The Great Move

If you haven't read my newest addition to the blog you can do so here. You will find out when reading the little blurb that the Knight family is making a huge move. I've had some friends recently ask me if I had written anything about what is happening in our family pertaining to us moving. I always seem to reply that, no - I haven't; I'm not sure what to say.

So, I think that it is about time to make this news public.
Aside from just sticking it nonchalantly into my family section of the blog.

If you've been keeping up with our family - you know that God had called Chris to quit his job as a small business banker and to accept a position with our church in Bellevue, Wa. Because of the way that the position worked, we would be raising full support through Great Commission Ministries. I posted the letter that we sent out before going to Orlando for training in mid-July. That trip was amazing; the Lord used it to strengthen and unite us in our marriage and he did some things that I couldn't make public for awhile. Sometimes you can be unsure of details in life and keeping it quiet and waiting on Jesus is the only right thing to do.

So, while we were in Orlando we found out that Chris' technical "boss" was leaving the church to go help out a church plant in sunny southern California. He offered Chris a position there and I strongly encouraged Chris that we needed to stay where we were until we heard differently from Jesus. Because we have had times like this already in our marriage - Chris knew that Jesus would change and soften my heart if we were supposed to go.

That was exactly what happened.

After three days and nights of praying and talking only to Jesus, Chris, and my mom - I knew that God was calling us out of our comfort and into San Diego, California to do full time college ministry. If you know us at all this makes perfect sense. Jesus changed my heart and gave me a love for Him far greater then I had ever experience in college. Jesus captured Chris' heart of stone and gave him a heart of flesh in college. Jesus had us start dating, get engaged, and fall in love in college. Jesus had us share our faith in college. Jesus had us be part of small and large movements of Christians in college.

So it makes complete sense that our ministry would be to those

in college.

A little background.

I'm a Washington girl; born and raised.

I love Seattle, the city skyline, the coffee, the Puget Sound, Pike Place.

I love rain, clouds, storms, and the beautiful summers (not this year) that we get.

I love that my parents, in-laws, friends, community of believers are minutes away.

I love that my dad uses an air conditioner 5 days a year (not every day!)

I love that Siena was born here.

So, just so it's clear.

I'm not thrilled to be going to constant 77degree weather, sun, hot beach days, 22 hours from my family, away from my church, starting over with relationships.

I am thrilled to be answering God's call on my life. To be obedient to his command. To respect and honor my husband. To give everything up, take up my cross, and follow Him. This far surpasses any heartache that I will experience, any loneliness, any sadness. I truly want my moments, days, weeks, months, years to be marked by obedience and faithful pursuit of my Creator. & this is a step in that journey.

With all that said, I am excited. I am nervous & I am a thousand other things as we go through this support raising crazy last Holiday season with our families. But I am thankful - thankful that God has revealed His precious plan for us and grateful that we are able to be used by Him for Him.

Day 26

Jeremiah 32:38 says, "They will be my people, and I will be their God."

How can you be praising Jesus in prayer and thanksgiving?

What can you praise Him for? Write it down and stick in that blessings jar!

Today I am thankful for these two and the life that I have been given that I do not deserve. My baby girl loves that Daddy of hers and loves John Deere!

Day 25.

Pinterest

Take a few moments to reflect on your day.

Did anything out of the ordinary happen or was the day filled with normal tasks?

Sometimes we need to realize that the practical things of life are indeed blessings from our Creator.

Did you have food today?

A glass of clean water?

A roof over your head?

Did you go to work or stay home with your kids?

Were you able to pray out loud to Jesus?

Did you drive anywhere in a car?

Purchase anything in a store?

How has God blessed you today? Think practically, think simply.

If you can't think of anything to be thankful for today - Pray to Jesus and ask him what you should be thankful for & if you still can't, talk to me!

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**If you desire to cultivate a heart of thankfulness & are willing to try it for 31 days (give or take - there is always grace here) - post a comment during any of my blogs that relate to thankfulness.

I will send you a gift at the end to show my thankfulness for you. If you are curious what the JOB is read my post here.

Gracegracegracegracegrace...

Lately I've been plagued with writer's block. I've also been plagued with the enemies lies and confusion when it comes to what I should/can/desire to write about here. This started as a place to share my time with Jesus and other little things along the way. I want to keep that journey going but it is sometimes difficult to do when life is so full of other things.

If you've been around here for awhile, you know that I attempted to do a 31 day Thankfulness stint, oh you know - back in FEBRUARY!!!!!! and have not finished it. We got 23 done. The whole time I talked about grace and how Jesus gives it so freely. Well, I am experiencing and reveling in his grace because it is October and we are still not done. With two moves, one under way in a few months, two trips to both sides of the U.S., and all other things life brings - my blog has definitely taken a back seat.

Even with all that said, I truly want to finish this out. My blessings jar is 3/4 full and I am SO excited for Thanksgiving to read them with my family. So, join me in a few more days (or weeks) of thankfulness. I know your heart will be glad that you did.

Day 24 (more like 240!!)...
Giving thanks for Having Enough

"Living in a land of plenty presents a challenge. Our vision of what is enough is often distorted by a climate of aggressive advertising and conspicuous consumption. We are told that our wants - a new outfit, a nice car, a theater ticket, a vacation - are really our needs. Even though I see the fallacy of this thinking, I still succumb. When I focus my attention on what I think I need, I am less inclined to give thanks for what I have and to be grateful that what I have is enough."

Do you feel inundated with this kind of thinking? I sure do! I see a new style of outfit I want, new boots, a beautiful home, and covet my friends vacations. We are never satisfied. I love her decision to be thankful for what she does have! If we just take a minute to go through what we have and what we have been given we will be blown away by God's blessing in our lives! The bible says that every good and perfect gift is from above. Obviously, he will not give us every material possession that we want... but we need to learn to be thankful for the sweet gifts he gives us everyday.

Source: fitisthenewbeautiful.tumblr.com via Journal on Pinterest

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**If you desire to cultivate a heart of thankfulness & are willing to try it for 31 days (give or take - there is always grace here) - post a comment during any of my blogs that relate to thankfulness.
I will send you a gift at the end to show my thankfulness for you. If you are curious what the JOB is read my post here.

I am

I'm sure you are able to understand how life gets so crazy real fast. Your firstborn turns one. The leaves start changing. The holidays are coming. Your family is now a missionary family...

Well, maybe you don't understand all of that. But I am sure that you understand busyness and that is what we have going on in the Knight family.

Sometimes busyness is selfish, only producing what we desire. Other times I think that the Lord wants us to have full plates if we are hearing from Him and putting Him first. Learning this is sometimes a difficult task. I really desire to be busy for Jesus but I can easily backslide into tasks for myself; forgetting the best things that he has desired that I spend my time doing.

Some examples,
-I love organization but cannot seem to stay organized. I love neat, tidy, picked up spaces - but NOTHING in my life has been able to stay this way. There is a balance between laziness and obsession with order... but how do I find it?
-I've struggled in the past with filling my time up with friends and activities because I want to hide from the work that I should be doing at home - the work that is not so fun. There is a balance between having fun and working at home - how do I figure that out?
-I want to be the super mom - especially when it comes to planning a first birthday for my daughter. There is a balance between not having a celebration and going nutso with every little detail - but what does that mean?
-I want to be an amazing writer but feel so inadequate. There is a balance between desiring 50,000 followers and not even trying - who shows us how to do that??

I think that the answer is to spend time with Jesus. Ask Him these questions. What do you desire with my time Lord? When do you want me to wake up? What do I need to change in my life? How do I live a balanced life? How do I love you with an ever-increasing abundant and joyful love? What I have found is that he will tell you! It may not be verbal but he will definitely show himself to you in His word. He will answer your questions. He will guide your feet. He will pick you up when you fall.

My biggest lesson in these last few weeks is I am/I am not; I'll show you what I mean.

I am not:
-A baker (my treats may not look perfect)
-A party planner (my party may not be featured on pinterest)
-A designer (my clothes and style may not be quality for Real Simple)
-A photographer (my pictures may not ever have amazing quality)
-A graphic artist (my photoshop images may never generate profit)
-A five star chef (my food may never be the best)
-A writer (my blog may never have 50,000 followers)
-A perfect wife (I will still get angry and sin against my husband)
-A patient mama (I will still get frustrated with my beautiful girl)

I AM:
-A child of the most high God
-Saved by Jesus
-Indwelled with the Holy Spirit
-Redeemed from the chains of sin

My challenge is to live in light of who I AM, who God has created me to be. That means I am a Christ follower! If I focus on all the things I am not I will be pushed into despair. No, I am not the best at all those things. But is that what I am defined by? No. I am defined by what Christ did on the cross. That is all that matters.

Will you live in light of your identity in Christ?