Partly Sunny with a mix of Joy &Tears

Today, in Abingdon, it has rained non-stop all day. While I always enjoy an excuse to wear my cool galoshes, it has been a bit sad feeling. And really, most of the day I wanted to watch movies and drink coffee instead of dealing with the reality of there being a whole lot of boxes that need to be packed this week.

This is our last full week in Abingdon (that's where the tears come in). It is bittersweet to say goodbye and to hear words of encouragement from the people around us about our time in ministry here. Yesterday, my way-cool husband, Josh, preached his final sermon at Abingdon Bible. His focus was Mark 2 – a passage that has captured his heart for several weeks now. I believe he is working on his own blog post about this so I won't spoil what he wants to say too much, but I will say, it was an encouraging word full of questions like, "Do we really believe Jesus is the answer to our problem," "Do we try to reason away God's authority and make our own way," "Are we completely amazed or  'out-of our minds' (greek eksístēmi") by how awesome our God is?" 

When trying to answer these questions, I wish I could say, "Yes, NEVER! and "TOTALLY! Yes!" But unfortunately, I tend to try and answer my own problems and quickly find myself wondering if God really knows what He is doing. Yes, I might be "out of my mind" with the details of packing, moving, and trying to spend as much time with friends as possible, but "out of my mind" in amazement by this God that I follow, hmmm? 

As I type these words, it hits me . . . I should be. My God IS amazing. The reasons why He is amazing are extensive: He is faithful, unchanging, loving, powerful, forgiving, a Savior, and a constant source of comfort and truth in this world and in my life. That, my friends, is really more than partly sunny, that is a sunny day plus a rainbow. (Maybe I should change the blog title?)

In the mix of such hope and promise, my husband and I are embracing an interesting time in life. We are eager to meet new friends and see what God has next, yet sad to leave friends and a church body that has become dear to us. It seemed fitting yesterday to be part of the praise team that sang/played a "old-time mountain" praise song called "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand." The words have echoed in my head throughout yesterday's "farewell fellowship" and while packing today. Here are a couple verses:

"Time is filled with swift transition,
Naught of earth unmoved can stand,
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand."

"Trust in Him who will not leave you,
Whatsoever years may bring,
If by earthly friends forsaken
Still more closely to Him cling."

Chorus:
"Hold to God’s unchanging hand,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand;
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand."