Seven years ago today Henry and I were staying at Kinloch Lodge, on the Isle of Sky. After several glorious days in Edinburgh and a visit to my ancestral home in Orkney we were nearing the end of a long-dreamed of trip to Scotland. The former hunting lodge was shrouded in mist and midges were fierce, so we took the opportunity to sit by the crackling fire and prayerfully consider the unfolding events of the previous weeks and months...
The seventh anniversary of that fateful, life-altering trip has brought much cause for reflection. Our lives have changed dramatically, bearing little resemblance to what was familiar and beloved. There are many mornings when I wake up, looking out at the beauty of 'Walled Garden,' wondering
"How did we get here?"
Today we watch helplessly from 5,000 miles away as our home state of Washington is ravaged by division and anarchy. Friends and family who once secretly scoffed at our move (I can't blame them) are gently acknowledging the wisdom of our decision. We cannot take credit for this wisdom! The Lord began preparing us for our move LONG before we imagined it was a possibility. Leaving my home and family was the most difficult decision I have ever made!
A quote from A.W. Tozer's 'The Pursuit of God' comes to mind:
The seventh anniversary of that fateful, life-altering trip has brought much cause for reflection. Our lives have changed dramatically, bearing little resemblance to what was familiar and beloved. There are many mornings when I wake up, looking out at the beauty of 'Walled Garden,' wondering
"How did we get here?"
Today we watch helplessly from 5,000 miles away as our home state of Washington is ravaged by division and anarchy. Friends and family who once secretly scoffed at our move (I can't blame them) are gently acknowledging the wisdom of our decision. We cannot take credit for this wisdom! The Lord began preparing us for our move LONG before we imagined it was a possibility. Leaving my home and family was the most difficult decision I have ever made!
A quote from A.W. Tozer's 'The Pursuit of God' comes to mind:
"Possessive clinging to things is one of the most harmful habits in life...we are often hindered from giving our treasures up to the Lord out of fear for their safety...
SO WE WILL BE BROUGHT TO THIS TESTING PLACE...
OUR WHOLE FUTURE WILL BE CONDITIONED BY THE CHOICE WE MAKE."
It was by God's grace that we made a very difficult decision,
one that we knew the Lord was calling us to...
SO WE WILL BE BROUGHT TO THIS TESTING PLACE...
OUR WHOLE FUTURE WILL BE CONDITIONED BY THE CHOICE WE MAKE."
It was by God's grace that we made a very difficult decision,
one that we knew the Lord was calling us to...
This was our home in Graham, built on the homestead claimed by William Benston, my Orcadian great-great grandfather in 1863. He and his native wife, Sarah are buried here, along with six of their children, lost in one dreaded summer to diphtheria.
My grandmother, Thelma Benston, was born and raised here as well. My earliest memories include walking hand in hand with her through the tall, tickly grass in the hayfield, down to the creek. We caught crawdads and periwinkles and picked fresh mint.
This was the happy home that Henry and I built together. Henry, the kids and I spent countless weekends staining every shingle of that siding by hand! Our home was a silent witness to my children's birthday parties, scavenger hunts, bonfires, barbecues, Thanksgiving feasts and the arrival of our first grandchildren...
WHY WOULD WE EVER LEAVE???
My grandmother, Thelma Benston, was born and raised here as well. My earliest memories include walking hand in hand with her through the tall, tickly grass in the hayfield, down to the creek. We caught crawdads and periwinkles and picked fresh mint.
This was the happy home that Henry and I built together. Henry, the kids and I spent countless weekends staining every shingle of that siding by hand! Our home was a silent witness to my children's birthday parties, scavenger hunts, bonfires, barbecues, Thanksgiving feasts and the arrival of our first grandchildren...
WHY WOULD WE EVER LEAVE???
Many will be aware of our story, but as I reflect, I feel compelled to share our journey once again, in abbreviated form.
My goal?
To encourage you to LISTEN to the Lord, to seek Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and to OBEY Him, even if His instructions seem crazy at the time.
Below is a brief timeline of events leading up to our first trip to Scotland:
My goal?
To encourage you to LISTEN to the Lord, to seek Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and to OBEY Him, even if His instructions seem crazy at the time.
Below is a brief timeline of events leading up to our first trip to Scotland:
October 2012: I bought a copy of "Victoria" magazine, because I thought it was beautiful.
It simply caught my attention while in line at the craft store. I had not noticed that it was a "Special British Issue," or the words "Scotland Splendor."
November 2012: Henry picked it up from the coffee table. After thumbing through it, he announced: "I know you have always wanted to go to Scotland. I think we should go!" Little did we know that the Lord was going before us, paving the way for a journey we could never have imagined.
December 2012: Henry received the first phone call from a commercial real-estate broker, wanting to broker the sale of Sunrise Medical Campus, home of Woodcreek Pediatrics (the pediatric practice Henry founded) as well as The Oasis at Sunrise (the cafe that my daughter Kate and I operated for nearly ten years).
May 2013: The decision is unanimously made by the investors of Sunrise to sell the medical campus. In the words of one large investor: "If you have a buyer GET OUT! It's no longer a matter of 'if' but WHEN this nation will come crashing down!"
30 May 2013: (My journal entry. Henry had been reading through Revelation 17-18) Comforter, Helper, Counselor, Teacher: "I have NEVER been more aware of my great need for You! After 23 years of marriage--having weathered many storms of various types and intensity--we are facing by far the greatest test of all. My husband is convinced that You are warning us to "Flee Babylon." When I look at the state of our nation and the warnings in Scripture--I must say I am all but convinced that he is right...So much is at stake...everything we know...all that is comfortable and familiar! I need to know that this IS YOUR VOICE and not the Deceiver. If You say "GO!" we will go."
4 June 2013: (my journal entry the morning after we arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland)
"I had such a MELTDOWN last night when we were talking about leaving our home! At 4:00 this morning I heard distant church bells tolling the hour, and I sensed the need to look at the word 'hour' in Scripture. I began to realize that the church in America has ceased 'ringing the bell,' has lost track of time..." As I researched the word "hour" I was struck by Jesus' words to the church at Philadelphia: "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it..."
November 2012: Henry picked it up from the coffee table. After thumbing through it, he announced: "I know you have always wanted to go to Scotland. I think we should go!" Little did we know that the Lord was going before us, paving the way for a journey we could never have imagined.
December 2012: Henry received the first phone call from a commercial real-estate broker, wanting to broker the sale of Sunrise Medical Campus, home of Woodcreek Pediatrics (the pediatric practice Henry founded) as well as The Oasis at Sunrise (the cafe that my daughter Kate and I operated for nearly ten years).
May 2013: The decision is unanimously made by the investors of Sunrise to sell the medical campus. In the words of one large investor: "If you have a buyer GET OUT! It's no longer a matter of 'if' but WHEN this nation will come crashing down!"
30 May 2013: (My journal entry. Henry had been reading through Revelation 17-18) Comforter, Helper, Counselor, Teacher: "I have NEVER been more aware of my great need for You! After 23 years of marriage--having weathered many storms of various types and intensity--we are facing by far the greatest test of all. My husband is convinced that You are warning us to "Flee Babylon." When I look at the state of our nation and the warnings in Scripture--I must say I am all but convinced that he is right...So much is at stake...everything we know...all that is comfortable and familiar! I need to know that this IS YOUR VOICE and not the Deceiver. If You say "GO!" we will go."
4 June 2013: (my journal entry the morning after we arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland)
"I had such a MELTDOWN last night when we were talking about leaving our home! At 4:00 this morning I heard distant church bells tolling the hour, and I sensed the need to look at the word 'hour' in Scripture. I began to realize that the church in America has ceased 'ringing the bell,' has lost track of time..." As I researched the word "hour" I was struck by Jesus' words to the church at Philadelphia: "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it..."
Sunday 7 June 2013: (Our first morning in Orkney. Up early, I spent time reading Spurgeon's exposition on Psalm 90) I recorded in my journal these words: "Moses says, 'wanderers though we be in the howling wilderness, yet we find our home in Thee, even as our forefathers did when they came out of Ur of the Chaldees..."
We decided to visit the Baptist church in Kirkwall, which had been recommended to us. The pastor was on sabbatical, so a retired pastor delivered the message that day. Henry and I glanced at one another, aghast, as he announced the text for his sermon:
"Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs."
Jonah 2:8
forfeit the grace that could be theirs."
Jonah 2:8
This was the exact verse that the Lord was using to help Henry release Sunrise Medical Campus.
Here are my notes from the sermon:
*We have absolute security because God is ON THE THRONE!
*He appoints/provides for us IF we TRUST Him.
*The Word of God, our Handbook, is a testimony of His power.
*We will see miracles if we are prepared to trust Him.
*"If God has called you to do something, lock your wings (like eagles do in the midst of a storm) and catch the wind of the Spirit."
His Conclusion:
"YOU DON'T WANT TO END UP ON MT. NEBO,
where Moses was granted a view
of the Promised Land,
but NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER
because of his disobedience."
Here are my notes from the sermon:
*We have absolute security because God is ON THE THRONE!
*He appoints/provides for us IF we TRUST Him.
*The Word of God, our Handbook, is a testimony of His power.
*We will see miracles if we are prepared to trust Him.
*"If God has called you to do something, lock your wings (like eagles do in the midst of a storm) and catch the wind of the Spirit."
His Conclusion:
"YOU DON'T WANT TO END UP ON MT. NEBO,
where Moses was granted a view
of the Promised Land,
but NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER
because of his disobedience."
Once home from Scotland we continued to pray and seek the Lord. I reviewed my prayer journal from the previous year, looking for any sign that He had been preparing me for this move. The evidence was UNMISTAKABLE:
Excerpts from my journal:
"I sense that I am at a strange crossroads, but haven't spent enough time with You to see my way ahead." (June 2012)
"I had a fantastic dream of a house...explored it room by room. I remember commenting, 'There's room for everyone." (July 2012)
"The Lord awakened me with a vision. The number 4 in two concentric circles and one word: ''PREPAREDNESS." (August 2012)
"I love the stillness of the house at this hour. I hear only the comfort of a gently simmering teapot. I am grateful for these days of relative peace, and I sense these carefree days are numbered..." (October 2012
"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right." (Isaiah 64:3-4, December 2012)
There is so much more...
Exactly one year prior to the day we sat by the fire at Kinloch Lodge, I recorded Psalm 53:2 in my journal:
Excerpts from my journal:
"I sense that I am at a strange crossroads, but haven't spent enough time with You to see my way ahead." (June 2012)
"I had a fantastic dream of a house...explored it room by room. I remember commenting, 'There's room for everyone." (July 2012)
"The Lord awakened me with a vision. The number 4 in two concentric circles and one word: ''PREPAREDNESS." (August 2012)
"I love the stillness of the house at this hour. I hear only the comfort of a gently simmering teapot. I am grateful for these days of relative peace, and I sense these carefree days are numbered..." (October 2012
"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right." (Isaiah 64:3-4, December 2012)
There is so much more...
Exactly one year prior to the day we sat by the fire at Kinloch Lodge, I recorded Psalm 53:2 in my journal:
"God looks down from heaven on the sons of men
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God."
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God."
Friends, we must redeem the time, for the days are evil. He gives wisdom to all who ask and believe!
Ask, Seek, Trust, Follow,
and
Remember Mt. Nebo!
Ask, Seek, Trust, Follow,
and
Remember Mt. Nebo!
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