New Assignments

My return to the online cyberspace may not be a big surprise to many of you… But it was to me… Hummm… well… not really, because besides trying to get settled in my new home state of Tennessee, I have been secretly working on a brand-new blog with a somewhat familiar name but with a new theme and direction that will flow in sync with this unfamiliar but yet exciting NEW SEASON of my life!

I won’t tell you much about it here or in the next few posts, except with some teases and the hope to have the initial blog site up by the beginning of the new year!  Eventually the blog site will include study notes and more… and intertwine with my lifelong passion for black and white photography. 

To kick-start my desire to further explore my love for writing, photography and ministry, I even purchased a new laptop within weeks of my arrival in my new home here in Mt Juliet, in middle Tennessee… and I’m still learning the use of the new software, upgraded operating system (my old computer was outdated and not supported anymore!) and all the unfamiliar bells and whistles that come with the new model and brand.  But, I am also enjoying having my oldest daughter and her computer genius engineer husband just down the hill, within walking distance for my faithful pooch Fiver and I in our apartment complex.  And my older son and his family only live about 5 to 10 minutes away as well.

As it turns out, my apartment is a fair amount smaller than I thought it would be.  So… moving in and getting settled turned out to be a much longer and difficult scenario than in past moves.  Suffice to say that the majority of my furniture and boxes of ‘stuff’ reside in a storage unit about 15 minutes from my new residence. 

But I really can’t complain, for once I got it all figured out… my third-floor apartment in the building at the top of the hill in the nicely appointed complex, is actually quite livable.  I even have a pleasant view of the surrounding area of the more country area of Mt Juliet and the smaller town of Lebanon in the distance to the southeast of my balcony.  Oh… and did I mention rolling hills and small mountains on the edge of the horizon?  That alone was worth ALL the time and effort I put into this move!

I must say though, it is really good to be back in the real South again.  As I experience Tennessee and its people, I find the recollections of my past tend to bypass the six years in Oklahoma and slide right back to our special time in North Carolina.  In fact, it’s hard not to as the accents, stores, history and overall feel of the two states are almost inseparable!

Before I sign off, I just wanted to mention one point that jumped off the page at me as I started re-reading the Christmas story yesterday… beginning with Luke chapter one.  I quickly caught on to the undergirding command that went with both the assignments that the angel Gabriel brought from God to the priest Zacharias and then to the young teenage Mary.  From the very beginning he set the mood as he seemed to command the atmosphere in the room, looked them straight in the eyes and said “Don’t be afraid!”  (Luke 1:13 & 30 – God’s Word ©)

And I immediately caught on and understood what the Lord was trying to say to me, here in Tennessee a few thousand years later… and maybe to you as well, wherever you may live and in the midst of any situation that you might find yourself in.

Simply stated, “Don’t Be Afraid!”

I moved here to Tennessee with the heart-felt understanding that God had a NEW ASSIGNMENT for me.  It’s in a brand-new location, in a place that for the first time in almost 50 years, my late, beloved wife and I have not nor will not form memories together as covenant life and ministry partners.  In some respects, you could say that for the first time since my early high school years… I’m on my own again.  But not really, as I have our very supportive, older two children and their families close by and they have repeatedly let me know that they are available to help me with any assistance I may need.

So yea, It could be very scary for me… and I would be amiss if I was to say that I haven’t been tempted to participate in a pity party or two… but inside I am assured, as with every other direction or leading that the Lord has given me throughout my life… that this NEW ASSIGNMENT from HIM for me, late in life, comes with HIS full array of support, strength, wisdom,  and GRACE to accomplish whatever HE has for me to do here in The Volunteer State.  Therefore, Gabriel’s words,

“Don’t Be Afraid!”

Ring loud in my ears… and have (everyday) since we arrived early in the morning on the 29^th of August.

So, my closing thought is that we, most likely, will all be faced with the possibilities of NEW ASSIGNMENTS as this year comes to an end and a fresh new one is knocking on our front doors.  The question I leave you with is, “How are you going to answer that knock?”  Will it be with the joyful EXPECTATION of God’s constant supply and steady hand…  or… will you yield to the temptation to NOT answer that familiar knock and give into fear?

Like with Zacharias and Mary, God wouldn’t be giving you and me NEW ASSIGNMENTS if HE didn’t think that we could handle them!  So therefore, I think it best in this wonderful season of giving, to listen to the angel’s sound advice and “Don’t Be Afraid!”

Enjoy all your Christmas season events (I’ve been thoroughly enjoying one of my granddaughter’s high school plays and choir concerts – Oooh and the memories they’ve brought to mind)  Remember also, to keep up and pass on your personal joy and…

Stay tuned as there is more great new things to come!