Come out of her, My people.

Jeremiah 51:45 (NIV)
“Come out of her, My people!
Run for your lives!
Run from the fierce anger of the LORD.”

   It was February of 2016.  Ben and I were living in a comfortable rental up on Redmond Ridge, a bit east of Seattle.  We had been told by our landlord that there was no possibility of extending our lease (which ended June 22).  We were a part of a church planting effort there on the Ridge that was showing signs of being out of step with Scripture; and we were feeling like we needed to go in a different direction in a couple of areas.  We had listened to a teaching about how to seek God’s answer when at a crossroads and decided that we would fast, pray and worship God on a particular Sunday asking Him for His direction as to what to do.

  On that Sunday, we did indeed fast.  We attended church and were praying.  Ben went to lay down, and I began folding laundry.  An odd phrase came to mind: “Come out of her”.  Ben and I were fasting and praying to hear from the LORD about our particular “fork in the road”, and because I don’t tend to think in those kinds of words, I did a Google search through the Bible to see if there was a Scripture that included that phrase.  Jeremiah 51:45 and Revelation 18:4 both included that specific phrase, and both were written to God’s people about getting out of Babylon.  Revelation 18:4 (NKJV) “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, My people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.”

   Ben got up and he talked about how he had a strong feeling that it was time for us to leave the Seattle area.  God impressed on me to stay quiet and let him talk until he asked me about my thoughts on this issue.  It was a bit of a wait…!  Eventually, Ben paused and asked, “What are your thoughts about all of this?”  I was so grateful he finally asked!  I told him about the phrase (Come out of her) and where it appears in the Bible.  He felt really confirmed in what he had been thinking – and we both agreed strongly that God had given us His answer in answer to our prayers.

   We moved forward in trying to purchase a home in the South Puget Sound area a bit outside of Olympia, Washington.  We put offers on two homes – the first was a “no-go” right away; the second offer proceeded smoothly until the very last moment when the seller backed out at the signing later in May.  We were coming up on the deadline for moving out of the rental home, and at that time there simply was not enough time left for us to find and purchase another property.  The hare-brained idea of moving into an RV popped out of my mouth shortly after the deal fell through… and Ben loved it!  He found an older RV by the next weekend and we purchased it.  We also found a spot in a decent RV park in Centralia, Washington.

   All kinds of crazy circumstances happened the morning after we hooked up in the RV park which led to the RV being nearly totaled and needing 3 weeks of work to fix it.  The insurance agent handled all of it and we found ourselves “homeless” the first week of September as the RV was being repaired.  We’d really never been to the Flathead Valley of Montana, and decided to take the generous bucket of money given to us by the insurance company for housing to go and explore new territory.  We were inaugurated into Montana one hour after we crossed the Montana/Idaho border in Montana’s northwest corner by a collision with a white-tailed deer.  The car sustained $5300 of damage, but was drivable and we limped to our B and B in an area southeast of Bigfork.

   September 11, 2016 there was a memorial for 9/11 and Benghazi.  It was held in an enormous tent just south of Bigfork on a horse farm.  It was truly memorable – love for our country, gratitude for the men and women who serve in our armed forces, and worship of Jesus/God, was on display in a manner we had never seen in all of the years we lived in Seattle.  We returned to our car afterwards and Ben looked over at me and said this, “Deb, in the 29 years that we have been married, I have never asked you to follow me to where I would lead us to live.  I am asking you today to follow me here.”  I agreed.

   There are many, many stories about the time following that decision.  In late July, 2017 after months and months of searching for a home/property, we were still in the RV (which was not holding up very well!).  The RV was not intended for cold weather, and it was an older RV, so everything kept breaking (think no A/C, heating or electricity for the first month of that summer).  I was beginning to worry… winters are long and cold here, and living in a poorly insulated, fragile RV seemed like a very bad idea.  Out of the blue, I received a call from an acquaintance asking if we would be interested in seeing her place, and of course! we were.  We saw it the last week of July, and everything about the transaction fell seamlessly into place.  We moved in on September 1, 2017.

   We have been very blessed in our time in Montana, but I would be lying if I said that I do not miss home.  I loved Seattle and Washington State.  I miss my family – three of our children and their significant others/families are in the Seattle area, and my siblings are in Olympia, Washington (about 90 miles south of Seattle).  There have been times of intense loneliness and of longing to see my loved ones.  I know with great certainty that Ben and I were called out of Washington.  I know with certainty that God has made a place for us here in Bigfork, Montana.  I know that I know that this place at this time is a part of His plan for me/us.  However, I still long for those I love… and I still miss the beauty of western Washington.

   Each morning, I study the Bible using a reading plan that leads me through the entire Bible in a year.  Each day I read a piece of the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs – it has been a habit for around 8 years.  Friday morning, God impressed upon me to search the Bible for His promise for those who leave homes, lands and family at His direction, instead of the study plan I normally follow. 

This was His promise He gave to me Friday morning.

Matthew 19:29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My Name’s sake [in obedience to Him], shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”

   In God’s perfect timing, He prepared me for what was coming later in the day – an intense and hurtful conversation with a family member in which I was told that I am the problem as far as a breakdown in relationship with several relatives.  There were things said that were very wounding, and I am wondering if there is any hope of reconciliation with any of those family members.  My heart hurts…. lots and lots of tears….

I am comforted in the knowledge that God, in His perfect timing, and in His perfect way gave me this His promise.  He knew what was coming and gave me His assurance that He sees all of this, and that He is with me and has been with me no matter the circumstances, no matter the hurt.  I am His child, and I am a part of His family, no matter what happens in my earthly family.  I am loved and cherished – I always have been and always will be – no matter the hurtful messages I may be given by those who say they love me here on earth.

My Father is a good, good Father.  He has provided marvelously for me, and I am so grateful.  He has given me His peace, His provision, His presence, His protection.  I am blessed.