Adrian Plass has one of those amazing and soothing accents when he speaks. On City of Gold years ago, he read this in his British accent with wonderful dramatic pauses:

“When I’m in heaven, tell me their will be kites to fly. The kind they say you can control, although, I never did for long. The kind that spin and spin and spin and spin then sulk and dive and die and rise again and spin again and dive and die and rise up yet again… I love those kites. When I’m in heaven, tell me their will be seasons when the colors fly, poppies splashing flame through dying yellow, living green, and autumns burning sadness that has always made me cry for things that have to end, for winter fires that blaze like captive suns, but look so cold when morning comes. I do love the way the seasons change. When I’m in heaven, tell me there will be peace at last. That in some meadow filled with sunshine, filled with buttercups, and filled with friends. You will… chew a straw and fill us in on how things really are. And if there is some harm in laying earthly hope at heavens door, or in this saying so... well… have mercy on my foolishness, dear Lord. I love this world you made-it’s all I know…”

I don’t know if you have ever questioned or feared about the “next chapter” in your life. I actually take comfort in the upcoming chapters in mine, and one day-OH one day to be in heaven with Jesus. The simplicity and whimsical human nature meeting with the divine creator…sure gives me chills to think about it.

Have you ever wrestled with change in your life? I sure have. I wonder what goes through a baby’s mind as they leave the comfort of the womb, into a world filled with new senses. Usually they come in to the world screaming-so maybe there is some fear involved :-). But look at what God has created for that little baby- a WHOLE new world, full of all sorts of new things to experience… after this “life” experience-would you want to be back in a dark womb-smelling nothing, feeling nothing? God made change to thrill us, fill our minds with hope, and allow us to experience a whole new set of “things”. Even if we do not know what will happen after that change-for ourselves or those around us-it should be EXCITING.

It seems all too often, that we don’t accept or like change-but ponder on this; if nothing changes-how can you best serve your Father? If nothing changes-what is your purpose? If nothing changes-can you be who He designed you to be? I understand-and all too often get caught up in resisting change…and find myself saying…” have mercy on my foolishness, dear Lord. I love this world you made-it’s all I know…”

This same hope can be breathed into all of those around us. How you handle change can determine how those around you handle that change and other changes in their life.

Are you stagnating? Is it time for a change in your life? I will say this- sometimes it is VERY hard, but God knows how to refine you, knows how to humble us and build us back up to be even BETTER…for Him and His service… EMBRACE it if you can-and look forward to the other side…just wait till you can say-I NEVER want to go back to____________(and you fill in the blank)

Our change is coming, and God has started “refining”… it is tough, but HE is SOOOO good, and has a new “us” to reveal as He prepares us to serve Him in Africa.

Psalm 55:19 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁹God will hear and humble them, even He Who abides of old--Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!--because in them there has been no change [of heart], and they do not fear, revere, and worship God.