to long

It's confession time:

Typically, when I would read through Paul's letters, I would kind of breeze past the intro part, because I figured that his little intro was really, specifically meant for the people he was writing the letter to, and not to me. So I rationalized that it must not be important for me to read, because I couldn't gain from it...(selfish and ignorant, this is why I need Christ)

But when I was visiting home, I got the chance to get together with a few close friends I used to do Bible study with. And even though we only got to chat for a few hours, I could not believe the amount of encouragement and love I received, and I was completely overwhelmed with a feeling of being connected in a way that goes far beyond being friends. 

And in that moment, I finally was able to understand how Paul was feeling when he said, "how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus." 

In the process of moving out here, TJ and I wrestled with knowing what God wanted us to do (which was move), and knowing that we would have to give up being close to our friends we did Bible study with (which for over a year we really considered our church), my family, and our job security. But we had to be obedient to God. And he has been faithful to us and has given us close spiritual friends, and jobs, and more family, and has shown us how important it is to be obedient to him. 

So I guess what I am trying to say, (very ineloquently) is that God calls us to different paths, and throughout that journey, God will continue to connect us to other members of the body of Christ, so that wherever God calls us, we will always be able to long and pray for those God has given us in that season of our life.  

I think it's beautiful. 

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of his, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending he confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God." ~ Philippians 1:2-11