“Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.” -A. A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh)

There is no better quote that embodies my life, my emotions, my thoughts right now. I am so excited about what is to come. I know that no matter what, God is about to do big things. But honestly, I am truly cherishing and loving this waiting time, this anticipation. Right before I am about to eat my coveted jar of honey. This moment.

This post has been prompted by the fact that I am going next week to visit NYC. I am going with 3 dear friends and we are going to explore the city. Two of them have never been and I can't wait to show them the city that has stolen my heart. I get giddy over the thought that this may not be the only time I get to show my friends around the city.

Through this whole process God has been growing me and teaching me so many things. He has been pointing out sin in my life (painful), pushing me to rely totally on Him (comforting), and making me fall in love with the promises in His Word (hopeful). Truly, God has been nothing but faithful to me during this time of transition. I literally can't remember another time in my life where I have been so challenged and pushed in my faith. The process has been painful, agonizing, and many-a-tear have been shed. Yet through it all God has taught me so many valuable lessons.

Reading this may seem like my life has been so terrible-how has this time been sweeter than honey? I have never felt so close to Christ. His goodness. His faithfulness. His hope. God has through His grace given me a new life and I am so excited to show others of this new life. So terrible is not the word. Faithful, gracious, loving are definitely words.

So yes, the future will be amazing. But right now, the moment right before you stick your hand in the jar and eat the honey, this is the time I am treasuring. This is the time that I am growing and learning and falling even more in love with Christ. And I know that God is faithful to not let this be just a moment, a blip in my humdrum life. I know God will continue to grow me and use me.

"A Journey of a Thousand Miles Must Begin With A Single Step"

So my thousand miles has already begun but I know I am barely in to this journey. I am starting this blog as a way for you to keep up with this journey that God is leading me on. This journey is one that is leading me to New York City, to Washington Heights in the upper part of Manhattan. This journey is one that is leading me from the hills of East TN to the busy streets of NYC. This journey is one that only God could have orchestrated, one that has only one compass- Him.

This whole journey started about a year and a half ago when I first started praying about how God would possibly use me after I finished with my 3-year contract at my current job. I was certain that God wanted me to move to some hut in the remote jungles of Africa. And to move to huts, time and preparation are needed. Therefore, I started praying about how exactly all this would come to fruition. And it was in that process that God showed me that He has a completely different plan for me.

During this time of praying and searching, God gave me many signs to let me know that Africa isn't what is in store for me at this time. After prayer and discussion with my accountability partner, she encouraged me to search for other mission opportunities. We looked at the NAMB (North American Mission Board) website, and they were featuring NYC that day. I laughed because to me, being a missionary meant living somewhere you hated, giving up the pleasures of material things, not knowing the language, etc. Never in a million years would God call me to live in a city that my family had come to LOVE over the years. The city my family vacations to. The city that has many sports teams that my family cheers for. The city that is full of culture and life and opportunity that I adored. Never would God call me to somewhere like this. Never.

Wrong. Through much prayer and seeking the wisdom of others in my life, I realized that God is calling me to the city that my heart has loved for many years. God is calling me to minister to the city that my heart yearns for. God has been preparing my heart for this for years. But what would it look like for me to minister to a city like NYC?

The huge focus for NAMB right now is church planting. They are all about living, being, working in a community. Through building community they are urging to plant churches in the cities where Christ is desperately needed. Since I am not a male, not married, and have never been to seminary, I am not necessarily qualified or equipped to start a church. I am however qualified to live in a city, work in a city, live in community in a city, and support a church plant that has already been established in a community.

So that is exactly what I am going to do. I am going to live in the Washington Heights area, work (hopefully) in the Washington Heights area, get to know my neighbors in the Washington Heights area, and go to church in the Washington Heights area. And ALL of this is because of Christ.

I am not one to make a big move like this to a big city, away from my parents, not knowing anyone, taking a huge leap of faith with finances and housing. So all of this is Christ. I am currently in the process of applying/interviewing for a job. There is a certain job that recruiters called me about asking me if they could put my application in for. If it works out, it is TOTALLY a God thing. (I'll let you know more when I find out).

The big thing that God is teaching me in all of this is that He is in control. He knows what is best for us even when it doesn't make sense at the time. He is working all things out to fulfill His ultimate purpose in our lives-to bring Him glory. I pray that through this whole process God is glorified. Even if this is an Abraham-giving-Isaac-as-a-sacrifice type of situation, I pray that I give God all the glory and that I have the faithfulness and willingness of Abraham.

I will close with a quote from one of favorite books. "The will of God is for you and me to give our lives urgently and recklessly to making the gospel and the glory of God known among all peoples, particularly those who have never even heard of Jesus" - David Platt in "Radical"