Someone e-mailed me with a question after reading my post titled "Summer". The question was kindly worded but still blunt in its nature. "Why, since you hate hot weather, have you lived in the south pretty much all of your life?" Here was my reply."God." Oh, you need more explanation? Okay, I want to stress that God has never whispered in my ear and said, "Live in the South oh mortal, it is thee fields I have planted for you to resideth in . . ." (KJV) I believe, through faith, that God has a plan for where I live along with a plan for the rest of my decisions great and small on this planet and for the world to come. How do I know what that is? Great question.
I believe that God speaks through His Bible, through people who are listening and obeying His voice, through circumstances, through His Holy Spirit, music, nature, and through blue birds with three golden feathers on the top of their head. (Just kidding on that last one.) If I'm listening He can and will use a variety of ways to reveal Himself and His plans. I do believe with all my heart that He guides my steps if I'm obeying and submitting to His authority over my life.
When I became a believer I gave up all rights to my own life and became His possession. What kind of person makes a deal like that you might ask? Jesus paid a far greater price to purchase my life than I can ever imagine. He died for every one of my sins (even though Jesus had never committed any sin) that I have ever committed or will commit. (which is a lot of sin, I was once in a band) Than He sent His Spirit to live in me and give me His strength to help me accomplish His purposes for my life. And He established a home for me in heaven after my work on this planet is done. So if the direction of my life keeps me here in the South, let it be. Because the reason I exist is to serve Him and act as His ambassador on this planet for however long He chooses to let me stay here.
That doesn't mean that I'm stuck in day-to-day slavery, cursing the plan with my name on it since the beginning of time, wishing for plan #25888399499 which would have put me in Denver with 2.6 kids, possibly a job as mayor, and owning a tricked-out snowplow. It also doesn't mean that there aren't times I've requested a change in the marching orders. But the key for me is to daily realize the sacrifice that He made for me, the life of joy and purpose that He wants me to possess, and to most of all realize that He loves me more than I can imagine. (Even more than I love myself which my wife would tell you is pretty hard to imagine.) And to realize that He can do a far better job of painting the picture that will become my life than I can.
Thanks for being patient with my long reply to the question of why I live where I live. And thanks for taking the time to write me with your question. If I have confused you further please give me another chance to either muddy the waters or bury myself in the sand of my own rhetoric."
