rich young ruler

So I was lucky enough to be able to spend two weeks at Houghton College in Buffalo, NY. It was an amazing two weeks of preparation for teaching in Mozambique. I was extremely encouraged and taught how to teach more effectively at an International Christian school. It was great to be with other people who are preparing to do similar things all over the world. It was also refreshing to take time away from everyday life and the natural stresses of preparing to move halfway across the world, in order to have time to focus on what I've been called to in Mozambique. We got to go to Niagara Falls and walk across the bridge to Canada, eh. I even experienced world famous buffalo wings in none other than Buffalo, NY.

The countdown is now in effect and I officially leave July 26th! With the departure date shortly approaching good-byes are becoming all too familiar and more common by the day. Good-byes are tough, but something that is necessary. It has been a difficult thing to learn how to let go of things that I cherish in order for God to do a greater work in me. But I cling to the fact that He is faithful and knows how to provide exactly what His daughter needs. This calms my fears. He also knows that He is the only one able and willing to satisfy all my desires and wants, even when I am so quick to forget.

As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good but One --God." You know the commandments:

• Do not murder;
• do not commit adultery;
• do not steal;
• do not bear false witness;
• do not defraud;
• honor your father and mother."

He said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth."
Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me."
But he was stunned at this demand, and he went away greiving, because he had many possessions.

Mark 10: 17-22

I pray that this story of the rich young ruler would melt my heart. That I wouldn't cling to anything so that it would prevent me from freely following Christ. I see a tendency to hold onto things that are good and that I hold dear, such as friendships. These are a gift, from the Lord, yet still something that I so easily cling to more than following Christ. My desire is that this would not be true.