Life has a funny way of changing. I'm not sure if any of you have noticed this. No? Oh, well then, it must just be me.
It's strange really. At one moment you're heading in one direction thinking, well this is nice, and the next you're making a turn you never saw coming. It too can be nice--maybe even better than nice--but sometimes the unexpected nature of it overshadows its nice-ness. And sometimes it doesn't and that unexpected change is just the thing you've been wanting.
For me, one of those big changes came last year in May. Many of you were part of my journey when I made the big move from California to Washington, D.C. in July of 2014. Whew boy, that was a biggie. It was not only a change in location, but a coastal change, job change, and cultural change.
Then, in May, I felt called to switch churches. If you remember, I had moved out to DC to be a part of a church plant and to work with them as a photographer and writer (you can read more about opportunity here). It was a good experience but the Lord made it clear that I was to attend a different church--Redemption Hill Church in Capitol Hill.
Believe me, the change was not expected and for a time I found myself...floundering. The new church was great--wonderful even--but it wasn't what I was expecting. I felt as if suddenly everything I'd known had been snatched away and I was left bare and purposeless. Of course that was not the case, but it was a feeling I had to wrestle with. What was I supposed to do if I wasn't volunteering at church? If I wasn't working for a church? If I didn't know more than a handful of people? If I didn't know where or how I belonged?
I decided to embrace the sudden lack of direction and petitioned the Lord to show me what was next. Was I to plug in and volunteer immediately? Was I to wait? I spent time in this "limbo"attending the church but not in any other capacity. It was actually a very sweet time of learning, but I grew restless. I'm not one to sit by and not help when there is a need.
Funny enough, a few weeks into this the worship pastor told the church that they were actively seeking out new members for the team. Then several of my friends "happened" to mention this to me at key points during the week. You see, I had also led worship at the church I'd moved to DC with, as well as leading at my previous church. I distinctly remember taking a run one morning and praying--asking the Lord if this was where He wanted me to plug in (if they could even use me) or if I still needed to wait. His answer was, "Go for it." So I did - and I've been serving on the worship team ever since. I've even gotten the chance to help with the women's conference (pictured to the left) and at another church plant in the area leading worship for them on a few Sunday's here and there.
You see, I wouldn't trade these last two years for anything, despite the fact they there were parts of them that were very hard. I'd left California with the phrase, "don't live safe" embedded in my mind and heart, and I think along the way, when things got hard, I forgot that. I sometimes forgot that God is the ruler and director of my life because, at those times, it felt like He'd forgotten that I needed Him. As if the tides of change had washed away His hold on me.That, of course, was not true.
He never let go.
Now, I'm facing another move. Yep, that's right, come August I will be moving to Dayton, Ohio. There'll be more details on that move come another post, but I want to encourage all who may be in a season of change to stop and reflect on what the Lord may be teaching you. I know He is teaching me patience and to release control because there are so many details to work out for this move that only He can control them. It's easy to forget in the moment though. To get side tracked by what would (in my mind) be best rather than what He knows is best.
I'm excited to share more as exciting things are on the horizon: the move, the Realm Makers Conference, the ACFW Conference, and fun things concerning my writing, but above all of that is the reality that, when things change, the Lord is in control of it all.
What have you learned from change in your life? I'd love to hear in the comments below!
Calculated ones maybe...but flat-out, don't-look-before-you-leap ones--no way, no how. So, moving to DC is very out of character for me. Granted, I'm not leaping off of any tall buildings to move, but I am taking a step of faith without knowing where my foot will land.
You see, I'm a very planned person. I'm talking calendars filled out with multicolor, highlighted sections, lists made, and every angle possible covered in thought and preparation. Even considering moving across the country without knowing where I'll live has been a little...um, unsettling?
But, I think that's the way God wants it.
When the future isn't planned out in my mind, I'm more apt to live life where I'm at here and now. When I can't see tomorrow, the next day, or even a month away, I am forced to remain in the present which I think is ultimately much better for me.
Redeemer City Church Vision Night
Probably one of the hardest areas of this move is the financial aspect. Yeah, in addition to worrying about the details of this whole situation I'm also anxious about how it will all happen. To me (and I admit this with shame) being 'self-sufficient' in funds is a form of security for me. When I decided to move to DC with the Redeemer City Church plant, all of the sudden all of that false security fled and I was left bare and exposed.
The question remained:Who are you really trusting?
I've had to answer this honestly and found that, a lot of the time, I'm trusting in me. In my current job's paycheck even. That's not the way it's supposed to be. How can I place blind trust in a silly, created thing that is addicting, deceiving, and all to easily spent?
Why all this talk about money, you may wonder? Well, as much as the Lord is teaching me a lesson about trusting in Him, He is also humbling me and creating a job position that is in large part funded by support from friends and family. You see, everything within me recoils at that thought. What? I ask. You want me to ask for help?Noooo!
But, as part of learning this lesson, I have decided to own up to what's going on in my heart. It's not easy and it's not something I like doing, but I recognize it as a huge step for me. So, here it is in plain terms:
Moving
What: I'm moving across the country, leaving July 15th and trail-blazing with some of my close friends through the vast United States in search of adventure and safe travels.
How: If you'd like to donate to the "move Jenn and Em" fund (so I've termed it) you can go to this helpful link set up by my lovely roomie. All funds raised here will go toward the shipping costs for our things, gas for the road, and any other expenses accrued from moving across the country.
My Job
What: I have the incredible opportunity to step into the role of Creative Arts and Communications Director for Redeemer City Church. What!? I know, such a cool title ;) But, since I am moving to D.C. as a missionary, this means most of my paycheck comes from support from my friends and family. Yeah, it's crazy, but again - I'm trusting that the Lord knows what He's doing and will provide for me as well as the church.
How: We have a pretty sweet website already set up for the church and you can donate directly to me through there (click here) and choose EH Support. All funds will go toward supporting me to work with the church. We recommend a monthly supporting option because then it also helps to remind you to pray for the church (and me).
Thank you (if you've made it this far in reading my post haha) for being willing to even spend some time with me today on the blog. I am continually amazed at the Father's gracious and loving heart that is so good to remind me that relying on Him is the best thing I can do.
If you'd like more info from me about this, feel free to email me. You can also sign up for my DC Newsletter from the tab above (DC Bound).
I'm going to preface this post by saying that the Lord does things in the most interesting, entertaining, and sometimes unexpected ways. I'm sure you can relate to this. Sometimes we think we have things figured out...then He comes along and does something completely different but no less amazing.
Several months ago, my dear roommate and friend, Jennifer, asked me to
go with her to Dallas, TX for Thanksgiving. This sounds like a normal
enough request, but the history leading up to this was a little
different...
The Beginning
Jenn had been listening to podcasts produced by The Village Church in Texas for a long time. During the course of one sermon she was listening to, a gentleman was introduced at the end as the planting pastor to a new church in Washington D.C. My roommate, originally from the East Coast, has always loved D.C. and this church idea really captured her interest. I remember the next day that she came to me so excited about what she had heard the night before. She then told me she was going to contact the pastor to see how she could partner with them.
The next month or so, she got in contact with the pastor and his wife (Steven and Tiffany) and exchanged emails and phone calls with them. I wasn't sure where this was leading her, but I knew that she was excited and felt the Lord working so I was 100% on board.
That brings me back to Thanksgiving. As things progressed, Jenn seriously considered joining the D.C. church plant. When she was invited to share Thanksgiving with Steven and Tiffany and their two children, she came to me asking if I would join her.
I considered her offer for a week or so. In all honesty, my desire to have time to work on my NaNoWriMo book versus traveling to Texas with my friend was a tough decision. In the end though, I decided fellowship with my sister was more important than craving time for myself (and hey, I finished the book just fine anyway hehe). So off we flew, Texas bound with one suitcase to share between us and a lot of coffee in our systems. We had a blast traveling there and were excited to get to know this new family.
The Consideration
I remember sitting in the restaurant like it was yesterday. A nice secluded booth for good conversation, amazing fried rice, and a lot of questions. Our first lunch with Steven and Tiffany sparked something inside me. That was the first moment I felt it.
The draw to go.
The fear that followed.
The resistance to something new.
The excitement of adventure.
I experienced all of these emotions and more during that lunch. Steven shared his vision for the plant and as he described their heart for reaching the city of D.C. something stirred inside me. I'd considered moving for a little over a year but knew that a reason to move for me would mean having something to move to. That lunch gave me a lot of things to think about.
That night, back at our hotel room, I journaled my thoughts out and was struck by one statement that I could not get out of my head:
Don't live safe.
Safe? What did that have to do with anything? But, the more I considered things, the more I realized that Santa Clarita, though a fantastic place to live, was extremely "safe" for me. Now, I'm not saying it's bad to live here or even that safe, but it does epitomize a safe life for me. The thing that remained to be seen was what it meant for me not to "live safe".
The Decision
I came home from a Thanksgiving spent with amazing people who already felt like family even though we'd just met, and asked myself the dreaded question: What about D.C.
I was assailed by doubts and questions: Should I move across the country to a city I've never visited? What would I do? How would I live? Where would the money come from? Could this small town girl live in a big city?
They were all valid questions, and natural progressions to my thoughts, but ultimately I knew that they clouded the issue. It wasn't about whether I could afford to move or whether I could find a job, it was about what I felt the Lord doing in my heart. I know, that's a tricky phrase to say - the idea of "feeling" being so subjective, but I knew that was part of my decision.
I had many conversations with my parents (who's opinions I hold very dear), close friends, and mentors in my life and then I made my decision. I remember the night vividly because I was driving down to Hollywood for a meeting and had just ended a phone call (on a hands free device of course!) with my parents. I explained that I'd made my decision and a peace fell over me. Right there, where Interstate 5 merges with the 170 reality hit me and I said it out loud:
I'm moving to D.C.
Yes, you read that right. I have decided to pack up everything I own and make the cross-country journey to Washington D.C. My roommate and I will be moving together at the end of July where we'll begin a whole new chapter in each of our lives.
Me, Jenn, Steven and Tiffany
It's exciting, scary, and exhilarating all at the same time! I can hardly believe it, but since I've made the decision, things that I've worried the most about have fallen into place. Those things that I can't plan on only act as a reminder that the Lord's plans will prevail and I must place my trust in a God who knows what I need far better than I ever could. I'm holding on to one of my favorite verses...
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
I'm creating a newsletter that will go out about once every month. If you are interested in receiving updates on my journey to Washington D.C. and my part in Redeemer City Church, I'd love for you to sing up (you can use the form below). I promise I won't use your email to send you anything other than the newsletter - and I won't be flooding your inbox :)
Sign up for my newsletter here...
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I'll be sharing more about my move soon and the exciting job I will be
doing there in addition to the church I'll be a part of, but I wanted to
share this new chapter with you, my dear readers and friends first. I covet your prayers for our team, for the church plant, and for my continued strength and wisdom. I've
included a video below to give you an idea of the church.
Listen to the podcast Jenn heard [here]
Learn more about Redeemer Church D.C. [here]
Learn more about Steven and Tiffany's story [here]
Find out how you can partner with us and support the church [here]
Take a look at this video that explains a little more about the church plant...
