What More Do I Need?

the sun and the sky
Originally uploaded by rachel_titiriga

I always find it interesting when the Lord is teaching me something new.

I have never really considered myself a “materialistic” person at all. I actually seem to run from money. So moving to Romania and leaving most of my possessions in California, not having a car here, and being without, didn’t seem like a huge sacrifice to me. Don’t get me wrong, I do miss my car, as I love to drive around, and I miss my art supplies, but really there are few things that I miss from home.

Or at least that is how it was for the first year and a half. Then I started to miss little things, more than just art supplies and my car. Like my heels! I love shoes, and I pretty much miss all my shoes, and my clothes, all that cute stuff I would wear to work or to church or when I would get all dolled up to go out. I have clothes here obviously just not so much ‘cute stuff’….and recently food has been what I have missed the most. I am a foodie and the food selections here in Romania are pretty limited. It’s funny, how little things can come and go in my mind, things that I miss, that I never really realized I even cared about.

I feel like the Lord has been refining me lately in regards to material things. I can’t just hop in the car and drive to Ikea or Target or the mall…and I walk everywhere all day, so heels are not much of an option.

It’s like I’ve been seeing things in myself that I didn’t realize were there. I suppose that is part of the refining process. The Lord brings things to the surface, wants and desires that are not necessarily from Him. Not all of those things are bad, but some of them if left unchecked can consume my thoughts and sometimes even alter my outlook on life here.

Last night I was actually reading in Deuteronomy and a verse that I was reading is quoted by the Author of Hebrews. So I turned to Hebrews to read what was written with that verse and I smiled…the verse says,

Let your conduct be without covetousness;
be content with such things as you have.
For He Himself has said,
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5

And I thought how wonderful our Lord is, with these little struggles and thoughts I have been having, He just reminded me in a simple sentence to be content, and that He is enough. If the God who knows my heart and my desires, who created the universe and all that is in it and beyond it, has said He is with me, that He will never leave, that He will never forsake me, what else do I need to be ‘complete’ or what more do I need on this earth? 'Things' are nice, but temporary. He is eternal, and my relationship with Him is what is important.

Sometimes I get off track, and forget where I should be focused. But I am so thankful for His love, and that He can be so gentle to remind me of what I DO HAVE in Him.

Anyway, I guess that is it for now. I am thankful. I am loved. And I am blessed that I get to share His love in Romania every single day! What more do I need?