Growing up, I loved to hear my Mom play that song, “Where Could I Go But To The Lord.” In fact, that song is going to be on “Grandma’s Songs II”. I guess this piece is somewhat of a follow-up to last week’s piece, “Vulnerability”.

I’ve always tried to rely solely on the leadership of the Lord about any future plans. I’ve thought I was doing that in this instance. We have to move because of Pat’s health. No choices unless God heals her outright.

I felt led to explore a small town in northern Georgia. Pat liked the little town. We’ve made two trips up there recently to look at 20 or so homes. On this second trip, we looked at a lovely home that seemed to be very close to what we wanted in an ideal home. The first day we visited, Pat had no reactions. The second day, she had a fairly stiff reaction. We even filled out papers to make an offer, but called the next day and told our gung-ho, most excellent realtor that she shouldn’t put them through.

Most of you who regularly read my stuff know that we’ve been down some heavy trails in the past thirteen months while “experts” worked on fixing our sick house. Pat has been ill, probably most of it from living in our moldy home, for more than 15 years.

Now, we’re not sure that this little town is where God wants us to be and He doesn’t seem to be communicating in an overtly positive way. Mostly just closing doors right now! (g) We wonder if God is leading us to connect with an existing ministry somewhere up in the mountains.

What I’m asking from y’all is some of your time spent in intercessory prayer. My computer dictionary defines intercession as: “Entreaty in favor of another, especially a prayer or petition to God in behalf of another.” I see intercession as serious prayer on behalf of another. I may be asking too much of y’all, but Pat and I are desperate to get some guidance from the Lord.

We have several dilemmas. One involves the carpeting. We have a POD unit in our driveway. It holds about half of all our stuff from the house. The remediation company has the other half stored in one of their storage barns. Until we’re close to selling the house and moving, we hate to put the new carpet in and risk damaging it by stacking all these boxes on it. If we put the stuff back in the house on the bare floor, it then has to be moved out again when the carpet goes in. If we don’t put it in the house, we’re facing more than $300 a month in storage fees if we leave our stuff where it is. To Whom can we turn for direction and guidance?

If we can find a healthy existing house, we can move there pretty soon. If not, and we have to build (using a healthy home builder in Atlanta), we’d need to stay here for another 9 – 12 months (not a good option for Pat) or rent a house (IF we could find a healthy rental house near where the Lord wants us to build.) There are a lot more things with which we’re struggling and searching. (g)

So, we’re asking that question, slightly modified, “Where Could We Go But To The Lord?” We’re also asking you, one of His children, to lift us up in serious prayer. It may be the first time you prayed as an intercessor. Hey, GO FOR IT. You’ll be blessed and we’ll be extremely grateful.

We’re NOT looking for pity! (g) Don’t need any cheese ‘cuz we’re not whining! (g) We’re just asking you to stand with us and intercede to the Father on our behalf. Our ministry will go on no matter where He puts us. There will always be hurting people who need and want counseling. The Internet ministry only needs a phone line to connect.

Please let us know that you’re going to commit to pray for us in a serious manner. Please use the “Leave a Reply” box below and write.

SOME SELECTED RESPONSES TO “VUNERABILITY”

– I think that this is probably the first time I’ve replied to one of these, Jerry, but the last sentence of your article in particular struck me. I’ve been waiting too long (I know, I know) to approach a friend about how she has hurt me by hurting another couple of my close friends and I wasn’t quite sure how to go about it. Any suggestions?

– You’re absolutely right about gathering unnecessary stuff and taking it with us. I think that it is so important to take time to listen to God’s word for us. Is it? Come and sit on my lap for a minute, child…you need the refreshment and the encouragement to carry on.

– I can appreciate your moving since it is something I contemplate often since my house is on the market. To be honest, except for losing my wonderful garden, bedroom and storage space, I wouldn’t mind too much changing homes. This has been mine for 30 years.

Some time ago, it occurred to me that ‘things’ just don’t mean as much as they used to. A move would help me clear out stuff that I don’t need or use much and just keep the things that are meaningful and that I really enjoy having. Unfortunately, there would be a lot of stuff I’d need to sell since none of my kids really has the room to accept much of anything else that I might want to give them. That is just as well, I guess.

Our lives are like our homes sometimes, cluttered with useless stuff — seldom used and not appreciated or needed.

– I believe that I tend to hang too long on to things not needed, both physically and spiritually. Forgetting comes with great difficulty at times, while at others I am fully at peace. How grateful I am for a very real grace that helps me to “throw out the garbage.” I find that identifying it as garbage is one of the most important deals in this whole process. Thanks for the good reminder to take stock again, and to pitch those things no longer needed. “Forgetting what is behind I reach for the goal …” Pretty good words!

– AMEN, Jerry. People just don’t communicate anymore. If people were more open to one another I don’t think that there would be as much trouble in relationships. All too often, though, some folks just clam up and keep things inside and never share feelings. This is such a big mistake. Good one!!!

– HOORAY at last. Jerry and Pat are finally able to move back into their home !! B__ and I have been praying that you could be in it soon and we still pray that Pat can be well and able to stay there and once more have her kitchen and all the things she loves, including you, Jerry. Our God is an Awesome God and I know that He has good things in store for you two.

I loved all of the New Inside Out and Moving On. They are so uplifting and I am so grateful to know you, Jerry, and hope that someday we can all four meet somewhere even if for only a few minutes at a Burger King.

– Yeah, you should apologize for taking care of personal business and not having 48 hours in the day!!!

Good story about the excess baggage we pick up and think that we really need. When we leave here and go to be with the Lord, the only thing we take with us is us. Not even our earthly bodies. It reminds me of the story about the farmer who was driving his wagon and team of horses to town. He saw a man walking the same direction. The man had a sack thrown over his shoulder. The sack obviously had a heavy load inside. The farmer stopped and offered the man a ride. The man got into the wagon but kept the sack slung over his shoulder. The farmer looked at the man and said, “When I offered you the ride, that went for the sack, too. You can put it down.”

“Thanks,” said the man, “but my back just wouldn’t feel right without this bag.” Too bad so many of us identify our lives by our baggage. I’m grateful for having moved to a new state. I get to look at my new neighbors through eyes unadulterated by history. I’m reminded daily that that is how God wants us to look at people: by how they are at the moment, not how they were yesterday or five years ago or 25 years ago. Maybe that’s why God changed so many names (Abram, Jacob, Saul): so people can remind themselves of who they are, not who they were.