Mmm... Where to start on this one...
So the Clark family is about to embark on a new adventure in our lives... There is so much going through my head right now that I am not sure where to begin... I mean, I'm excited, scared, a bit nervous, thrilled, already growing, learning to trust, leaning further into the arms of our sweet savior what seems to be like every second...
You see... a few months ago my Joey came to me with this outlandish idea that we could find a large house close to our church and move in with the idea of opening it up for community... His thought was that we could be diligently intentional about living life together with people in our church and in our neighborhood... we could invite families over each week for dinner and start a young couples community group in our home... We could host events and simply reach out and get to know people...
The catch...
We would be moving into this large home with another couple from our church...
My first response in all honesty was, "NO WAY!!!" That's to crazy with our MSC and what it all comes down to is that I just don't want to!
But then Joey... my wise, tender Joey... took me out to breakfast and drove me up and down the coast and took the time to walk me through the dreams that the two of us had and still have for our family... He reminded me of all the things that are so dear to our both of our hearts... we have such a passion for missions and community and taking risks that allow us to grow into a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord... And the Lord has been faithful in allowing us to live out those passions...
Since we have had our kids we have gotten comfortable... Comfortable in our (what we consider to be) perfect little North County condo... We love it! We have our own little safe haven... and it has been exactly what we've needed for the past three years... But now it's time for an adventure... It's time to shake things up in our little lives... It's time to remember our passions, and not just talk about them but actually do something about them! It's not the time to pack up and go overseas but that doesn't mean that we can't be intentional here in our home town...
That man of mine knows exactly how to get to my heart!!!
So this opportunity has presented itself... and... well... we're taking it! MOVE IN DAY is in three weeks... we are packing up the house and the fam and beginning the next phase of our lives together... It's a two year commitment... And when that time is up we'll reevaluate and go from there...
*****
I know that to some it sounds crazy.. to others it sounds normal... to others still, it's just hard to think about and hard to comprehend... we (Joey & I included), live in a very private, personal space society... all most of us know is "doing our own thing"... coming home, pulling into our garage, closing the door, and rarely opening ourselves up to our neighbors and others in the body of Chirst... It's what we know... It's what we are comfortable with...
I will be the first to admit that this is going to be a big change for me and my family... there are going to be trials, and moments of feeling awkward and uncomfortable... I am VERY aware that there are many unknowns that lie ahead...
But I am banking on God's Word to carry us through... "Trials produce endurance, which produces character, which produces hope, and hope WILL NOT DISAPPOINT us." (Romans 5) AND... "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." I want to be sharpened... I want to develop endurance and character and hope...
I by no means believe that everyone needs to move into a house with another family to learn these things but at this point we are confident that it is what the Lord is calling us to do...
I am also not saying that I am looking at these next few years as one big trail... but I am saying that by stepping into this next phase of our lives I believe with my whole heart that we are only going to come out stronger... Stronger as a family, and deeper into our relationship with God...
So here we go...
We hope you'll join us as we share our journey with you through our family blog...
Blessing upon Blessing...
Until next time...
The Clark Family :)
So the Clark family is about to embark on a new adventure in our lives... There is so much going through my head right now that I am not sure where to begin... I mean, I'm excited, scared, a bit nervous, thrilled, already growing, learning to trust, leaning further into the arms of our sweet savior what seems to be like every second...
You see... a few months ago my Joey came to me with this outlandish idea that we could find a large house close to our church and move in with the idea of opening it up for community... His thought was that we could be diligently intentional about living life together with people in our church and in our neighborhood... we could invite families over each week for dinner and start a young couples community group in our home... We could host events and simply reach out and get to know people...
The catch...
We would be moving into this large home with another couple from our church...
My first response in all honesty was, "NO WAY!!!" That's to crazy with our MSC and what it all comes down to is that I just don't want to!
But then Joey... my wise, tender Joey... took me out to breakfast and drove me up and down the coast and took the time to walk me through the dreams that the two of us had and still have for our family... He reminded me of all the things that are so dear to our both of our hearts... we have such a passion for missions and community and taking risks that allow us to grow into a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord... And the Lord has been faithful in allowing us to live out those passions...
Since we have had our kids we have gotten comfortable... Comfortable in our (what we consider to be) perfect little North County condo... We love it! We have our own little safe haven... and it has been exactly what we've needed for the past three years... But now it's time for an adventure... It's time to shake things up in our little lives... It's time to remember our passions, and not just talk about them but actually do something about them! It's not the time to pack up and go overseas but that doesn't mean that we can't be intentional here in our home town...
That man of mine knows exactly how to get to my heart!!!
So this opportunity has presented itself... and... well... we're taking it! MOVE IN DAY is in three weeks... we are packing up the house and the fam and beginning the next phase of our lives together... It's a two year commitment... And when that time is up we'll reevaluate and go from there...
*****
I know that to some it sounds crazy.. to others it sounds normal... to others still, it's just hard to think about and hard to comprehend... we (Joey & I included), live in a very private, personal space society... all most of us know is "doing our own thing"... coming home, pulling into our garage, closing the door, and rarely opening ourselves up to our neighbors and others in the body of Chirst... It's what we know... It's what we are comfortable with...
I will be the first to admit that this is going to be a big change for me and my family... there are going to be trials, and moments of feeling awkward and uncomfortable... I am VERY aware that there are many unknowns that lie ahead...
But I am banking on God's Word to carry us through... "Trials produce endurance, which produces character, which produces hope, and hope WILL NOT DISAPPOINT us." (Romans 5) AND... "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." I want to be sharpened... I want to develop endurance and character and hope...
I by no means believe that everyone needs to move into a house with another family to learn these things but at this point we are confident that it is what the Lord is calling us to do...
I am also not saying that I am looking at these next few years as one big trail... but I am saying that by stepping into this next phase of our lives I believe with my whole heart that we are only going to come out stronger... Stronger as a family, and deeper into our relationship with God...
So here we go...
We hope you'll join us as we share our journey with you through our family blog...
Blessing upon Blessing...
Until next time...
The Clark Family :)