Home for Christmas - Adapting to Change

Wow, it is hard to believe we have been serving in Asia for three years now.  All the stress and adjustment of settling into a new culture is far behind us, little more than a distant memory.  Or is it?

Truth be told, we are about to have to do it all over again, but in reverse.  Our first term in the field is ending, and we will be back in the States for six months as we look to get all our ducks in a row for returning while spending some time with family and friends, speaking with churches about missions work, promoting my Christian Fantasy Adventure novels which just came out (links below), and not quite having time to get settled before turning back around and returning to Asia (Lord willing).

So what are some of the things I am looking forward to and what are some things I am dreading?

Looking forward to:
--Spending time with family and friends we haven't seen in three years
--Eating western food and enjoying eggnog, gingerbread cookies, and Starbucks!
--Praying for a chance to eat at Joe's Crab Shack
--Not being stared at like I have two heads everywhere I go. I'll look like everyone else.
--Signing my books for people who have bought them and supported me in my writing
--Worshiping with other like-minded believers...in English (yay!)

Dreading:
--Selling off all our stuff (again) before we leave Asia
--The long, grueling journey back home (which will include an overnight stay in Detroit airport)
--How badly my Chinese language is going to deteriorate during our time in the States
--Missing the people here and being away from the work God has called us to
--Not being able to get some of my favorite Chinese foods

All in all it will be a bittersweet time of trusting in and waiting upon the Lord.  There are still a number of things that will have to happen in order for us to turnaround and return to Asia in June 2014 as we hope, but we know it is all in God's hands and we trust Him with the results.

In a lesson I taught last night, there were two verses that I have read probably a hundred times, but that really stood out to me:

After Gabriel tells Mary that she will bear a child, conceived by the Holy Spirit, he assures her

Luke 1:37 "For nothing will be impossible with God."

If in our Christian walk we didn't get ANYTHING else but that one concept, it would radically change our lives forever.  We spend so much time worrying, anguishing, striving to use our own strength to engineer all the details of our lives, when all the while, the One who spoke the universe into existence with just His words, knows us, knows our needs, and knows His plans for us.

The other side of the coin is Mary's response.

Luke 1:38 "And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her."

God is able to help us.  He is willing to help us.  The question is, are we willing to let go, to cease striving, and step back to let Him help us?  God isn't going to forcibly wrest our troubles from us.  We have to be willing to go and lay them at the foot of the cross.  As long as we keep them locked tightly in our fist, we trap ourselves in our own faithlessness, refusing to trust God with the resolution. 

This is not to say that every resolution will be easy, or that it will always turn out roses.  But God means good for us, and even when things are tough, or we endure trials, we should not pray for God to remove them, but rather ask for the strength to weather them and the openness of heart to learn what God intends to teach us through them.  If we learn this, then we are well prepared to adapt to any change that comes in our life, be it a change of location, a change of jobs, a change of family situation, or whatever it may be.  The secret to adapting to change is truly grasping the concept that nothing is impossible with God, and having the right response to that concept.  It is the response of humble obedience and trust.

May the Lord bless you this Thanksgiving, and bring you a wonderful and joyous Christmas.

And if you are looking for some Christmas gifts for the avid readers in your family, my Christian Fantasy Adventure novels are now available for order in paperback and ebook format directly from my publisher, Tate Publishing.  Here are the links:

Fool's Errand:  Chadash Chronicles Book One

https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-62902-869-9

Mystic's  Mayhem:  Chadash Chronicles Book Two

https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-62902-870-5

I also invite you all to "like" my Facebook author page here:

https://www.facebook.com/DavidGlennJohnson 

By His Grace and with our love,

David, Amy and Ariel in Asia