Nomad

On January 28, 2017, I cried out to the Lord in desperation and hopelessness...

"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?!"

I was 30 years old, living at home with my parents, no steady job, flying here and there from Colorado to Africa to Dominican Republic to Arizona... this was definitely not where I thought I'd be at this point in my life. 

Exacting the perfect "we-fie" with the birthday girl

It was my mom's 59th birthday and we went to celebrate with family friends over a lovely dinner out. Thing is, I was once more the 5th wheel to an older crowd. The normal and appropriate questions followed... 

"So, what are you up to now? Any prospect for a job?"

At the time, I cringed at these questions. What was I doing? Will my life ever be acceptable to society's demands?

Two months prior, I had just returned from Namibia where the Lord had instructed me to come alongside the ministry of Genesis Design in writing curriculum, yet was I supposed to be doing more? I had begun substitute teaching at the start of the scholar year at a private Christian school in Orlando, yet I didn't sense I was to return just yet with all my travelings.  I hadn't been given any further instructions from the Lord nor had He released me to move on.

Working on Genesis Design curriculum with Elodie in a Namibian Biltong cafe in November 2016

I've always struggled with feeling like a burden and this certainly had still been the case since  returning from the mission field. As I laid in bed that night, I heard the Lord's response to my cry...

"Jeremiah 33"

I turned to this chapter and began reading...

"...Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD is His name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known..."

Yes, Lord! I'm calling, reveal to me the great and hidden things I do not know!

I continued reading chapter 33 and was greatly encouraged by God's promises to Israel- the restoration of fortunes, the cleansing of guilt, the healing of disease, and the eternal covenant to be brought forth through a Savior.  This was a comforting, edifying, and affirming passage to read before turning in for the night. As I closed my bible, I heard the Lord speak again...

"That's it? You're not going any further?"

His beckoning nudge was so gentle... there was more He had for me to read.  

I read through chapter 34 and continued into chapter 35, and that's when I landed upon God's "great and hidden" answer to my burning question...

In chapter 35, Jeremiah was prompted by the Lord to invite the Rechabites into the house of the Lord and to offer them wine to drink.  No big deal, right?

Wrong.  You see, the Rechabites lived under a vow made by their forefather not to drink wine.  Those of this house respectfully refused Jeremiah's offer in obedience to their family's vow, which, in turn, the Lord used as a lesson to the Israelites of the proper way to honor Him, for they were living in disobedience yet again.

So, where am I getting with this? No, I didn't sense the Lord was rebuking me for drinking wine.  After all, Jesus turned water into wine and we know the best wine is being reserved for the wedding supper of the Lamb!  Yet, what He did speak came through the Rechabites' vow...

"But they answered, 'We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, "You shall not drink wine, nieiher you nor your sons forever. You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or have a vineyard; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.' We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, ourselves, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, and not to build houses to dwell in.  We have no vineyard or field or seed, but we have lived in tents and have obeyed and done all that Jonadab our father commanded us."

God's answer to my cry leapt out of Jeremiah 35 and into my heart.  Was I really reading this?!  My question of whether I should begin establishing my life in Florida, find an apartment, and begin looking for a "normal" job after years on the mission field was answered in Jeremiah 35:7. 

Basically, The Lord flat-out called me a nomad. 

I can't tell you that filled me with warm, fuzzy feelings. It wasn't the sweetest of words I had ever received from the Lord...

We all want security, promise of provision, that all our basic needs will be met.  Our society's way of acquiring this security is through a 9-5 job that puts a roof over our heads and food on our tables. Yet, here I was being told not to "build a house" (rent an apartment),  not "sow seed... [or] plant... a vineyard" (establish roots and make a living), but rather "live in tents" (go from place to place) so that I "may live many days in the land where [I] sojourn" (here we go!).  

Greeeeeaaaaattt... that'll go over well with my parents and basically everyone who asks.

Does this mean I won't have security, the promise of provision, or my basic needs met?  Absolutely not! I've been called into this nomadic season to magnify HIS strong hand of provision and protection towards those who set their hope on Him.

There hasn't been a more fitting word for my 2017.  The Lord was simply preparing me for what was to come.

Missouri... Maryland... Illinois... Texas... West Florida... Georgia... South Florida... FRANCE... ENGLAND... Arizona...Utah... Colorado... East Florida...

And that was just January to June! This summer I remained in Central Florida and it was actually the longest amount of time I spent in one city all year... but even still, those 7 weeks were divided between 3 different houses to care for 6 different dogs!  

In fact, since the beginning of this year, I have not slept in the same bed longer than 2 weeks at a time.  I think that qualifies for modern day "living in tents"!

The last 5 weeks, from August 19th through September 24th, I've traveled from Florida to Texas to California to SINGAPORE and back.  God spoke to my great aunt in May with explicit instructions that we were to be "nomads in Singapore" to do His will and bidding... sounds about right!

We literally traveled all over the city-state, just as the Lord had said... over 140 miles by foot!  I'm still processing this journey and currently asking the Lord how He would have me release, in writing, all that He did in our time there. There is just SO much to share! Be patient... it's coming!

Still, in all my sojourning, I have yet to be in want. I have a good Shepherd who leads me by still waters and in paths of righteousness for His name's sake (Psalm 23).  His name is Jehovah Jireh, my God who provides. He is more than faithful, worthy to be praised, and deserving of my trust in all things.

Y'all...  I have SO much to share! And I have a feeling this nomadic adventure is just getting started...

Stay tuned!