Choose to be Transformed

(written August 2009)

I AM PACKING UP to leave a place that is very dear to my heart today. Our family moved to Lake Arrowhead, Ca about three years ago. When we moved here, we did it simply because we felt drawn ... "called by God," even.

WHEN I CAME TO the mountain, I had no real vision of what I would find here or do. I just knew I was supposed to come. Three years later, I realize that I have been completely transformed here. I am different in so many ways; I am new.

On this mountain, I have drawn near to the heart of God. I have seen His goodness and His glory. I have caught a vision that I could never have seen had I not come. I have glimpsed something truly beautiful here in the company of beautiful women. In this place, God has revealed to me my calling as a speaker and a writer; He has shown me a clear vison and given me a very specific message for the women and girls of this generation. And by surrounding me with women whose hearts are filled with service and sacrifice, He has unearthed for me what it is to be truly beautiful in His eyes.

I wrote my book here. I saw the potential of its impact here. I discovered my place in the Kingdom here. I broke free here. I faced the pain of my past here. I healed here. On this mountain, I grew into who I now know I am. So it is painful to leave. My heart is tearing. It reminds me of the time that Jesus brought Peter up to the mountain, and Peter wanted to build a house for Jesus up there and stay! And Jesus laughed at him, basically saying, now that you have seen my glory, we are going to go down the mountain and share it with the world.

Yet we are not saying goodbye. We are taking the beauty with us in our hearts. I will carry all that I learned here into this next chapter. As I pack my final boxes and put one foot in front of the other, I know with all my heart that Jesus brought me here to show me more of Himself, and that He now walks with me as I follow the narrow path. When it's hard, He will carry me. And I truly believe He will continue to show me His goodness and faithfulness in new and exciting ways.

Have you been to the mountain lately? Have you gone some place to see God more clearly? Have you sat still and glimsped His beauty? Have you looked for him in the rustle of the leaves and the flutter of hummingbirds? Have you sat at His feet or cried in His lap? Have you set your face to the sun and said, "Show me what it is to know you! Shine your face upon me and make a me a light in the world ...."

When we catch a vision, we are to take it down the mountain and to the world. We should be grateful for the times of solace, but also carry what we learned wherever we go. May the children of God seek His face and become so radiant, like Moses, with His goodness, that when we go down the mountain .... people see Him in us.

With great love,
Jen