Settlin' down

"'Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.'" Jeremiah 29:5-7

After a couple of months of being in Paris, the excitement of living in a new city wore off, and I began to miss Oregon. I missed my family, my friends, my church family, my co-workers, and I missed the passion I had for my job working with kids. Even though it was to Paris, it felt unfair that the Lord would call me away from Grants Pass. That's where my heart was, that's where I was doing ministry. God was doing cool things in my hometown and I go to be a part of those things. Now why did I find myself in a huge city with no friends, no church family, no where I was plugging into or serving. Well, I didn't find out why until the Lord gave me these verses (above) and began to let them sink in and live them out.

Though I am a very open person and am usually always opening myself up to new friendships, I was holding back those first couple of months in Paris. I didn't want to let go of my loved-ones back in the States, I didn't want to lose the passion I had for working at the Boys and Girls Club. I just wanted to be there for a year, take care of the kids, learn french, then go back home. But that is not what these verses in Jeremiah were telling me to do, and that's not what God had in mind for me to do. He was calling me to let go of the burden I felt for the work I was doing back home, knock down the wall I had put in front of my heart, and accept the new people He was bringing into my life.

So I did it! I started attending the American Church in Paris, I got involved with the youth group and worship team there. I was intentional about my relationships at french school, at church, the kids' music school and everywhere I went really. I started praying for the city of Paris. And eventually it happened, I had a new burden for a new city, a new passion for a new work, and a new love for my new friends. It was amazing! I got to be a part of the cool things the Lord was doing in Paris. And before I knew it, I found myself going back for another year. This 2nd year was amazing also. I was more comfortable going back and more eager to jump into my Paris life again. Were I to recount to you all the things the Lord did, I would be writing this blog forever. I saw Him change peoples' hearts of stone, I saw Him heal peoples' hurts and hang-ups, soften peoples' rough exterior, I had a new boldness to talk about Jesus, I was challenged to grow in my own walk with the Lord, I saw Him work in my friends' lives, and the list could go on. God showed up! (or more accurately, I showed up and was able to be a part of what God was already doing)

I was there, I was really there! I was blooming where I was planted. It was an exciting time. And then the Lord called me back home. Leaving was a hard thing to do. I felt it unfair, once again, of God to pull me away from a place where my passion, my prayers, and my love was. I began to regret my decision to follow the words in Jeremiah and the call to settle down. I felt it was all in vain. I was pretty heart-broken to be perfectly honest. Then the Lord did a cool thing. On my last Sunday with the youth group, the kids and staff encouraged and build me up with words of appreciation. I was able to hear how the Lord was at work through me. (well, really He could have done it without me, but I felt honored to be able to help) And then they all prayed for me, and I couldn't help it, I cried. I cried because, I was able to experience one of those rare moments when you get to see the "why" response to things we question in life. So there was a purpose in the short 2 years I was in Paris. My heart was so full and my cup was definitely running over.

I will always have a soft spot in my heart for that youth group in Paris. I will always remember how God used them to prepare my heart for the new path He was leading me on back to Grants Pass. So in conclusion I will say, "Build houses, settle down, marry, increase in number, pray for and seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which God has called you to. No matter the trial, no matter the season, no matter the environment you currently find yourself in, seek God, seek His Kingdom, and I promise if you seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him, and if you seek first His Kingdom, all the things you needed will added unto you."