Wow! It feels so good to be able to write you and tell you that Melissa and I have come to a decision that we both have a great peace about and seems to be the next step that the Lord has for our family. We are moving to Reno, NV. We miss our family very much and are excited about being able to reconnect with a portion of our loved ones after a long time of distance. Our last year and a half of life has had many lessons for both of us and we know that there is still so much more to learn. However, we do thank the Lord for always standing by our side and bringing us to a place where we are moving forward as a family into the next chapter of the Dahir Story. These last 19 days of faith have also been an important time for us. We have had the idea of moving to Reno on our hearts for over a year. You may ask us why we took all this time to seek the Lord and pray if we already knew the answer. Hearing and knowing God’s will for our lives is not about us just doing what we want or what we think is correct. It is about taking and submitting our decisions, our motives, and our desires to the Lord and allowing Him to change and tweak anything that does not fit into His plans or honor Him. Here are a few lessons that we learned over the last few weeks of pressing in to seek direction from the Lord.
#1 Life is what happens while you are waiting for life to happen
This is one of those deep thoughts that came out of the insights of Melissa. During one of her times of thinking about our life and seeking the Lord for our future, she was reminded of the movie “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” Do you remember that one? He spent his whole life thinking that life was going to turn out a certain way and, because of that, focused on his specific and particular goals, finding himself often frustrated by the various interruptions that came his way. However, it turns out that while he was looking in the other direction, his life was touching people and shaping their lives. Towards the end of the movie he was disappointed because he thought that he never amounted to much. He then had the chance to see many of the people all in one room that his life had somehow connected with. His impact on the world around him took place while he was waiting for his life to happen. It is OK to have dreams and goals; however, there is not a dream that should cloud your vision so much that you can’t see the miracles happening every day of your life.
#2 Our emotions will bring us to many places but it is the surrendering of those very emotions that will bring you to the heart of God
Emotions are triggered by so many things and so it is important that, though we decide to pay attention to our emotions, we must not give them the power to control our lives. How we feel about things is simply that. It is how we feel about them right now and, believe it or not, that feeling could change as the wind changes. That is why it is crucial that we anchor our lives to scripture and to a walk with the Lord. That combination of guidance in our lives will keep us from running around in circles and allowing our moments of extreme emotions to rule our day.
#3 Wait. God’s timing will rarely fit into your time table
This part of the equation has not been fun, and yet because we waited and sought God like we have, it gives me a freedom to not second guess the decision we have made. If we would have simply jumped on the first idea we had and assumed it was God speaking to us, I think we would have questioned the “what if’s” for many years. Trust God! Walk forward in His timing and don’t allow those feelings of urgency to push you into a decision.
#4 The Lord will use many situations and people to confirm His purposes
There have been many people in our lives, movies we have watched, songs that we have heard, scripture that we have read, and nudges from the Holy Spirit that have confirmed for us that the next step we are to take is to go to Reno. If we would not have dedicated this time to allow the Lord to confirm this, it would be difficult to walk with confidence into the unknown.
#1 Life is what happens while you are waiting for life to happen
This is one of those deep thoughts that came out of the insights of Melissa. During one of her times of thinking about our life and seeking the Lord for our future, she was reminded of the movie “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” Do you remember that one? He spent his whole life thinking that life was going to turn out a certain way and, because of that, focused on his specific and particular goals, finding himself often frustrated by the various interruptions that came his way. However, it turns out that while he was looking in the other direction, his life was touching people and shaping their lives. Towards the end of the movie he was disappointed because he thought that he never amounted to much. He then had the chance to see many of the people all in one room that his life had somehow connected with. His impact on the world around him took place while he was waiting for his life to happen. It is OK to have dreams and goals; however, there is not a dream that should cloud your vision so much that you can’t see the miracles happening every day of your life.
#2 Our emotions will bring us to many places but it is the surrendering of those very emotions that will bring you to the heart of God
Emotions are triggered by so many things and so it is important that, though we decide to pay attention to our emotions, we must not give them the power to control our lives. How we feel about things is simply that. It is how we feel about them right now and, believe it or not, that feeling could change as the wind changes. That is why it is crucial that we anchor our lives to scripture and to a walk with the Lord. That combination of guidance in our lives will keep us from running around in circles and allowing our moments of extreme emotions to rule our day.
#3 Wait. God’s timing will rarely fit into your time table
This part of the equation has not been fun, and yet because we waited and sought God like we have, it gives me a freedom to not second guess the decision we have made. If we would have simply jumped on the first idea we had and assumed it was God speaking to us, I think we would have questioned the “what if’s” for many years. Trust God! Walk forward in His timing and don’t allow those feelings of urgency to push you into a decision.
#4 The Lord will use many situations and people to confirm His purposes
There have been many people in our lives, movies we have watched, songs that we have heard, scripture that we have read, and nudges from the Holy Spirit that have confirmed for us that the next step we are to take is to go to Reno. If we would not have dedicated this time to allow the Lord to confirm this, it would be difficult to walk with confidence into the unknown.
So here is what we know! Our last Sunday at the church in Virginia is June 28th and we should be in Reno, NV by July 13th. Now these are the plans that we have at this time and though our “19 Days of Faith” are over, this does not mean our daily walking in faith has stopped.
Dear Lord,
Please take these plans that we have and continue to guide us. We lay our past, present, and future in your hands and ask that you use it to glorify you and expand your kingdom. We ask for your strength and wisdom for each step that is ahead. We love you.
Amen
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