life change

My family is contemplating a big decision. My wife has a good job. She makes a lot of money and has great benefits. But lately, as our children get older day by day, we are beginning to see just how precious time is.

It all boils down to a simple question, 'what are we living for?' What is important to us? Are we living for this earthly kingdom? Or are we putting away for a future one?

Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage-- to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous.

1 Timothy 6:17-18 MSG

So, as we knowingly choose to trade 65% of our income to improve the lives of our children it seems we are taking an ultimate leap of faith. It is scary, yes. But few things we have ever done have felt so right.

American Dream
Casting Crowns

'Cause he works all day and lies awake at night
He tells them things will get better
It'll just take a little more time
He used to say, "Whoever dies with the most toys wins"
But if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end
I'll take a shack on the rock
Over a castle in the sand

Now he works all day and cries alone at night
It's not getting any better
Looks like he's running out of time

'Cause he worked and he built with his own two hands
And he poured all he had in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are coming crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

This song by Casting Crowns has been running through my mind over and over. We are all building a house in the way we live our daily lives. These things are choices, choices that we will have to answer for later in life. Every time through the song I am struck by the line, "I'll take a shack on a rock over a castel in the sand". Itsn't that where we want to be? Is that the heart of what is driving us to change? I'll take less with Jesus over more on my own. For in the end, when the rain comes and the waters rise, what good will stuff do us?

Pray for us, friends. Pray for courage and strength as we write a new chapter in our lives.