When life feels settled

In my last post (quite awhile ago!), I mentioned we've been busy with lots of holiday visiting. We're back in Austin now, but here are a few highlights from our Christmas trip to Indiana:

(tons of) snuggles with puppies and melted hearts when they follow us around the house

quality time with family and Nicholas :)

coffee and knitting throughout the trip (and cozy borrowed slippers!)

And lastly, lots of Taboo, Scattergories, and Apples to Apples in our pajamas. So good. It was such a treat to be in the Midwest (even briefly) and to celebrate the birth of our Savior with family.

As we're settling back into Austin and getting back to work, I keep thinking back over the last several months. Last year at this time, we were dreaming and praying about moving to Texas. Now, in Austin, we're here for as long as God wants us to be here, I've settled into working nights much better than anticipated, and we've found some wonderful community. For the first time in a long time, we aren't anticipating any imminent life transitions. So, now what?

When I'm content in a place, I'm tempted to get lazy. If I don't need something from God, why bother talking to Him? I'm increasingly aware of the sheer foolishness and sinfulness of this heart attitude. Life without forthright adversity can breed a heart that is slow to pray. As I encounter future situations where I'm praying for God to move and change things in my surroundings, I need to remember this concept:

New or different circumstances don't give me a new heart.

Regardless of what life stage or situation I'm in, transitional or not, I should never stop seeking and praying for Him to renew my heart. To have a heart that yearns for salvation more than it yearns for a change in my circumstances.

Romans 4:20-21, on Moses:

No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God , fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

I don't know what my future holds, but I know that a life of following Jesus is not a boring one. Saying "yes" to Jesus means saying "yes" to some difficult and truly beautiful things. Since moving to Austin, we're reveling in the beautiful aspect of that. Thank you, God! His blessings to us amaze me. Trusting Him to provide for us has grown and blessed us more than we could have anticipated when we first said "yes" to a cross-country move.

I loved this excerpt from our church's advent study:

In the significant moments you are facing, God is with you, not primarily in your strengths but in your weaknesses. He has written these huge and epic moments into your life not because you are qualified, but because He is qualified and He is with you .

I'm praying for a renewed purpose in this season, and for a heart that beats to give Him glory in my every action. I'm praying for Him to move in big ways in my life in 2015, not for my personal gain, but for for His glory. Big external transitions require prayer and guidance from the Holy Spirit, but internal transitions certainly merit our prayer time too.

I've never been much for resolutions, but each new year, I like to think about a direction and forward motion in certain areas of my life. More intention rather than resolution. I'm unraveling and sorting out the logistics of these intentions, but when I do, I'll share them in a post.

Are you in the habit of making resolutions? Do you have any plans/specific goals for 2015? I'm hoping and praying for a restful start to the New Year!