copyright(c)2020 Daneille Gray Snowden
2020
TRANSITIONS - THE JOURNEY OF SERVING
from Daneille Gray Snowden
My friend; I want to encourage you to be able to courageously embrace the transitions in your life. Some are easy aren't they; such as new house or car? Others are not; like a great loss, failures, closed doors and ended relationships are all a part of transitions in life. The great joys, and deep sorrows are tools that shape us, as we are 'forged' (in the fire) to be placed onto yet another track to travel-on in life.
Let's begin just with a simple reminder of what transition is; I think regardless of our education and years of wisdom, it is good to go back to the basics.
a musical modulation: ♪
"Modulation is the essential part of the art. Without it there is little music, for a piece derives its true beauty not from the large number of fixed modes which it embraces but rather from the subtle fabric of its modulation."
— Charles-Henri Blainville (1767)
"an abrupt change in energy state or level (as of an atomic nucleus or a molecule) usually accompanied by loss or gain of a single quantum of energy..." --Merriam Webster
As any of us walk through life, we begin with great aspirations, don't we?
In any career, including missions (as missionaries) we take each step 'required' of us, believing then it will then fling open the obvious next step that was 'PLANNED!'
I believe when God created each of us; He placed a need to live out His Purpose for us personally. Thus, the 'NEED' to fulfill this is so deep and drives us to continue to move forward.
My husband in high school was a Cross Country Runner. There were meets in different locations across the state. They all were quite different. Did he run from one place to the other? Of course not! He had to rest, be transported, trained and even re-think his strategy.
WOW! Think about it; life has taken many turns with ups and downs.
Yet, it is beautiful if we allow it to be.
We have traveled the United States and South Africa (Mozambique, South Africa & Swaziland) plus, Brad has traveled in Europe as I have in India & Jamaica. If it all was the same simple path; where would the beauty be? I love the mountains (even though driving in them can be a little on the 'shaky' side). There are many turns but beautiful scenery.
This Musical Modulation (transition) will also bring great HARMONY in our life with our God as He unites us with others who not only need to know Him as their Lord, but ones we can serve together to increase God's Kingdom! Together, all flowing beautifully, as ONE drawing others to Jesus.
HARMONY AS ONE!
John 17:23 "I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
In TRANSITIONS; one of the many things I have learned was what I thought was essential for happiness, success and needed to attain for my goals, were no longer needed for this new time of change.
Perhaps yes, equipment was needed to scale some of the mountains of my life. Yet, not so much when I am needing to only swim in the great oceans. Cool, comfortable clothing is great in the tropics, but in the brutal winters of Northern Countries -give me a thick, feather-down coat!
Philippians 3:7 Paul said: "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ."
This is a man that definitely walked the missionary journey of transitions!
v. 8-16 says: "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but
I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Following Paul’s Example
15 "All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained."
Dear Ones; study this passage. Dissect it! Tare it apart and see where Paul is coming from, where he went and then ended.
Life is more than 'THINGS' & 'POSITIONS' - trust me! v.15 said those who are mature; 'take such a view of things.' Let us have this 'MIND SET!'
The TRANSITIONS will mean LOSS! Yet, we gain everything because we GAIN KNOWING JESUS! We gain accomplishing HIS WILL, IN HIS WAY AND IN HIS TIME!
The Lord has told me over and over again as I have dealt with a great share of heart break and loss; to just 'FALL IN LOVE WITH ME' - Daneille; 'KNOW ME DEEPER!'
As I do, the journey goes down paths to the most amazing places and people.
We are yet in another TRANSITION in our life as we move from being 'field-missionaries' to 'itinerant missionaries' (for awhile); looking into different places to minister in Africa and India. Pray as we are believing the Lord to fling open this door and use us accordingly.
We are 'letting-go' of our methodology and just walking through the paths God has brought us to. It's definitely not easy; but rewarding.
How about you, what new place of TRANSITION has God led you to? Ask God to give you His vision in this; as you do, your peace will increase. Anticipation and hope will bubble up in your spirit. Your feet will begin to move again!
GO & RUN YOUR RACE!
