Seasons

I love the fall!  Just love it!!!  I think a lot of the reason  I love it so much is because my dad did when I was growing up.  He used to take us to all the seasonal activities and they soon became TRADITION to our family. 

I have started the same thing with our children.  I don't know if it is a good thing or not...Parker asked me the other day what kind of activities I had planned for trick or treating with our friends.  I giggled and said, "I don't know what do you think we should do?"  He said quite frankly, "I was thinking that we could maybe bake some cookies and decorated them, watch The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, and maybe make a haunted house in our bonus room."

He definitely is becoming like his mommy!!  He loves to entertain and plan for company.  I love that about him!  :)

This time of year brings about many changes.  I love seeing the colors of the leaves changing.  It is so amazingly beautiful.  I didn't see this growing up.  I grew up in the flat land of Lubbock, Texas, where every house had one tree in the back yard and one tree in the front yard (planted, not natural).  I don't know what kind of trees they were but they didn't change colors like the ones I see in Tennessee. 

Every time I see the trees becoming more and more vibrant with color it reminds me of my own journey with the Lord.  This is a hard season, but it is for my good.  I am being transformed more and more into HIS image. 

It reminds me of a song by Nichole Nordeman, Every Season.

And even when the trees have just surrendered



To the harvest time


Forfeiting their leaves in late September


And sending us inside


Still I notice You when change begins


And I am braced for colder winds


I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come


You are autumn

To Listen to it, click here


I absolutely love this song, and have since the first time I heard it.  When I first heard it I was in the season of caring for my sick mother who came to live with us.  She has since passed (over 2 years ago) and I definitely have gone through "seasons"  since then.  But what I am so in awe over is.....the Lord's ability to sustain me through each season.  Through each season, He never changes...He never leaves me!!!

The omnipresence of God is so comforting!  His provision and protection through being ever-present blows my mind!!

I have grown to know my precious Lord Jesus in such new and different ways with each season.  I have grown to see Him as so much more than a ticket to heaven.  He is my covenant partner and I long to bring glory to HIM in and through all that I do and say.

Today, I am just reflecting on HIS CHARACTER and all he has done for me as I gaze at His marvelous creation!

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. ~2 Corinthians 3:18

~Kerry

A New Season in Life!

"My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit."  ~Jeremiah 2:11

Definitely a new season for the White household.  Through God's grace, we have been provided a place to stay while we continue to pursue ministry with college students at UT.

I started this post with this particular verse because even though I am VERY grateful for a place to transition into ministry, I am grieving leaving our current residence.   Even though we know 100% that God was leading us to sell it...it is still a very hard transition.  I am trying so hard to not make it about "status" or "comfort."  But reality is...I still struggle with those at times. 

But the biggest hardship is "change."  I never really liked it but was always up for it.  But what I am realizing now is that with children involved it makes it even harder.  I start to doubt, thinking..."God, are we really hearing YOU?  You know we got a lot on the line here?"  And in those moments I want to settle for "comfort." 

Let me explain.  One evening before bedtime I curled up in bed with Parker because he was having a very hard day.  One of those where you see a 7 year old acting like a 2 year old.  So, I asked him if there was anything bothering him.  He buried his head in my shoulder and just started to cry uncontrollably.  Then he said, "I don't want to move.  I want to stay in this house." 

Now I know that he is just a 7 year old and he doesn't make family decisions.  But...it broke my heart.  I don't like to see my children hurting. 

Then it reminded me of when I was 11 years old.  I can vividly remember my mother telling me that she was going to be moving to a town 2 hours away for her job.  She told me that it would be for just 1 year.  She gave some complicated reason why she had to go for her job.  I can remember the emotions, the hurt, the lump in my throat and the pain in my stomach thinking of not having my mom around. 

And then when she finally did it.  Oh, the pain!!  The nights of crying myself to sleep.  The days at school feeling lonely and helpless.

And in that moment of God reminding me of my past, He also gave me joy in knowing that our family will be TOGETHER.  His sweet voice whispered in my ear, "Trust me.  All things work together for your good.  This is what is right and perfect for your FAMILY--to stay together and pursue ME!"

So, as we transition into this exciting season in our lives, my prayer is that we would not "exchange our glory for that which does not profit."  It doesn't matter where we are as long as we are moving towards our precious Lord and pursuing Him as a family.  He will take care of the rest.

More to come on this!  :)

~Kerry