Over the years...

Having just purchased our tickets yesterday I have been in a reflective mood. I warn you that this season in our lives will probably produce many a reflective moment so if I find time to write it will probably carry this theme.
This spring marks our seventh year in Croatia, and my tenth in Europe. Looking back I can still see myself embarking on that new, exciting adventure of Bible College in Europe. Just barely eighteen, I wonder if my parents had known that Europe would steal my heart away for the next decade would still have allowed me to go? I remember my first trip to Cakovec, Croatia; driving down from Austria through Slovenia, seeing the beautiful mountains, rivers and lakes, picturesque little villages with geraniums adorning every house, and thinking that it was easy to see how these were the places that fairy tales were written. However lovely it was, it was the poverty of souls that made the lasting impact. From the gypsy villages in Serbia, to the splendor of palaces in Spain, my heart was forever altered by the knowledge that while I had a treasure of wealth in the salvation and knowledge of my Savior, there was a world dying apart from Him.
I did not set out with the noble ambitions of being a missionary. I still had my own vision of what I thought my life would be, but as my eyes were opened to a lost world so was my heart. There were many things that brought me to the place of surrendering to the Father's will, looking back I think it's funny that I thought I could plan better than Him.
I wouldn't trade these last ten years for anything. Not only did the Lord graciously bring me the perfect man to share my life with, and then bless me with four amazing little children, He also gave me the opportunity to learn His character. It is one thing to know of God, it is quite another to know Him. Through seasons of joy, through seasons of sorrow we have been shown more intimately His character.
As we step forward in faith to this new season the Lord is calling us to there are many things that are uncertain. however the grace and faithfulness of our heavenly Father remains the same. Where we will live, what we will do are questions that we would love to have answers to, but from past experience we can rest in the knowledge that sometimes we don't have to see the full picture. While there are pieces missing that might seem irresponsible to some, it is in the times where details are obscure that we tend to press into the comforting presence of Jesus, what a blessing to remember that our provision is dependent on Him.