The Bancrofts Make a MOVE

Great news. Dad got a job managing another Sam Goody store. He recently was offered the Sam Goody store in Farmington New Mexico. I'm pleased to say Farmington is a short 7 hour drive for us...on a very scenic, twisty road :) .

CONGRATULATIONS Mom and Dad.

Happiness vs True Joy

I have just started reading Shattered Dreams by Larry Crabb. In his book Dr. Crabb talks about why God sometimes has to shatter some of our life's dreams in order to give us what only He knows is best for us. I came across this passage in the chapter called the Rhythm Of Hope.

Happy people do not love well. Joyful people do. That's why
happiness, the pleasant feelings that pleasant circumstances generate, must be
taken away in order to be replaced by joy. Happy people rarely look for joy.
They're quite content with what they have. The foundation of their life consists
of the blessings they enjoy. In His severe mercy, God takes away the good to create an appetite for the better.
God's best is only available to those who sacrifice, or who are
willing to sacrifice, the merely good. If we are satisfied with
good health, responsible children, enjoyable marriages, close friendships,
interesting jobs, and successful ministries, we will never hunger for God's best...we will never worship. I've come to believe that only
broken people truly worship. Unbroken people -- happy folks who enjoy their
blessings more than the Blesser -- say thanks to God the way a shopper thanks a
clerk.

This is me most of the time. I waste so much time seeking my best -- my best plans, my best dreams, my best comfort. The vast majority of my waking hours are spent dwelling on short term comfort instead of eternal joy. Thank God for His patience. I hope I can learn to truly thank Him for loving me so well that He can endure the pain of giving me what I NEED as opposed to what I WANT.

Be Still

In the midst of life's busyness and trials, I think I'm finally learning to just be still and experience each moment as it comes, trusting that God knows what he's doing. . . In the past, my typical reactions to the stresses of life have been to shut down emotionally or to stop interacting and connecting with people for a while. Sometimes I would even withdraw from God. But lately I've just been able to feel and to experience the different emotions that trials bring, but not become overwhelmed by them. Throughout the tough times I've still been able to talk to God and enjoy people and life's simple pleasures. This was all so new to me that for a while I thought something was wrong with me. Then I began to realize that this was how God had wanted me to react to life all along. Once I figured this out, I felt at peace. Here are some verses that have helped me see why it's good to just be still. . .

I Samuel 12:16
Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!

Zechariah 2:13
Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

Psalm 37:7
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. . .

Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 62:1,5
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

ScRaMbLiNg

I keep forgetting something about God. While He is infinitely more concerned with my well-being than I am, He's considerably less worried about it. God is not worried about whether or not I reach my ultimate goals. My sights have been set for far too long on the end of that five step plan, whereas, His have been on how close we'll get during the ride. My seeking Him is way more important than my knowing exactly which path to take and when.

Facing my humanity squarely grants me the freedom to quit pretending I have it all together. I do not have to have the answers. I don't even have to have the right questions at this point. What I do have is closeness with One whose strength doesn't waver, whose sense of direction is never off and whose grace is big enough to cover each and every fumbling step along the way.

I ran across this article on the Relevant website. This article pretty much sums up where I am in my struggle to draw close to God. I get too wrapped up in notions of "getting it right" or "doing His will" and often forget that what he really wants is for me just to come as I am...Screwed up, imperfect, and confused...and desperately seeking His closeness.

God, help me to realize that I desire you more that anything else.