Skip to main content

God of This City

One year ago, I was sitting in Riverbluff, my home church for over 28 of my 32 years, when I saw it for the first time. It was a video of images of Charleston, my beloved home, to the tune of "God of This City."

We had just found out we were moving. I just about balled my eyes out watching the images of Charleston knowing I was leaving the only place I had ever known as home--my family, friends, church, career and more. What a ride we have been on since then!

Last week at our new church, they sung the song and it made me think about what God has done in the last year and how much he has blessed us in the move. First, He completely orchestrated the move selling our house in just 7 days. Then he's blessed us with some amazing people to come into our lives and now we have Lana. At first, hearing the song again brought tears to my eyes as I thought about leaving Charleston and seeing those images flash in my mind. But then, the tears turned to gratefulness for what God has done. Then it dawned on me that God loves Chattanooga too, lol. He's the God of this City too and I've got to find my place, my purpose and my service here in this city.

Charleston will always hold a special place in my heart and we plan to return someday, God willing...but in the mean time, I'm growing where He has planted me.

Comments

Shara Lana said…
Coooool Michele!!! God is soooooooo Good!!! What a testimony He has brought you through!!! Love and Hugs. Shara Lana
Michele said…
He is so good. I'm blown away all the time. While we were in Charleston this week, I couldn't help but keep saying, I can't wait to go home. Might have had something to do with the crazy humidity there. I don't know how I didn't know how bad it was. Lol!
Love ya!!
Shawna Lee said…
Oh, wow. We sang this song the first week after we joined our church here. I cried so hard because for a few months after moving here, I couldn't find God. You know how he was so real to me as we were preparing to leave Charleston, but once I got here I felt totally abandoned.

While I was singing that song, I was reminded that God is most definitely here, as he was in Charleston. I felt a peace, a sense of belonging. I still like to go "home" to Charleston, but equally I like to return to my new "home" where my life, and my God, are.

ps. Can you believe it will be two years this week???
Michele said…
Shawna-Times flies, huh? I hear you. I think in some ways, I'm still looking for him. I don't feel abandoned but I do feel distance. I know that its me, not him. There are times when I have a hard time worshipping which really bothers me. He's been working on me with some unforgiveness and I know that is part of my problem. I'm just trying to empty the bucket a scoop at a time. So glad he doesn't leave us where we are.
Hugs to you and the fam!

Popular posts from this blog

My brother teaches me something

I decided to write my brother a letter last week. While I sat down to write the letter, it dawned on me that there were some words he needed to hear. Chris reminded me that I might be the only person in the world that understands him because of experiencing the same childhood. First, I told him I was proud of him for working hard to stay out of trouble and keep a job. These are words that we both long to hear from our parents. Our desire to hear these words from them pushed us to act in two very different ways. Second, I told him that I admired him. That might sound strange intiailly but the last time that I saw him was at dinner at my parent's house. Before he left, he leaned down to give a hug to my father who was laying in the recliner. Dad didn't reciprocate, but I can't imagine how much courage and forgiveness had gone through Thomas's heart to be able to do that. I'm shamed to admit that I can only remember hugging my dad 2 times in my adult life. ...

Spring

It's hard to believe we've been in TN for almost 10 months. We've just about made it through all the season. I have to admit that it was quite beautiful to experience the fall leaves for more than a day that we might have seen in Charleston. The winter was a rough initiation but I made it. I'm pretty sure I made every attempt not to leave the house, but the snow pretty much helped with that. It seems that the seasons have changed once again overnight. Literally, in one day, the leaves on the tree next to our house have gone from barren to full of green. Bushes and trees are flowering everywhere. There's something so refreshing about spring. While all the seasons are beautiful, spring represents new life. What a perfect time for Lana to arrive!

Nourishing Cabbage Roll Soup

If you don’t like cabbage, I encourage you to try this recipe before you write it off.  This is my current favorite go to recipe right now and it’s a hit with the whole family. It’s warm, filling and nourishing. It’s much like cabbage rolls but without the work of stuffing and rolling those cabbage leaves but just as good, if not better. This soup reheats well and we enjoy it as leftovers. I also like to add collard greens to this soup but you can leave that out.  Ingredients 1 onion, diced 3 cloves, minced 1 lb grass fed beef 1/2 lb pastured spicy pork sausage 3/4 cup of basamati rice 1 medium cabbage, chopped (core removed) 1 bunch of collard greens (leaves cut from stems and chopped) 1 quart of canned diced tomatoes 2 tbsp tomato paste 4 cups of bone broth (I used pork, but really any will do). 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp thyme 1 tsp Celtic sea salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp Worchestershire sauce Instructions In a large pot, saute onion, garlic ...