Warriors Arise: June 12, 2023
Matthew 2:19-21 (NKJV) Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead.” 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
As I read through yesterday's blog before writing today's, there was something I felt unfinished. In this day and age, many children leave home to spread their wings and fly. Many are to go and establish themselves somewhere other than their hometown or even home state and possibly for my oldest daughter, she may be establishing herself in another country. (Currently, she is on the mission field in Tonga until August 7th.)
After graduating from an Iowa school, I went to college in South Carolina. After college I was home for about seven weeks before getting a job as a hotel manager. I had to train in Jacksonville, FL for three months. Then I was given my own hotel in Illinois. It was kind of a sink or swim situation. About a year later, my husband and I started talking which led to a long distance relationship for a year and then another move. He was in Granbury, TX. He was graduating from Seminary; Sum Cum Laude, our kids get their book smarts from him. Following a wonderful time in Granbury, TX, developing the youth and college program at the church he served, we moved back to South Carolina. We were within 20 minutes of his parents. While in South Carolina we were commissioned to start a satellite church for the main campus; we got it established and then returned back to the main campus. After facing down the enemy who sought to take the life of our middle child early, we stood with a host of saints who prayed, petitioning God for her healing. It was a miracle. Fifteen months after being diagnosed with A.L.L. Leukemia she was ringing the bell. It was a hell you wouldn't wish upon your worst enemy. During the battle my husband had to resign from his job. We waiting on the Lord. Within six months we moved to Iowa, because of a job offer. Which has led to us now being twenty minutes from my parents. Scott and I find it a blessing we have been able to live close to both of our parents for several years, even though his lived in South Carolina and mine in Iowa.
There is a sense of returning home and feeling that there might be something unfinished. Maybe a second chance. Joseph was headed back to Nazareth. Would the people there remember Mary being pregnant before marriage? Would they be welcomed back with open arms? Would they be able to tell their story of all that had happened when they had left all those years ago for the census, heading to Bethlehem to be counted? I don't think this was a second chance for Joseph, Mary and Jesus. It was a second chance for the hometown people to fully accept Joseph's decision to take Mary as his wife. It was a second chance for the hometown people to accept Mary as Joseph's wife. It was a second chance for the hometown people to accept Jesus. The choice was Mary's to be a servant of God. The choice was Joseph's to take Mary as his wife. The choice was not the people of Nazareth. The choice was not the priests. The choice was not Mary's parents.
Seldom do we understand the call God has placed on or in another's life. We have to trust God to speak to each one and reveal His plan for their life. We have to pray and believe they will follow God's direction. We will not be standing before God having to answer for their decisions. We will stand before God for our decisions, our judgments upon other, our idle talk, the sharing of our testimony, the things we did to bring glory to God and the number of lives touched because of our witness.
The hometown people of Nazareth, where they ready to receive Joseph, Mary and Jesus without judgment? Could they let the past stay in the past? Could they bless their marriage and child now? Could they see it was good for Mary to carry the baby and not abort him? Could they see it was honorable for Joseph to go through with making Mary his wife? Would anyone be there to welcome them or would they feel estranged in their hometown?
There are many times God calls us to return home, but we do not want to face unresolved issues from our past. We do not want to truly get healing from deep within. We like where we are. I am sure Joseph had a thriving business. He would have to start all over again. He would have to build another home. Maybe the rejection of going home wouldn't be any different than being rejected as a foreigner in Egypt. I wonder what they thought about when it was time to return home? That was a long journey. There would be lots of time to think and possibly the desire to turn around.
But God had said it was time to go home. What about you? Do you have unresolved issues at home? If you knew God was telling you to go home, would you? Are you willing to face the rejection? Are you willing to be a consistent, contributing part of family? Are you willing to restart your business again? Are you willing or does it make you nervous to have been asked the question?
Father, these are questions I had to ask myself when we moved back to my parents. I pray you would continue to grow and develop my relationship with my parents. I am blessed to be here and a part of their lives. I am blessed to have them in my life and investing in my children when they are available. All of those hometown skeletons came out of the wood work after moving back. You brought issues to the surface, scraped them off the top and continue to grow in me. Thank you for the opportunity to be restored, because You brought us back. I pray for counted restoration in my life. Even here, I can grow in my relationship with You and walk in my calling. You are amazing and I stand in awe of You. I will bless Your name in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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