Good-bye Florida and Hello Again Colorado!!!!

Have you ever wished you were a super hero?  If you were a super hero which super hero would you want to be and what would be your special power as a super hero?  I've never had any  desire to be a super hero until lately as I wish I had the special power of being in two places at one time!  If you read my last blog you know that Ed and I have been spending some respite time down in Florida and also spending time with Ed's mother and our son.  Our time here in Florida is quickly coming to an end and I feel absolutely torn between Colorado and Florida.  I am excited to get back to Colorado to continue our work with Soaring Wings Ministries, to see our daughter, Meredith, son-in-law and granddaughter and to see our very good friends.  At the same time I know that when we leave Florida we will not see Ed's mother and our son until possibly next winter. 

Even though I have never been a true fictional super hero fan, I have enjoyed seeing some movies with super heroes in them but I am far from being a die hard, fanatical fan of any super hero.  Rather, I have several true life heroes that I look up to as role models.  They are people that have encouraged me and guided me in my Christian walk.  Some of these heroes are Elisabeth Elliot,  Corrie ten Boom, my parents,  my aunts and Billy Graham.  These people are heroes in my life because they dedicated their lives to the service of other people and gave up their own wants and desires to serve Jesus by serving others.  Most of you reading this know that Billy Graham, an American evangelist for most of his life, recently passed away.  In memory of his life a program aired on television called "Billy Graham: An Extraordinary Journey".  It was a fascinating story that told how God used an ordinary farm boy to become a world-renowned evangelist.  Billy Graham traveled the world sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to over 215 million people.   His commitment to sharing the gospel to the world caused him to leave his home and family in Montreat, North Carolina many, many times throughout his life time.  In the television program that aired there were clips that showed Billy Graham saying good by to his wife and children.  He would kiss and hug each one of them good bye and with suitcase in hand he would walk down the road to do the work that God had given him to do.  From clips of his life, Billy Graham shared that saying good bye to his wife, children and home was one of the hardest parts of his ministry and that each time he left, he left with tears in rolling down his cheeks.

So, doing ministry and doing God's work is not easy, even for Billy Graham.  I was so glad that I took the time to watch this television program about Billy Graham.  It was so encouraging and comforting to know that one of my heroes was also human.  He struggled with saying good bye to family and to a place that he loved and yet he did so willingly and without hesitation because of his love and commitment  to serving his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

I am not by any means a world-renowned evangelist, but I do know how hard it is to say good by to home and loved ones and yet, I do so willingly like so many of the true life heroes that serve as my role models because we know who we serve and we know the Bible to be trustworthy and true.  I prayed and asked God to help me resolve  my  conflict of being torn between Florida and Colorado so that I would feel at peace.  As I prayed, God heard my prayer and gave me several  Bible verses to comfort me.  Philippians 4:11 says ""Not that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content".  2 Thessalonians 3:16 says, "Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.  The Lord be with you all!".  I Thessalonians 5:18 says to "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus".  These verses were so comforting to me and assured me that no matter if I was in Colorado, Florida or somewhere else that God was with me and that my comfort and peace comes from Him rather than from my circumstances or location.  and "the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard yours hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:7.

His servant,

Anita Rennells
Wellington, Colorado