Well, to some people it’s just stuff.  After each move Josh and I lay in bed, feel sorry for ourselves, rub each others hurting, tired feet, and drift off to sleep.  We selfishly pray a prayer asking God to never make us move again!  We have so much stuff.  I had a big successful yard sale in the spring, I gave away countless items, even big items such as two televisions and large chunky furniture, and we still ended up with about two households worth of stuff.  How does this happen, how does a small family of four collect so much stuff???

We made a decision last year to get rid of a lot of stuff.  Actually, quit buying so much stuff is more like it.  We have decided to prioritize our spending and make the Gospel the focus of our checkbook.  As a pastor’s family, we see so many hurting families and people that need blessings given to them in gifts of food, gas, shelter, and the Gospel.  How awesome would it be to have less stuff and be able to provide these blessings for others.  Well, we are not there yet, but we are sure trying to be.

To our children, our stuff is important.  Karis’ room is lavendar and each time we move I make sure we give her a lavendar room so that she can still have a sense of “home” with all her room stuff.  This is her fourth lavendar room!!  It is important to take her same bed, same fish tank, and same toy box with each move.  Our son received his “big boy” room here at the new house, and we can hardly get him to sleep in there.  He loved his room at our last house, it was all he had ever known.  So yes, sometimes our stuff is important, but sometimes it just is not.

I read a Beth Moore book a few years ago titled, Feathers From My Nest. She makes the comment that to her husband, wherever her and the girls were was “home”.  To her, her house was her “home.”  This is so true for our family too.  To my husband and I, as long as our kids are with us and we are together as a family, we are home.  To my children, its wherever their “stuff” is.  We have driven many miles before to get a blankie we have forgotten, after all, its just stuff, right?

Well, through this move I have given up a lot of stuff.  I have never been one to be a packrat, I frequently visit the Goodwill giving donations, but holding on to a lot of stuff was always a problem for me.  I have had to say good-bye to some comforts, some friends, and some extras I enjoyed.  I have thought a lot lately of Paul.  Paul was focused primarily on the Gospel, and he did not have a lot of stuff.  He was content with nothing, and he was content with Christ.  I am so thankful that he did not concern himself with a lot of stuff.  His work played a huge role in the spread of the Gospel we hold dear today!  He had eyes very much like Christ.  Lord, give me those eyes.

Luke 12:33  “”Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.”

Matthew 6:19-20  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

“Lord, please help me to let go of my stuff.  Help me to focus on the Gospel and eternal results.  Help me to get rid of the stuff in my life that is hindering me.  Help me to stop looking at name brands, price tags, next door neighbors stuff, and store ads.  Thank you for all the faithful missionaries that have laid down their comforts and valuables to serve You.  I pray that I can have Your desires, and take away my worldly desires.  Strip me of stuff and fill me with Your righteousness.  Amen.”

We have recently moved to Georgia, which is back “home” for us.  This is the first time our children have lived near their grandparents.  I knew this would be an adjustment, but I must admit it has gone better than I anticipated.  My dad is over almost everyday right now doing repairs and helping get things hung up and put together.  This has been surreal for my little ones, since their Poppy is not usually over on a daily basis.  After Poppy leaves JohnMark always says, “I want Poppy more!”

JohnMark is every bit two years old and every bit boy!  Every night and nap he drifts to sleep with a toy snuggled tightly under his arm.  It is usually a football, tractor, motorcycle, or truck.  He loves seeing them, riding on them, and playing with all of them throughout the day.

My dad has a big, red tractor and it currently does not work.  When we are over at their house, he helps Poppy work on the tractor.  There are tools lying all around the tractor, and JohnMark and Poppy work hard fixing the tractor.  JohnMark came over to Karis’ bicycle with his tools and spent time working on her bicycle.  He was really using that wrench and screwdriver and any on-looker would think that he was really doing some repairs on the wheel.

While Josh was moving out boxes to the garage in preparation for our big move, JohnMark ran over to help his daddy.  He carried a corner of each box and he really thought he was helping out.  These moments are so cute, I remember Karis being barely able to walk, and mocking my cooking skills with her play kitchen and vacuuming with her play vacuum cleaner.   It is really sweet to see these precious children that are so impressionable.  It is adorable to watch them try to be “big” and “grown-up”.

What is so scary, yet so very humbling is that children mock their parents in almost every area.  The bad habits also seem to get mocked.  When I catch my children huffing and puffing and getting frustrated when something doesn’t fit right or go exactly like it should, I feel a little guilt that they learned that from me!  It helps me remember next time to show patience when I get frustrated.  My pastor once said, “Whatever you as parents do in moderation, your children will do in excess.”  This has hit home so many times with my children already.  I know that Josh will probably encourage our son to run, hunt, fish, ride tractors and play sports, since that is what he did as a child and enjoyed.  I will probably encourage my daughters to read, cook, clean, and run, since those are some things I have enjoyed.  Our children will also naturally want to do these things because of seeing and hearing about us doing them.

My prayer is not that they will turn out to like all the things I like and eat all their veggies each day, although that would be nice.  My prayer is that my children will always see attitudes and behaviors in me that exemplify Christ.  My prayer is that they will grow up faithful in their service to the Lord.  I pray they will see me read my Bible and always sharing Christ with those around me.  I pray that God will minimize my weakness and failures, and maximize my strengths and godly attributes. I pray that they will not desire to be the women in the magazines and television shows, but rather women they see everyday at home and church.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7    “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”  NKJV

“Lord, thank you for the awesome responsibility of raising these precious souls.  I pray they would come to know You at a young age and be spared from the harsh reality of sin in their lives.  Please make me into the mother You would have me to be.  Purge my sinful, wicked ways and allow me to show Christ to my children through the way I treat them and others.  Thank you for their individuality and talents You have created them with.  Amen.”

Six and a half years ago we tearfully pulled away from the parking lot.  Josh and I had been married for a year, and now it was time for us to leave our families, friends, and church that so dearly loved us.  We were moving to Kentucky for Josh to start seminary, and for us to start the rest of our lives. Just a year earlier Josh had been called into the ministry.  We both knew we were going to seminary, and without hesitation, we knew Louisville was the best choice.

Today we are moving back to our hometown.  The town has changed, the church has changed, our family has changed, and we have changed.  God had called us to return to our home roots, where Josh and I both grew up.  Our childhood playground.

Two weeks after I was born I was brought to this church.  My grandparents brought my mother to this church when she was born.  I cut my teeth in this church.  I grew up learning about God and the Bible in children’s church and Sunday School at this church.  I ran through the halls, down the isles, and across the parking lot thousands of times in this church.  I played basketball and softball at this church.  I came to know Jesus in a personal way in the pews of this church, I was baptized in this church, I met the love of my life in this church, and I surrendered to the ministry in this church.  This church has invested in us, prayed for us, and supported us after we followed God’s calling to leave Georgia six and a half years ago.  It is hard to believe that God has called us back to this church we love for Josh to be the pastor of these people.

Well, the day has come and the moment is here when we have to wave good-bye to our Tennessee family.  I say family for two reasons.  One reason, because we are all in the blood-bought family of Christ and we are bothers and sisters in His family.  The second reason is because of the love they have shown our family.  They have welcomed us into their homes and hearts, they have opened up themselves to graciously shower us with gifts, service, and hospitality.  We are very blessed to have been able to spend the short time with them and let them change our lives forever.

After we left Georgia, our homeland, we were certain we would never return to live there again.  On one of our long drives to Georgia from Kentucky, I commented to Josh that I would love living in a small town in the beautiful state of Tennessee.  God granted me this desire three years later.  I have loved every minute of this journey and I am very sad to say good-bye.  I am not only saying good-bye to a town I love, a people I love, but a chapter in the life of the Buice family.

JohnMark will have the hardest time as we pull away from “home”.  He loves the red house, it is all he has ever known, and he loves home like no one I have ever known.  Karis will have a hard time leaving her network of friends and teachers at church that she loves.  She even told me that her doctor, who she sees about once a year, will miss her.  Josh and I will have a hard time leaving people we have grown so close to that truly love us!

Good-bye Tennessee, we love you.  Georgia, here we come.  Georgia, you are on my mind!

“Thank you, God, for being all-knowing and Sovereign.  We do not know the plans You have for our lives but we trust each day for You to reveal Yourself to us.  We leave these people with heavy hearts, but also with no hesitation that God is calling us to Georgia.  Thank you for the journey You have taken the Buice family on for the past six and a half years.  Thank you for the people we have met, the situations we have faced, good and bad, that have been used by You to make us who we are today.  Thank you, most of all, for the privilege of being in the ministry.  May we never stop sharing, never stop caring, never stop praying, and never stop trusting You.  Amen.”

My husband recently did a post on our family worship.  As all of you know, no one is a perfect parent, and no one is automatically an experienced parent.  We all learn as we go when it comes to every aspect of parenting.  I remember the nervousness when I was pregnant with Karis not knowing what to do with a baby.  Even now with my third baby arriving soon I am nervous because there is still so much I do not know.

Several years ago about the time Karis turned two, we started a family Bible reading and prayer time with her.  She looked forward to reading the stories, discussing the truths therein, and then ending her day with an adorable little prayer.  We do still have this cute prayer on video and we reminisce from time to time.  Through the years the Bible readings and prayers have made their way into a vital part of our bedtime routine.

Several months ago we started incorporating JohnMark and making it a family worship time.  We now sing songs, read our Bible, rehearse our Bible memory verses, catechisms, and prayer time.  I know this sounds like a lot, but it goes quickly.  JohnMark usually bounces around the room, but he also loves this family time. He intently listens to the stories and the songs, and now he is learning to say his prayers too!

Why is this time of family worship so important?  Well, it is important to me because I am getting to teach my children about God and the Bible.  I am helping them to learn Scripture verses that will always be with them.  This world is very harsh, unforgiving, dangerous, and scary.  I want my children to grow up finding that their foundation is on the Bible so that when the world is ugly to them, and it will be, that they will have a firm foundation.  One day they will have these experiences, but I want them to face this world with their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

In my husbands’ post he mentioned that Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said, “I agree with Matthew Henry when he says, “They that pray in the family do well; they that pray and read the Scriptures do better; but they that pray, and read, and sing do best of all.”  Also he mentioned that  Jonathan Edwards once said, “Every Christian family ought to be as it were a little church.”

I do not know everything as a parent, nor do I have it all together.  I do a lot wrong and I go to bed some nights with regrets of things I did or did not do.  One thing I do prioritize is our family worship time.  I do not think we can prepare them enough for what they are going to face.  It is our grave responsibility to teach them the Scriptures and teach them about a very big God.  I believe that church should reinforce what they are learning at home, and not the opposite!  The Bible tells us it is our responsibility to train our children and teach them the Holy Scriptures.  This is probably the hardest job I have as a parent!

“Lord, thank You for my beautiful children.  Thank you for guiding me as a parent and calming my fears.  Thank you for the privilege of being called Your child, and receiving a gift I could never earn.  When I was trying to earn my salvation through works, You reached down into the mud and pulled me to safety.  I can never pass on Your truth enough and please help me to teach Truth to my children.  Please help me to not only be a faithful teacher of Your Word to them, but also a faithful demonstrator of Your Word in front of them!  I beg You to save them at a young age and allow them to serve You with their lives.  Thank You. Amen.”

See Josh’s article at www.deliveredbygrace.com.

A great source for children:

Big Truths for Little Kids, by Susan Hunt and Richie Hunt.

My little two-year old son has normal two-year old issues going on right now.  I don’t remember dealing with them this much with our daughter, but we are battling the “stingies.”  That is my made-up term for his wanting everything others are playing with, especially sissy, and calling everything, “mine.”  So everyday he repeatedly gets disciplined and reprimanded for not sharing, and coveting others’ things.

He always wants food off of my plate and drink from my big cup.  I always share with him.  Now that he does not want to share, I am trying to show him that he always takes from mommy.  Mommy always gives him freely what I have and that he should give to others what he has.  This morning the kids were playing outside and I brought them a small bowl of chips and set it on their table to snack on.  John Mark came and grabed the entire bag and ran away with it screaming, “mine,” and making it very clear that no one should challenge him on this.

This reminded me of how we are with forgiveness.  Christ has freely forgiven us and He gives us more than we can ever understand. Why can’t we manage to forgive others that wrong us?  Jesus was so very clear on this subject and there are so many verses to describe how He commands us to forgive.   With such clarity from the Savior, how come we cannot clearly get it?  It’s because it’s so difficult.  Only our Savior understands true forgiveness and redemption perfectly.  Here are some quotes from a book I am currently reading on this very subject.  Jackie Kendall says, “To forgive or not to forgive: that is the question.  For the follower of Jesus, the answer is always the same- to forgive is the only choice.  Paul, the greatest apostle, wrote that Satan schemes to outwit God’s children through the relational crime of unforgiveness.  The blood of Jesus purchased for us the unspeakable privilege of forgiveness as well as the miraculous gift of being identified as people not only forgiven but also people who forgive.”

John 13:34-35 ” A new commandment I give into you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

2 Cor 2:10-11 “To whom ye forgive any thing, I [forgive] also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave [it], for your sakes [forgave I it] in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

There are more Scripture verses on forgiveness than most other subjects in the New Testament.  Forgiveness is such a strong part of our following Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  We are not only told to forgive, but it is an absolute command from Jesus.  It isn’t an option, it isn’t a suggestion, and it isn’t even contingent upon someone’s apology.  We are to forgive and move on as Jesus did for us.  Showing people the forgiveness of Christ will demonstrate the same love Christ has for us.  For a lost and dying world to see this demonstrated, this is precious!  Paul wrote to the Ephesians in 4:32, ” And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

If I stop giving John Mark all of my things, he would starve and eventually die.  I would neglect him as my child.  I must continue to freely give him my possessions to sustain his life.  My prayer is that he would grow to realize that Jesus gives to mommy and daddy, and mommy and daddy give to him.  These blessings come from Jesus, and we share them with him.  I also pray that my mission field, which is my family, friends and neighbors, would see an ordinary person that receives forgiveness from Christ and freely passes that forgiveness on to others.

“Thank you, Lord, for forgiving me of all the ugly sin I carried and incurred for so long.  Thank you for lifting the weight of my sin off of me and placing it on the Lord Jesus.  Thank you for showing me the true example of forgiveness.  Please give me the clean heart I need to forgive those that trespass against me.  Please help me to see other peoples’ sins as you see them.  Help me to understand that vengeance is Yours and You will be the divider of the punishments.  Help me to understand that You see hearts and intentions that I cannot see.  Help me to be more like You and forgive more like You. Please deliver me from the “stingies.”  Amen.”

Jackie Kendall is the author of, Free Yourself to Love.  She was one of seven children that suffered abuse as a child.  Two of the siblings committed suicide as a result.  She has an incredible testimony to share in this book.  It is a powerful Biblical book of forgiveness and the freedom you experience when you do.

We are going through a life change right now as a family.  This is somewhat of a stretch for us because for the first time our big change drastically affects our daughter.  Last time we accepted God’s call to move she was still very young.  This move has really stirred up some emotions within her and caused her to really search for answers.  She recently turned five so there are many questions she has been asking lately, but now we are explaining some pretty big stuff.

As we sat her down last week to explain that God is moving us away from our home and church we focused on all the positives.  Her family in Georgia that will be very close to her, her friends in Georgia, and other things she loves about visiting there.  Through the smiles she had tears welling up in her eyes.  She jumped out of her chair and came over to whisper in my ear.  She whispered, “What about Hannah?” Hannah is her best friend.  She knew already that saying “good-bye” was going to be hard.

The very next day after she had time to process the information we had given her, she had a very good question.  She said, “Mommy, if we can’t see God, how do we know He wants us to move to Georgia?”  I really was stunned for a moment.  I tried my best to explain in her terms.  God is all knowing, all powerful, and Sovereign.  God is everywhere at the same time.  God uses His Word and His Holy Spirit to speak things to our hearts.  He allows situations and people to work together to accomplish His purposes.  I explained to her that God has done a lot of things lately, even against our will, in order to show us that this is what He wants us to do.  We have to follow Him and be obedient.

Last night before bed we were doing our Bible study and catechisms with her.  The topic of the lesson was God’s sovereignty and that we have to obey His commands if we love Him.  I was explaining that daddy is our boss, and God is daddy’s boss.  God is all of our boss and we have to obey Him if we want what is best for our lives.  She understood and was excited.  She asked me if Hannah knew these things.  She said, ” Can I tell her tomorrow at the swimming pool?” I told her that she can tell anyone she wants to about God.  I long for that type of excitement again!

“Thank you, Lord, for being a Sovereign God.  Thank you that I can rest assured that nothing takes you by surprise.  Thank you that even a little child can understand that we must obey what You tell us to do.  Thank you for doing what is best for us even if it brings us pain.  Thank you for the pain I am feeling right now.  I know the pain will heal, but the long lasting result will be peace.  Thank you for a husband that obeys His boss and does what is best for our family. If this were left to me I would probably have chosen to stay in my comfort zone and run from the painful decisions.  I love you, and I know where You are. Amen.”

To all my Cornerstone friends and family,

I have a heavy heart.  I clearly knew that God brought us to Cornerstone.  We planted our seeds here and the roots sprouted up quickly.  We really thought that God had brought us to the place we would serve Him in ministry for many years.  This small town holds treasures beyond what the rest of the outside world knows.  There are people here with hearts of pure gold, loyalty beyond comprehension, and a desire to demonstrate the love that Christ has shown them.  We discovered this treasure over the last few years and it has intensified with the reality of us leaving.

I have many friends that are pastor’s wives and have been very hurt and anxious to leave their church.  I have seen many pastors and their families mistreated in the ministry.  I kneel before God often thanking Him that He has sent me to a church family that has poured out love, warmth, and grace to me and my family.  I pray that God will always give me people like Cornerstone to serve.

My children call this place home. Their birthdays have never been forgotten. My children love you like an extension of our family.  They are treated with respect and have many people in the church that treat them as their own.  I will always be indebted to you for going out of your way to love on them.  It is because of your love and affection that my children have remained spoiled even while living hours away from grandparents.

I am leaving with a heavy heart because of the true love I have for our Cornerstone family.  I struggled and prayed long and hard with this decision, even to the point of desiring to stay.  I did not have a clear peace for a long time about this and my flesh wrestled with the Holy Spirit.  I had to follow the peace God had given Josh and trust him as he follows the Lord for our family.  I promised him before we married that I would never hinder him from doing what the Lord wanted him to do, no matter the cost.  I have always kept my promise, even as God moved us far from home.  God has shown me that home is where my Lord wants us to be.

It will take some time to call another place “home” even though I am moving back to my hometown.  I call McMinnville home and this place will always bring a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.  I think God for all the wonderful people I have grown to love.  I will miss the ladies at Foodland, Wendy’s, Subway, and especially the Library. I will miss the choir, children’s choir I teach, my Sunday School class, kids’ camp, Mrs. Rita’s pool, the teenagers, my babysitters, and many others.

Every active member of Cornerstone has a special place in my heart.  I beg for your love and support as God has called our family away.  God will bless us all for our obedience.   Although we may be separated here on earth, we will all be together one day again.  I am excited through the grief to start our new ministry.  I know God will bring many wonderful people in my life and I am looking forward to the future.

Goodbye Cornerstone, for now.  Goodbye Cornerstone, until we meet again.

Philippians 1:3  “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,”

“What is life?
A thousand roads, a thousand ways
Why am I so afraid to move
I crossed the line
I’m stepping out so come what may
I give it all cause I’m drawn to You

As long as my heart is beating…
Where You lead me I will follow
Where You lead me I give my life away
Where You lead me I will follow
Forever and a day

I can’t deny Your very presence is my life
And why would I ever turn away
Cause deep inside I know that I cannot rely
On anything less than faith

This is all I’m dreaming of
To live completely in Your love

So this is life”

“Where He Leads Me”  by Mercy Me