use those changes as catalysts to other things. Making this small change has given us a new direction in teaching our children about the impoverished of the world. This in turn has brought us to a place of embracing a compassionate ministry that God has been whispering in our ear for more than 2 years. Embracing this ministry will allow God to use our family to impact a world we will probably never see.

Change isn’t easy. However, when we choose to accept a new direction we can find joy and excitement in the journey.

Defining Passion

This is a copy of a note I (Sandra) posted elsewhere in response to a request for definitions to the word PASSION.


I have always viewed Passion as Consuming. When fire consumes wood the wood it completely and totally used up. The wood doesn’t choose how to burn or for how long, it is not in control, the fire is. All that is left in the end is a pile of dust. So many times we try to find something to be passionate about like sports or gardening, our jobs or our children, yet we are still unsatisfied. We need a Passion for Christ, He should consume us. We should be completely engulfed by Him. His consumption of us should be like fire to wood. We don’t choose when to burn or for how long, He does. And when He has used us to accomplish His goal we will be completely used up. I know a lot of people this week who will be frustrated, tired, empty, drained, exhausted, and used up by God, ironically while symbolizing the Passion of Christ. Yet what He consumes from them will be spread to others through the flames of His Spirit and those it touches will begin a relationship of Passion for Christ so that they too can be consumed. I need to remember that my goal is not to leave this earth with a perfect family, clean house, successful business or legacy of goodness behind me. It is to leave this earth used up, tired, drained and empty. Because then I will know God consumed me and took what I gave up to benefit those He loves. The reward for this kind of life is an eternity in the presence of the one who calls me to Passion.