"My Jesus, my savior; Lord, there is none like you..." (From Shout to the Lord)

"This is the air I breathe; your Holy presence, living in me...and I am desperate for you." (From This is the Air I Breathe)

"Purify my heart, let me be as gold and precious silver."  (From Refiner's Fire)

Its been several weeks since my very good friends the Handys loaded up their car and headed for North Carolina to begin their lives there.  It was bittersweet for sure. Having to say good bye to those you care deeply about is never easy, but also seeing clearly God's hand in orchestrating this move meant that I knew this was where God wanted them to be.  One morning shortly after they left, I was feeling their absence rather profoundly. During my quiet time, I was reading in 2 Timothy. I have been studying 1 and 2 Timothy for several months now. In 2 Timothy Paul, writing shortly before his death, is encouraging and instructing Timothy about how to carry on the work that Paul began.

"Sure Shimai, you 'heard it from the Lord,' whatever you say, old friend.  Let's just finish cleaning off this altar.  I wish you'd just focus on doing what we know we need to do; our duties!  Why should we ever think beyond that?  The Almighty has enough to worry about without adding our little day-to-day concerns.  Don't you think?"

It really is amazing that God is so patient, so humble, so willing to endure hardship.  Here's the rub though.  You ready? God wants all of us who would follow Him to do the same!

     Oh man, here's the part that hurts.  Jesus' example is just that, an example...to follow!