Home Is Wherever I'm With You

So as I'm sitting down to write this post, that waywaywayWAY overplayed song by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is pulsing through my mind.

Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is wherever I'm with you
Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is when I'm alone with you

Ha. Now it's in your head too. Let's suffer together for a minute. Sorry I'm not sorry. 

Ok no but really. Going to Hawaii, my dear home, for Thanksgiving was the best thing ever for me. I had a "Your-Life-In-Perspective" Aneurism.

Ok so yeah sure, I was real homesick for the first couple months I was here. Pining for home might even be the appropriate term.  You all know that story.

And I think you've all heard me say that, Hallelujah, Thank you Jesus, after those few months, I feel like myself again. 

I laugh a lot and sing even more. I am so grateful for the family the Lord is establishing around me here.

But something clicked for me while I was back home. Something much deeper than what words can really express. Which is why, naturally, I chose to blog on it. 

As I sat in the quiet of my old living room, sitting with my Bible open and my mom's Keurig coffee in front of me, I began to reflect on all the Lord has done with me in the past few months. A verse began to resonate with me:

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

  

Well. Not a verse for the faint of heart or the fair-weather Christian. As I reflected on my time here the last 4 months, I know that some of my time here will pass through the fire and burn up as hay and stubble. Those months I spent worshiping with a selfish heart, wasting time fulfilling my own desires of my flesh, serving God out of vain conceit. 

But...

I also know, without a doubt, that there have been foundation building moments that will emerge as gold. I know the context of this verse and though I might be running a little far with it, I feel that my personal foundation with the Lord is the one on the altar stone in this picture.

I know my time here is not in vain! As I sat staring at those stupid glorious mountains outside of my window, I knew that I am exactly where I am supposed to be in life. That without a doubt, this is where the Lord has called me. Not to the ocean, or the mountains, or the most relaxed coffee shop job in the world on Oahu. 

But to Fountain Valley ("A Nice Place to Live"). The suburbs. Orange County. And here's the best part--I couldn't wait to come back. I was so full of joy at the thought of returning to be with my Circles family. To be back in school of worship. To be back home. 

As I sat thinking of the GOOD things He has done, each of you came to my mind. What a good gift (or 30 gifts i should say) He's given me! 

What an amazing chance to do His kingdom work! 

What an amazing thing to make my home in Christ. 

Now I get it, albeit in a different way than those silly Magnetic Zeros, but I get it...

Home is wherever I'm with You.