Just Moved!

Moving Makeover

2011-11-28T11:48:00.001-08:00

Perk things up with a room re-do

Just Moved volunteer and long-time friend of Just Moved, Karin Kreisel, recently gave Susan Miller's office a much-needed facelift. Karin is a gifted designer and has brought her decorative flare to many Just Moved events over the years. Redecorating Susan's office was one more way that she has been a blessing to Susan and to this ministry.

We asked Karin to share a few of her best decorating tips. Here they are for you to use to add a fresh look to any room in your home or office (along with photos of the beautiful results in Susan's office).

1. Be daring... paint a room with 2 colors, one wall darker as an accent wall. If you don't like

it, you can always repaint it later. Paint is the cheapest way to redecorate for a new, fresh, updated look!

2. Repurpose... take everything out of the room and put things back in a different place, or for a different purpose. (A basket of magazines can hold a plant instead.) Don't feel like you have to use everything. Go for an uncluttered look. Simple is better.

3. Buy large artwork or pictures. Don't make the mistake of buying artwork that is too small for a large wall. Think big!

4. Hang pictures at eye level. People usually hang pictures too high.

5. Go for a solid sofa color and accent with print pillows. You can change out colors easily with different pillows.

6. Try uplighting to cast a lighting effect on plants or pictures. Use a spotlight or lamp that shines up from the floor to feature an object.

7. Make bookshelves interesting. Stack books horizontally and vertically. Place a picture or an object on a shelf beside books or on top of books stacked horizontally.

8. Add a throw rug to tie it all together. A rug brings warmth and intimacy to a large or small room.

A Moving Story

2011-11-28T11:44:00.000-08:00

Emptiness that only Jesus can fill
Rebekah in CA

The transition is going exactly like so many of the testimonies I have read online. We moved from Vermont to California, with two little girls and a teenage son. I left my two best friends since 5th grade and most of my family. I am so fortunate to have a wonderful sister, however, that lives 30 minutes away!!

Of course, I am lonely. The paragraph in that newsletter (Just Moved Bloom, Vol. I, issue 3) regarding friendship just hit me like a ton of bricks -- it captured perfectly what I have been feeling and I felt so validated. It's the part about being out of step with the world when you don't have those intimate friendships you long for. Nothing was solved by reading it, but I felt less burdened because someone out there understood.

There are two things I have underestimated in moving. One is that the feelings of loneliness are very similar to postpartum depression feelings. If you have ever suffered from that you will know it's awful. It's not just loneliness -- it's almost an irrational emptiness feeling that absolutely nothing but Jesus can fill.

The second thing that is difficult is that when you move and make such an enormous transition, it would be nice to have someone to share all of that with, to share what you miss, etc. But because you moved, you don't know anyone and so you can't share. I have to keep so much bottled up inside. No one cares that Vermont has better this or better that. No one really understands. I see now how I missed some opportunities in Vermont to minister to new people. I just had no idea! So that has been a real challenge for me. Again, the answer is Jesus. He will listen to me, and He will even groan and cry for me and with me.

I'm so glad I found Just Moved. I really want to start a group here but I feel quite unqualified. I figure I need to read the book first at least! But I really want to. Thanks so much for your service. This organization is truly a blessing.

(Editor: when God stirs a desire in your heart it is natural to feel unqualified. He will enable you for that which He has called you! We help every step of the way and starting a Moving On After Moving In group can be the best way for you to find friends and grow in your faith while offering the life line that another new mover needs! Call (480.991.5268; M-Th, 9am-4pm, MST) or email us at info@justmoved.org to find out more.

Devotional-Sept. 2011

2011-09-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

A firm foundation when your world has been shaken

When hurricane Irene hit the coast and continued on its rampage, nothing was sacred. The winds and the floods came to uproot lives, homes, yards and trees. That's what hurricanes do so well. They change the landscape of our lives, our cities, and our small towns. They shake our foundation and leave behind a pathway of destruction. People desperately seek the safety and protection of shelter through someone's provision and kindness.

There are times when you experience your own personal hurricane. The winds of change uproot your life, leaving little hope for what tomorrow will bring. You feel vulnerable and alone, desperately wanting someone to understand and to care.

God is your firm foundation when your world has been shaken. He is your shelter, your refuge, and your protection in the storms of life. His arm is out-stretched; His hand is open-waiting to give you a safe place in His arms.

Scripture to Remember:
"Thou has been my stronghold, and a refuge in the day of my distress." Psalm 59:16

"He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken." Psalm 62:2

"I would hasten to my place of refuge from the stormy wind...." Psalm 55:8

Question to Consider:
When my life is uprooted with the winds of change, what will I do?

Prayer:
Oh Lord, "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalm 61:2

Thought for the Day:
I will run to Him before the storm hits!

Heart Notes

2011-09-07T10:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Summer has come and gone now, vacations are over, school has started, and the rhythm of routines and schedules have begun to structure our lives again. Cherished memories of summer with family and friends are etched in our minds, and pictures that captured the moment, or the smile, have become a treasure in our hearts.

The memories I hold most dear this summer were spent with my six grandchildren and their parents. My daughter and I held our traditional "Cousins Camp" in cool northern Arizona at our small retreat center, better known as a two bedroom (plus loft) townhouse. I fixed 12 gallons of lemonade, made 36 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, 6 dozen chocolate chip cookies, found 12 missing shoes, fixed an overflowing toilet 4 times, took 125 pictures, and said "wash your hands," at least 6 times a day.

I do believe my daughter can fix mac n' cheese and chicken nuggets 10 different ways! I set up "Nana's Nail Salon" on our deck, and painted nails for my three granddaughters and their friends for a whole morning. My three grandsons and their friends played board games on our deck for hours of entertainment. Kick-ball was a late afternoon ritual, with a growing number of kids participating every day. Even the parents would gather to watch. Bunk beds and sleeping bags filled the loft, giggles were heard and games were played until "lights out" echoed up the stairs. I could go on and on....

The best thing for you and me to do, now that summer is over, is to pull our memory treasures out anytime during a hectic day, or a busy schedule, and reflect on the special times and people that made the summer so memorable. We can look at our pictures, share them with family and friends, and recount the stories as vivid and real as when they happened.

With September here, I hope you "fall" in love with Jesus all the more. Remember His faithfulness, recount His story, and share Him with your friends.

From My Heart to Yours,
Susan Miller

The Just Moved Community

2011-08-25T05:29:00.000-07:00

The Just Moved Community is ready to welcome you!

Join now!

The Just Moved Community grew out of a vision to help women around the world who have recently moved to find the connection that they long for. The Just Moved Community will help to give you the courage to start over, move ahead, and put down roots all over again.

More women are joining every day. Here's what one woman wrote after joining:

I was unsure about joining the Community, but now I see that this is a real community of people that truly care. I thank you so much for taking out the time to call and send me an email it made me feel like someone actually cares about the transition I am about to embark on.

Joining the Just Moved Community is FREE
Here are the benefits that you'll enjoy as a member of the Just Moved Community:

A FREE copy of the New Neighbor's Pocket Guide, available exclusively through Just Moved Ministry. This 40-page booklet is filled with encouragement, tips, insights, scripture, and prayers for the entire process of a move. Written by Susan Miller.

A personal welcome from someone who cares at Just Moved Ministry. We encourage you to register a phone number to receive a one-time call of welcome and for you to share any prayer requests.

The Bloom newsletter sent directly to your home.

Answers to your Frequently Asked Questions about letting go, starting over, and moving ahead with your life after a move

Free download of all 22 Just Moved radio broadcasts.

Access to the Just Moved Library -- a wealth of encouragement and devotions, moving tips, and moving stories.

Prayer Support from the Just Moved Prayer Team.

Go to www.justmoved.org to learn more!

Who We Are & What We Do

2011-08-20T05:26:00.000-07:00

Just Moved Ministry

Who we are and what we do...

Whether your move was a welcome opportunity or a dreaded event, you face tremendous change and the daunting task of starting over in a new place. Just Moved Ministry is committed to the spiritual growth and emotional well-being of women who are uprooted due to a move. Through biblical teaching and personal support, we are committed to prepare, encourage, and equip a woman to let go of the past, rebuild hope, and embrace her new life when she moves.

Uprooted women everywhere contact Just Moved Ministry for personal encouragement and turn to JustMoved.org for helpful resources, inspiration, encouragement, prayer support, and an online community.

Churches, seminaries, and corporations in the U.S. and military installations around the world offer the Moving On After Moving In Bible study based on Susan Miller's bestseller, After the Boxes are Unpacked; Moving On After Moving In, in an effort to encourage and enfold newcomers. The study guides women through the emotional stages of a move, helps them become aware of opportunities for spiritual growth, and provides a rewarding way for them to connect in their new community.

For those who choose to start a Moving On After Moving In study, Just Moved Ministry provides all of the necessary materials, leader newsletters, and one-on-one support to make the study a success.

Susan Miller, America's Moving Coach® and President of Just Moved Ministry, is invited to speak nationally and internationally at women's events, leadership conferences, military installations, and for corporations that relocate their employees.

For Susan Miller's speaking availability, email: susanmiller@justmoved.org

For more information about all of our resources...

Explore JustMoved.org

Call Just Moved Ministry in Arizona: 480.991.5268

Email Just Moved Ministry: info@justmoved.org

Write to: Just Moved Ministry, 8010 E. Morgan Trail, Suite 7, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

Send us your moving story and survival tips. Sign up for our mailing list by sending us your mailing and email addresses.

A Moving Makeover

2011-08-15T05:25:00.000-07:00

Whatever your circumstances, you may find yourself yearning for a fresh start. Our "Moving Makeover" web page is designed with you in mind. Every month you can expect easy and practical tips, how-to's, ideas, and encouragement to make a change and improve your life in your home, your health, fashion, and beauty.

Read more Moving Makeovers

August 2011

At-Home Spa Treatments: Relax Without Having To Pay The Bill

This article originally appeared on LearnVest.com

It may sound more efficient than effective to spread something on your face that you can also pack for lunch, but there are tons of reasons why whipping up a homemade beauty recipe is smarter than splurging on a store-bought product.

What's On The Menu

A lot of what makes store-bought products so expensive is the packaging, says Janice Cox, author of Natural Beauty at Home. According to Cox, three bucks worth of ingredients from the grocery can produce a DIY treatment with the same effect as a $300 professional facial. (She told us that simple yogurt blended with fresh fruit into a facial works as well as a $34 Guinot exfoliating mask.) For more homemade beauty recipes, Helena Van Zandbergen, a celeb hairstylist who has worked everywhere from runways to reality shows, recommends Pioneer Thinking.

Why DIY Is So Appetizing

In addition to being cheap, anything you make at home (unless you're a chemist) will be 100% natural. The fact that homemade products don't include any ingredients you can't pronounce is especially good news for anyone with sensitive skin, those who want to go completely green, and those worried about animal testing. Plus, the recipes are time-tested and proven effective. Jorge Malo of the handmade beauty care line Fasanis jokes, "There's a reason Cleopatra used that mud for her face and body back in the day."

Your Shopping List

Oatmeal
Yogurt
Honey
Mayonnaise
Egg
Lemon
Avocado
Vinegar
Almond Oil

1. Janice Cox's Basic Oatmeal Mask

Mix together ½ cup cooked oatmeal, one whole egg, and one tablespoon of almond oil. Spread it on your face and leave for 15 minutes. (A berry garnish is optional.)

2. Avocado As Moisturizer

Lather avocado on dry, sun-exposed skin for a rush of moisture-make sure that your avocado fruit is fully ripe. We know some people who use the inside of the avocado skin for its moisturizing oils. To do so, rub the inner layers of the avocado peel against your face, leave on for 15 minutes, and then rinse off with warm water and pat dry.

3. The Case For Vinegar

Van Zandbergen says that occasionally rinsing hair with vinegar is a great way to add shine. It's also an ideal pedicure ingredient, Cox added, since its acidity zaps dead skin.

4. Homemade Hair Conditioner

Pioneer Thinking came up with this recipe for hair conditioner: Beat an egg yolk until it's frothy, add one teaspoon of baby oil, and one cup of water. Massage through scalp and rinse.

5. Avocado-Based Hair Conditioner

Craving guacamole? Try this conditioner instead: Mix one mashed avocado with coconut milk until thick. Comb through hair, leave on for 15 minutes, and rinse.

6. Creamy Honey Conditioner

Mix honey, mayonnaise, and egg together for a nourishing hair condition...and a heck of a potato salad base.

Tips for Moving On

2011-08-12T05:24:00.000-07:00

We could all learn from Tina Tow of Arizona when it comes to getting ourselves and our kids connected in a new community...

My best advice after 14 moves...

I remember looking around at the first school program of the year; people were hugging, saying hello, just generally being friendly... while I sat there thinking, "I don't know a single person in this auditorium filled with several hundred parents." I decided that by the next school program, I was not going to feel like the lone ranger. So, I found out what the next big event was at the school and I volunteered to help in a big way, taking on the job that no one else wanted and gave it my best college try. My assignments grew and grew until... it was time to move again. But when I did, I cried and the many friends that I had made along the way cried too.

• If your child is having trouble connecting, know that other newbie's are struggling too.

• It's so important that a new student have a connection with someone on the first day of school. Start a program at the new school for "new" kids.

• I started a Sunday 'meet and greet' at the school two weeks prior to the first school day. It was like an open house on steroids with every new kid in the school attending, along with their parents. We had school ambassadors, a few teachers, the principal, along with several "old" parents to answer specific questions.

• I started a family picnic tradition at one. Its purpose was to introduce new families to returning families.

• Once I invited just my son's class and a few parents to a local kid hot spot right before school started so the new kids and their parents would have the opportunity to meet other kids in the class.

• These programs are still ongoing although we are long gone from the area. I started these programs for two reasons: my son needed to meet people and so did I.

• My best advice after 14 moves; smile, say hello, and stick out your hand to embrace the people around you. You will feel at home when you make others feel at home with you.

A Moving Story

2011-08-09T05:23:00.000-07:00

I am walking behind Jesus

Cathie in Alberta, Canada

I have just moved for the 20th time in 11 years and will be moving again in mid-October. I will be house-sitting for the next 6 months so travelling with suitcases and boxes. My life sure does have a number of twists and turns.

I was looking at some comments on your website and the following *prayer applies to my life right now...

Thank you, God, for the opportunities this move will bring.
It is a comfort to know that you have gone before me and prepared this place for me.
I am excited about my new beginnings; yet I am fearful about the unknown.
Calm my fear, Lord. Help me to put my expectations in you and not in people or places.
I give you the glory for the great things you will do through this transition in my life.
Above all, Lord, use this move to draw me closer to you.
Amen.

The following comment was also made ...

God is good and he has great plans for your life and for my life. Sometimes the plans may seem a little unorthodox to others (I relate very well to this statement - Cathie), but in the grand scheme of things it will always work out. I believe it because God said it. (I believe that and have experienced it and AM experiencing it right now - Cathie)

At the moment I am doing a one-month fasting and praying because there are so many variables in my life right now and I have no stability in anything, except my relationship with Jesus Christ. So from a human perspective I am sometimes feeling like I can't breathe but then I just keep putting my trust in Jesus. The image that comes to mind, for my life right now, is that I am walking right behind Jesus. All I am doing is concentrating on His feet as He walks in front of me, sweeping a path so I can follow. I cannot see in front of him because there is no path, so I just keep watching His feet and walking in His steps.

I really am SO keen on Just Moved and feel I can relate so much. I am trusting the Lord to give me better insight in this month of fasting and praying as to what He wants me to do. If there is any ‘ministry' I would like to be involved with, it would be Just Moved.

*(Editor's note: Cathie is referring to the Quiet Reflections portion of our website.)

Devotional-Aug 2011

2011-08-05T05:23:00.000-07:00

Providing roots in Christ for your children

One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is a Christian foundation in which their roots can grow deep in the love of Jesus Christ. To be anchored in Christ is a basic security our children need for any transition in life. When they grow up, children will take with them the knowledge of Christ, which has been deeply rooted within. Sometimes they might take the wrong path in life, but our loving God always welcomes them back with open arms.

Here are some scriptures to guide you:

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)

So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord. (1 Samuel 1:28)

As you provide roots in Christ for your children, the next seven steps are vital to a strong foundation:

Principles of faith. Base your values on the word of God. (Colossians 2:6-7)
Pattern of life. Strive to live a life worthy of imitation that models God's design. (Ephesians 5: 1-2)
Persistence that is immovable. Don't give up. Don't let anything move you from what you believe. Be strong in your faith. (Ephesians 6:10, 14)
Participation. Feel what your children feel. Laugh when they laugh. Cry when they cry. Learn with them. (Romans 12:15)
Praise. Encourage them. Believe in them. Sing to them when they are small. Sing with them when they are grown. (Philippians 4:4-5)
Prayer. Let them see you pray, hear you pray, and watch you give God the credit for the results. (Philippians 4:6)
Planning. It's never too late. Plan on giving them roots and wings! (Isaiah 40:31, Deuteronomy 32:11)
(Excerpted from Susan Miller's book After the Boxes are Unpacked...)

Scripture to Remember: Choose one from above

Question to Consider: Which step(s) do you need to pass on to your children?

Prayer: Lord, I want to give my children a strong foundation in you. The best way I can do that is to model you in my actions, my words, and the choices I make. I know there will be days I will take three steps forward, and two steps back. Don't let me get discouraged. Walk with me, talk with me, and help me to keep my focus on you. Amen

Thought for the Day: Today I will model you, Jesus, in all I do!

Heart Talk

2011-08-02T05:22:00.000-07:00

August 2011

Dear Friends,

This is the time when moms and kids are heading for the school supplies aisle, stocking up on the things needed to prepare for school starting. As I watched them standing in line at the checkout counter with everything from backpacks to blue folders, my mind began to think outside the backpack to the "school supplies" we would need as we prepare to learn more about Jesus!

I do hope that all of you are planning to go back to school in the fall by enrolling in a Bible study, either at your church or a church in your area. It might even be a home study with a group of friends or a neighborhood group. If you are new to your community, consider starting a Moving On After Moving In small group in your home. What a great way to make new friends!

I encourage you to check it out now! We all need to reconnect after the disconnect of summer. We all need to get back to Jesus! (Make every effort to come to me soon.... 2 Timothy 4:9)

Here are a few "school supplies" you might need and suggestions for how to use them:

Bible (with a concordance to help you find verses)
Your instruction book for how to live life.

Paper (or notebook)
For notes and prayer requests, for scripture and remembrances of what you've learned.

Pen (or pencil)
To record your lessons in your mind and in your heart.

Super Glue (recommended)
To bond you with God's word.

Scissors (really sharp)
To cut out any thoughts or ways that would not honor or bring glory to God.

Folders (with pockets)
Tuck in handouts, keepsakes and lessons to enfold into your life.

Crayons (or colored pens)
To remind you of the many choices you have to color your day.

Ruler (yardstick recommended)
To measure your growth-in Jesus!

Apple (a really big one!)
God's provision and nourishment to share with others in friendship and fellowship.

May God lead you to a Bible study that will bless you and take you to a deeper knowledge and love for Him.

Please e-mail me at susanmiller@justmoved.org about what you learn in class this fall!

From My Heart to Yours,
Susan

Stars and Stripes Column

2011-07-12T21:50:00.000-07:00

Susan Miller interviewed for Stars and Stripes column

Terri Barnes, columnist for this important military newspaper, interviewed Susan for her insight in helping children adjust to a move. Go now...

Just Moved in the USA Weekend Edition!

2011-07-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

Susan Miller
Interviewed for Article in USA Weekend

Susan was interviewed for an article that appeared in the May 22nd issue of USA Weekend, a Sunday newspaper insert that is included in over 700 newspapers around the country. Click here to read the article!

Susan on Focus on the Family!

2011-07-07T21:46:00.000-07:00

Focus on the Family Interview
with Susan Miller

Click here to read Susan Miller's article, "Surviving the Stress of Moving", in the May issue of Thriving Family at Focus on the Family. Watch for an additional article by Susan on the Focus on the Family website during the month of June.

The Focus on the Family radio interview with Susan is scheduled to be broadcast July 12 & 13, 2011. Focus will follow with a live, streaming interview and call-in program with Susan on July 13, 2-3pm Eastern.

Summer Moving Special!!

2011-07-04T21:44:00.000-07:00

Summer Moving Special

Get both of Susan Miller's bestselling books for only $17,
plus $4 s&h
You save $7.70!

Just click HERE!

Moving Tips

2011-07-02T21:43:00.000-07:00

20 Ways to Help Children Adjust After a Move

Summer time and the livin' is far from easy... that is, if you're moving.

So how can we make the move a little easier on the kids? The following are some of Susan Miller's suggestions from her book, After the Boxes are Unpacked.

1. Christen Your New Home
Tie a big bow - one for each of your children on the front door. When the child cuts his or her bow, take a picture to put in your moving day scrapbook.

2. Create a Personal Calling Card
Type your new address and phone number in columns with a two-inch margin. Fold on lines above and below each address so you and the children can tear them off for friends.

3. Have a Family Party
All you need are cookies, punch, and conversation. Remember, conversation can be more refreshing than cookies and punch.

4. Don't Skip Breakfast
A good breakfast gives your kids the energy to start the day.

5. Personalize Your New Yard
Encourage your kids to plant seeds or flowers in the yard. Explain how we all have to root and grow in new soil.

6. Encourage Friendships
Encourage your children to invite friends home. You provide the pizza.

7. Daily Routines Provide Security
Establish a routine as quickly as possible.

8. Ask Before You Toss
Don't do away with old toys and familiar possessions. They may give your child a feeling of continuity.

9. Pride In Ownership
Let your child take part in decorating his or her room.

10. New Traditions
The old traditions are still very important to your family, however, a new house is a great time to add some new traditions.

11. Listen, Listen, Listen
Don't preach or teach, instead give your kids lots of hugs while you listen to what they're really saying.

12. Grieving Is Part of the Moving Process
Allow your children to mourn their losses in the move.

13. Get Them Involved
Ask neighbors or your church about a good youth program for your children to get involved with.

14. A Little Something Extra
Leave notes that say, "I love U" or "Have a great day!" and leave them in unexpected places where they'll be found by the kids.

15. Keep In Touch
Allow each child an opportunity call to a friend in his or her former town.

16. Stay Positive
Provide lots of reassurance for them.

17. Pray
Pray for your children every day.

18. Bedtime Routines
Tuck younger children in at bedtime. Don't be in a hurry, but allow them to open up about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

19. Nourish their growth
Nourish their roots in Christ, family, and home.

20. Build Up Their Confidence
Give them wings of freedom to move forward in their journey of life.

(Another great resource from Susan Miller is her book, But Mom, I Don't Want to Move.)

A Moving Story

2011-06-30T21:42:00.000-07:00

Facing crisis far from home
How one transplant to Alabama had the support of new "sisters" when she least expected it

Kellie in Alabama

I have been so blessed with the Huntsville, AL [Moving On After Moving In] Group, under Pam Zavada's leadership at Cove United Methodist Church.

I am an Air Force spouse that was invited to join this group after moving from Georgia to Alabama. I did not live "local", about 25 minutes away; well over the mountain. With gas prices, I tried to talk myself out of joining the group, because I had moved 9 times in 15 years and really did not think I needed this group for "support". I had that all figured out, but the Lord kept stirring at my heart and one day He spoke to me and said, "Kellie, it's not about you this time, it's about others." I got it!! I was supposed to go there and encourage women who have moved for the first time or 10th time. I have been so blessed by this group. Last year I was invited to join the leadership team and help facilitate the group and it has been such a joy.

We had our graduation today and we do things "BIG" here in the south, as you know. We bought gerbera daisies and put a tag on each plant that said, "Bloom where you are planted." We purchased balloons - lots of balloons - and told them to fly now! And, of course they each got bookmarks and luggage tags. We had lots of tears today as we all shared how much this group has done for each of us personally.

Let me share what those little luggage tags did for me! As I said earlier, I am married to an officer in the Air Force that is a triathlete and, 5 months after moving in, my sweet husband had a blood clot in his calf and both lungs and was hospitalized. As he went in for his MRI I was all alone and no cell phone service available so I began to clean my purse out and there were all my luggage tags on the ring. I began to read all of the scriptures and pray, who would have thought little luggage tags would have meant so much!

Then when we went back to the ER the nurse said my sister was waiting to see us. Sister?? I thought... ok?? It was Kathy from my [Moving On] group. She is approximately 5ft.tall - on a good day - and I am close to 6ft tall. I started to cry when I saw her.

She whispered in my ear, "Sister in Christ."

"Right!" I said, "Absolutely!"

Two of the girls in our group have husbands who are physicians and they came in to pray with me and my husband. Little did I know how much I needed that group.

We are schedule to PCS next Spring and I would love to start a group on the next base that we are assigned to.

June Devotional

2011-06-28T21:42:00.000-07:00

Summer Alert!

We all know that the best way to grow healthy plants in a pot or a hanging basket during this time of year is to water regularly, provide ample light, fertilize as needed, and prune the branches when necessary. Here are some ways for you to grow deep roots in the soil of God's love if you have recently moved, or if you are facing a move in the future.

Water regularly by staying in God's word. My potted plants are watered daily because they are not in the ground where the sprinkler can reach them. They are separated from other plants, and can dry out easily. With a move, you may become separated from God's word for any number of reasons. Don't dry out! Spend time daily reading the Bible to replenish and restore your soul.

Provide yourself with plenty of light by knowing God's truth. As you read His word, memorize scripture, and believe in His promises, truth will be revealed to you. Tremendous growth will come from allowing God to shine His light on your life.

Fertilize as needed by being in Christ-centered fellowship. God puts His people in your life to nurture you, to serve as role-models for you, to encourage you, to pray for you, and to hold you accountable. Seek out a church home, if you haven't already. Get involved. Join a women's study group. Find out if the church has a Moving On After Moving In group to help you in your transition and adjustment. (Click here)

Prune the branches when necessary. The more withering flowers you cut, the more the plant will bloom. The more branches you prune, the fuller and greener the bush becomes. Careful pruning for you means to gently let go of people or places you've left behind. Doing this allows new growth within, new opportunities, and the growth of new relationships. Pruning also allows you to embrace the present and the future.

Scripture to Remember: May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. Ephesians 3:17

Question to Consider: Have I "dried out" spiritually since I moved?

Prayer: Lord, help me to be intentional about growing deep roots in You. I feel so disconnected from You since I've moved. (Or with the busyness of getting ready to move.) Help me to focus on You and on your word each day. Don't let the clutter of my mind distract me from your truth. Lead me to the right church, and open the doors for Godly friendships. Help me to gently begin to let go of anything that will keep me from moving forward with my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Thought for the Day: Today I will begin to grow deep roots in the soil of God's love!

- Susan Miller

Susan's Heart Talk-June 2011

2011-06-25T21:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

My daughter, Ginger, texted me with these words, "Savannah (my eight year-old granddaughter) says you're famous Mom!" My first thought was, what does she mean by ‘famous?' My next thought was, what have I done to be famous in her eyes? I read on in excitement and anticipation. "There's a picture of you and Savannah on Grandparent's Day in the school yearbook!"

When I called Ginger to get the scoop, she said Savannah ran in the house after school, waving her yearbook as she yelled in glee, "Look! Here's Nana's picture, with me!" I couldn't help but smile as I remembered back to Grandparent's Day, and how I reluctantly slipped off from a busy schedule at work to go to Savannah's third-grade celebration for all the students' grandparents. The kids made cupcakes for all of us, and the teacher took pictures of each child and their grandparent. It was a really big deal, and a really big day. I remember thinking when I left the school how glad I was that I made the effort to go. I can't recall the work I was doing that day at the office, but I vividly recall the smile on Savannah's face, and the tight hug she gave me when I walked into her classroom. And to think, I almost let a full schedule, a busy day, and a thirty minute drive keep me from going....

What about you, my friend? Have you ever almost missed a memorable moment with your children or grandchildren because life got in the way? I can't begin to tell you all the times over the years that I did miss out because of my own crazy agenda and full calendar.

As summer begins, thank goodness schedules relax a little, time is somewhat more flexible, and the busy rhythm of life slows down a beat or two. Seize the moment to make memories with your children, grandchildren, family, and friends. Here are some tried and true suggestions from my own family summers that have made memorable moments for each of us.

Listen to one another. (You'll learn stuff.)
Laugh a lot. (You can even be silly.)
Play board games.
Plan some outdoor activities.
Camp out in the backyard or make a tent with sheets inside.
Work on a project or a craft together.
Go on a picnic. (Sit on a blanket, not at a table.)
Go to a park. (Don't just sit there and watch-swing!)
Bake or prepare a meal together. (It's okay if the kitchen gets messy.)
Have a family movie night, with popcorn and lemonade. (Sit down and watch the movie too. Discuss it together afterwards.)
Ride bikes.
Dance and sing.
Don't forget to take lots of pictures together. Put them in a photo album so you can all be ‘famous' for the summer of 2011.
Be safe as you travel, my friends. Stay in touch with a card, an email, or a Facebook update telling us what you're doing or where you're going. You are never far away from my heart, and my prayers.

From My Heart to Yours,
Susan Miller

Monthly Moving Challenge

2011-05-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

(Frodo) "I wish The Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had ever happened."

(Gandalf) "So do all who live to face such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."

- Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

Let Go: Are you wishing and praying that your circumstances would change?

Start Today: There is nothing wasted in God's economy. Will you view each event - every difficulty, hurdle, and disappointment, as well as every joy - as a gift from God to mold you and the members of your family?

Move Ahead: What will you do "with the time that is given you?" Ask God for the strength to be the best steward of His gift of life.

Moving On Tips

2011-05-21T12:31:00.000-07:00

Bloom From Within

(Adapted from After the Boxes Are Unpacked by Susan Miller)

Are the spring bulbs blooming where you live? As a mover, you are very much like a one of these bulbs. When planted, you lie dormant for a season until you put down roots. Then your sprout begins to appear above the earth, and finally, you bloom. I suspect that during this move, you've given priority to everyone else in your family, leaving your own sprouts to look pretty wilted. Let's pick off the dead leaves and flowers and give you the opportunity to bloom.

Become your best through the fragrance of your life.
"...in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation-an aroma redolent with life." (2 Cor. 2:14-15). When you walk around carrying the aroma of Christ, people will be drawn to you. What will make you different in your community is not that you are new in town, but that the fragrance of Christ surrounds you. You will be known not only by how you bloom, but by His fragrance that you wear.

Become your best through your uniqueness.
"...you formed me in my mother's womb.... Body and soul, I am marvelously made!" (Psalm 139:13-14). Isn't it great to know you are not made with a cookie cutter? You are an original! That's the very best reason to be yourself, love yourself, and be good to yourself! God made you unique because He wanted your bloom to be one of a kind, distinct from all the others.

Become your best through your beauty.
"One thing...I shall seek...to behold the beauty of the Lord" (Psalm 27:4). Christ is the creator of all beauty, both inside and outside. Your outer beauty is only skin-deep. It's the beauty from within that radiates in your life. I would rather see your heart than your hairdo. I'm attracted to what matters to you inside, rather than how you feel about your appearance. It is the indwelling beauty of Christ in your heart that allows your outer beauty to bloom. You are, in essence, God's bouquet to the world around you.

Here are 10 ways to help you "bloom" and to be a lovely fragrance to those you meet:

1. Try one new thing each day.

2. Don't compare.

3. When you meet someone for the first time, look her in the eyes, and give her a firm handshake and a smile.

4. Focus on being, rather than doing.

5. Seize the day!

6. Expect a positive outcome from your move.

7. Go to a park that has playground equipment and swing!

8. Walk as much as you can.

9. Count your blessings every day.

10. Eat right.

May Moving Story

2011-05-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

...a little glimpse of the Holy One at work behind the scenes...

Naomi in Arizona

Thank you for your kind and caring letter. Whenever I hear from you people, I say a hearty "Bless you!" right out loud. It's so good to have your friendship and support.

One of your Prayer Warriors has written to me, quoting many uplifting passages from scripture. How nice! I make it a point to read something inspiring and holy every day, but I seldom have received it coming right to my email inbox! Usually I have to go look for it.

My mother often said, "God moves in mysterious ways. How true that is! I sometimes get a little glimpse of the Holy One at work behind the scenes, and it fills me with thankfulness. In my relocation process, I notice these things most in the moments when I manage to relax. I'm beginning to see those all-important people connections forming. A friendly clerk in a little store, from France. I have fun practicing my rusty French conversation skills with her! A lovely welcoming spirit at the Sit and Stitch group that meets at the library. She helped me feel more "at home" here, and told me where I can go to find great yarns and fabrics for my knitting, crocheting and sewing projects.

I also saw God's magic at work in the wee hours a few nights ago. I woke up about 1am and felt wide awake. Although I almost never go outside in the middle of the night, I had an urge to go to my car to check on something, and I decided not to wait until daylight. I stepped outdoors and immediately caught my breath in wonder. There was a crystal clear sky above me, jet black and studded with bright stars and constellations -- sheer beauty and majesty! It brought tears of joy, and a sense of the presence of the Artist whose handiwork was displayed before me.

May Devotional

2011-05-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

Ever felt weary, worn-out, and frazzled, with a desperate need for relief?

Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, work outside the home, single or married - the stress of moving can easily overcome you at times. It is obvious that women carry a heavy load in the moving process-from packing and unpacking, to getting a house in order, to starting a new job. Add to that the loss of relationships, loneliness, and the feeling of being disconnected, and it can be overwhelming. You simply feel like you've gotten lost in the shuffle of moving-and life.

Sometimes when your load is heavy, you become too busy and distracted from the one thing that will restore and renew you - resting in Jesus. Oh, my moving friends, unpack God's word in your heart! Run to the shelter of His arms by taking everything to Him in prayer. Rest in Him, rely on His strength, not your own.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Drawing closer to God is a vital part of taking care of yourself before and after a move. Physically, you can feel exhausted. Emotionally, you can feel drained. Spiritually, you can feel dry. Come near to God and He will come near to you. James 4:8

God will restore, refresh, and renew you as you surrender all to Him. He restores my soul. Psalm 23:3

Scripture to Remember: Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:31

Question to Consider: Am I taking care of everything and everyone but myself?

Prayer: Oh God, I desperately need you! I am worn-out and weary from the heavy load I am carrying. Fill me with your presence and your peace. Give me rest and strength for each day. I run to you and yearn for your arms of comfort. Amen

Thought for the Day: Today, I will rest in Jesus!

- Susan Miller

Heart Notes from Susan

2011-05-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

My dear friends,

Most of you know that I have a soft spot in my heart for military wives who keep the home fires burning while their husbands are deployed. I have traveled near and far to love on them, encourage them, and share God's word of hope. Listening to their stories, holding them in my arms, and praying for them is a treasure that I hold most dear. Even now, I can see their faces clearly in my mind -some etched with smiles, a persevering spirit, and the determination to push through another day without their man; while some are etched with tears, weariness, and fear that he might not come home.

Military wives are always anticipating another move and leaving behind a close network of friends who are often a support to each other. Time and time again, they leave the familiar to face the unfamiliar. To read about military wives in an article, or hear about their hardships on the news is one thing, but the privilege to be up close and personal with them brings me to my knees with the reality of their circumstances.

I received an email this week from one of my military friends, who asked our ministry to pray for her. She is already in my prayers, and in the arms of our prayer team. Will you join us in praying for my friend, and for all military spouses?

Here are some ways you can pray along with me:

For those who are grieving over the death of a spouse.

For those who are physically and emotionally exhausted, weary, and overwhelmed.

For hurting hearts and broken relationships.

For those who are lonely and afraid.

For daily encouragement.

For strength when facing another move.

For peace and contentment in their circumstances.

For trusting God in all things and for all things.

For Godly friendships.

For a grateful heart.

For those who do not know Jesus.

I am grateful for you as we join together across the miles to prayerfully support the women who serve on the home front while their husbands serve our country, both home and abroad.

From My Heart to Yours,
Susan Miller

Moving Makeover

2011-04-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

Almost two years ago my son got married (I love my DIL!) and I was only months away from a significant birthday... the big 5-0. As the mother of the groom I wanted to look my best for the big day (and for all those pictures that would not only be in a lovely photo album, but would end up plastered everywhere online!) and the skin care and cosmetics I had been using were out of step with my aging skin. This month I'm sharing a few tips that made a big difference for me.

Whether you're preparing for a special occasion or just need a fresh look, here are some ideas to get you started.

•Invest in a consultation with a skin care and makeup expert (you can find this in one person). I inherited extreme frugality from my mother, for which I'm thankful, but it was time to stop using random makeup samples, playing Russian roulette with over-the-counter products, and trying tips from magazines that weren't realistic for me. The consultant informed me of my skin tone and the products that work best with my skin. She showed me how to play up my good qualities and tone down the bad ones. This turned out to be one of the best investments I've ever made!

•Exfoliate. Exfoliate. Exfoliate. Getting rid of the dull, dead skin cells will add a healthier glow to your skin. I keep exfoliating cream and a hand-held, battery operated exfoliation device in the shower. It has a brush that spins round and round to gently slough off the dead skin cells. My face looks and feels so much better!

•My new, indispensable cosmetics? Face powder and bronzing powder. After applying my makeup, I brush on face powder that is the same color as my foundation. Then I follow up with the bronzing powder. I use a light touch so that I don't look like George Hamilton (remember him?) and I brush a little on my neck and chest. Later in the day or before I go out for the evening, I retouch with the powders and I'm good to go!

•This next tip is for those of you who have straight hair like me. You've heard about back-combing (teasing) to add a little height or volume. My friend who cuts my hair put me on to the best tool for this. This many-toothed comb works great and can be purchased at any beauty supply. (The picture doesn't do a good job of showing you that there are THREE rows of teeth.)

•Ok. One more tip when you want an easy change from your straight, long hair. After washing your hair, while it is still very damp, tie it in a knot on top of your head and let it dry. I do this before I go to bed at night. In the morning I use a hair pick to gently smooth over the bed-head look and the ends of my hair are fun and kinky. This technique saves time in the morning and gets me in touch with my inner hippy.

•Finally, don't be afraid to ask questions of other women whose appearance you admire. I found that the eye shadows that I had tried would fade and become a murky mess after only an hour! When I met a woman whose eye shadow looked great, I would ask her what she was using. I got some helpful information, she was glad to be complimented, and we had something to talk about!

Send me your best beauty, home, fashion, and health tips! Email them to Ann at akelley@justmoved.org.

-Ann Kelley

Class Spotlight

2011-04-28T14:49:00.000-07:00

Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church
Elmhurst, IL
Julie Albin, Group Leader
Marcia Huizinga, Community Life Director

The unique thing is that, in addition to the study, we include field trips to the best shopping places, tourist attractions, restaurants, etc. in the area. This helps the group connect and acclimate to the community. Our latest study ended in December but chose to continue on with another book study and a social outing once a month for this semester.

This ministry has been such a blessing in our church and we hope it will continue for a long time.

The BLOOM Newsletter

2011-04-24T14:47:00.000-07:00

Bloom is sent out three times a year. Would you like to receive Bloom in the mail? Send us your name and address by emailing info@justmoved.org or call us at 480.991.5268, Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm, MST.

Click Here to see the latest issue of BLOOM

Monthly Challenge

2011-04-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

"By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger.... Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations-the City designed and built by God."

Hebrews 11:8-10 (The Message)

Let Go: You've said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place or stage in your life, whether willingly or reluctantly. Is your focus behind or ahead? On the past or on today?

Start Over: You've heard it said, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life." Choose to characterize your life with the expectation of God's perfect plan to offer "a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Move Ahead: Start or end every day this month with Scripture to keep your eyes on an eternal foundation and to remind you that your life and future is in the hands of a loving, trustworthy God. Here are some verses to get you started: Psalm 31:24; 37:3-5; 40:4; 42:11; 46:1,2; 71:5; 84:11,12; 125:1; Proverbs 3:5,6; Luke 12:32; Matthew 6:31,32; I Peter 1:3; 5:7.

Moving Tips

2011-04-18T14:46:00.000-07:00

Celebrating Easter

This year Easter is on April 24^th. You may be far from family and old friends but as Easter approaches, we encourage you to implement the traditions that you've established for this holiday. Familiar traditions will help provide you and your family with a sense of continuity and stability in the midst of change.

Do you have special Easter items that are still packed away? Locate your holiday boxes and unpack them. This step is important to moving forward with this new stage in life and will help bring familiarity into your new home.

Are you looking to add some new Easter traditions? This month's Tips for Moving on are some fun Easter ideas for you and your family. They also provide a great opportunity for you to invite another person or family to join you.

•Easter wreath. Create a wreath for your front door using silk spring flowers, colorful ribbons, and symbols of Holy Week attached to it.

•Easter devotions. Acquire an Easter devotional to use during Holy Week with your family. Your new church may provide one for you. (If you do not have a church home, we encourage you to find one during this special season.) Christian bookstores are a good resource to check for a devotional.

•Make homemade treats. Pretzels originated as a Lenten treat! Some say the twisted center is arms crossed in prayer. A traditional Hot Cross bun has long been a symbol of Good Friday. Today they are sold in bake shops and supermarket bakeries throughout the Easter season. Each bun has an icing cross on top to signify the crucifixion.

•Egg decorating kit. Provide all kinds of decorations for kids to use while decorating their Easter eggs: egg dye kit, crayons, stickers, glitter glue, markers.... your imagination sets the limit! For Christians of the Near East, the Easter egg represented the tomb from which Jesus broke forth. They were often colored red to symbolize the blood of Christ by which all believers were given a share in the new life of Christ.

•Easter egg messages. Before dying the hard-boiled eggs, use crayons to draw pictures or write phrases like "He is Risen" or "Hallelujah" on each egg. Because the dye cannot adhere to the egg through the crayon wax, the message will be easy to read.

•The cave and the stone. Provide a hands-on image of the boulder miraculously rolling away from the entrance to Jesus' tomb. Let your kids craft a small pot out of clay. Lay the pot on its side and allow to dry. Ask the kids to find a rock large enough to conceal the opening of this pot. Discuss with them how Jesus was placed in a tomb that was sealed by a large rock. Or, if they know the story, allow them to tell it to you. Discuss how only an act of God could put the guards to sleep and move this big stone that guarded the grave. On Easter, replace the rock with flowers and celebrate the resurrection. Read together: John 20:1-3, 5-8

•Gift of service. Reflect Jesus' love and extend it to others by visiting the sick and the elderly or by serving at a homeless shelter.

•Celebrate your baptism. The connection between baptism and Easter can be traced to the church's first centuries. During this time the whole of Lent was not only a time of penance but also when people were prepared for baptism, which was given only once a year at Easter. Do you remember when you or your children were baptized? Discuss this event with your kids and show them photos of their baptism if you have them. Light a candle to commemorate the event.

•Celebrate with neighbors. Invite your neighbors over for Easter dinner or have a potluck.

•Neighborhood parade. Organize an Easter parade and egg hunt for the children in your neighborhood. Provide items for kids to decorate their bikes and have a bike parade. During the Middle Ages in Europe, people in their new Easter clothes would take a long walk after Easter Mass. This was a kind of procession preceded by a crucifix of the Easter Candle. The tradition evolved into Easter Parades.

•Conversation starters. Along with candy treats, place small symbols of the Holy Week inside plastic eggs for your children to find. What a great way to talk about Christ with your children.

•Celebrate the resurrection. Attend a sunrise service on Easter Sunday.

A Moving Story

2011-04-13T14:45:00.000-07:00

Encouragement in the midst of loss and worry...

Hi Susan,

A while back you contacted me on my answering machine after I had joined your online community. It was such a pleasure to hear your voice! Can I tell you that I still have that message on my answering machine? I can't seem to bring myself to erase it. It is such a ministry to me and I had to write to tell you thank you.

I had the opportunity to take your [Moving On After Moving In study] when I relocated from New Mexico to Oklahoma about 4 years ago. I have since moved again from Oklahoma to California and sincerely missed this class!! All this to say that your online community and newsletters have sure been a blessing to me. Now that I have made two major moves in less than 4 years I have had such a feeling of loss, uprootedness, worry, and unsettledness that it has been overwhelming to say the least.

One of the hardest things to find when you move is a church home as well as a ladies' Bible study. California is such a different mission field than Oklahoma and it has been much more difficult here making friends, finding a good Bible study and women who are like minded and share my faith. Will you pray with me that I will find these things? My children have also had a hard time adjusting to this move. Will you pray for them to find Godly friends as well?

Thank you again for all you do and the ministry you supply to countless numbers of women who need to know they haven't fallen off the face of the earth. God Bless you!

Sincerely,

Christy in California

April Devotional

2011-04-10T14:45:00.001-07:00

A new beginning, a chance to start all over, a new opportunity to bloom...

...all you need is someone to come along side you, believe in you, and tell you that "you can do it!" How many times have you wished for these very things, and yearned for words of encouragement? That "someone" who will give you all these things, and more-is God Himself! With an unwavering faith in God, an inner strength that comes from Him, and an enduring perseverance that comes from trusting Him-you can do it!

God will enable you

You can have victory.

"...with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

God will equip you

You can step out in faith today.

"...equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:17

God will embrace you

You have the assurance of His presence.

"...I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

God will encourage you

You have His promise.

"...God who gives perseverance and encouragement..." Romans 15:5

Scripture to Remember: "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

Question to Consider: Am I ready to trust God completely with my life?

Prayer: Lord, give me the courage and boldness for a new beginning and a chance to start over in life. Enable and equip me, embrace and encourage me, as I take the first step. Amen

Thought for the Day: Today I will persevere with an unwavering faith!

- Susan Miller

March Moving Tips

2011-03-25T10:38:00.002-07:00

Who am I?
When a life change means a loss of identity

Often the most difficult obstacles in starting over is a loss of identity. After 27 years as a missionary, Donna's move back to the U.S. left her in a painful period of "limbo" that resulted in grief and depression. On the mission field her role as missionary, videographer, Bible teacher, mother, and friend was the way she defined herself. After her move, she didn't have any of these responsibilities to provide her with an identity; even her children had grown and left her with an empty nest.

In time Donna's grief gave way to a new perspective. The move became an opportunity for Donna to reassess her goals, dreams, and relationship with Christ and with others. She writes, [The move] "allowed me the freedom in Christ to be who He wanted me to be! Now, rather than waking each morning with plans for video production... I wake with a clean slate and ask, ‘What do you have for me today, Lord?' Each day is an adventure! My desire is to walk so closely with Him that I will know that the promptings of my heart are from Him, and I can confidently respond to those prompts. I don't have to hang back in shyness, or hesitate, but can quickly and confidently act out of His love! I am no longer looking back, but looking forward each day with a deep joy."

Are you struggling with the loss of identity as a result of your move or a new stage in life? This is an opportunity to redefine yourself and make decisions as you take on new responsibilities and involvements.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Keep Your Focus on God
Spend time in prayer and in Scripture, asking God for direction.

Create a Personal Mission Statement
Often, after settling in, you'll find you have time on your hands. The calendar isn't filled with all of the things you were involved in before. Take this opportunity to spend time creating a personal mission statement. Approach this prayerfully and ask yourself questions like:
For what purpose did God create me?
What are my unique, God-given qualities?
What is God calling me to accomplish?
Reflect on scripture to seek God's perspective for purpose in your life. The website urbana.org has helpful suggestions for creating a Christian personal mission statement.

Plan According To Your Personal Mission Statement
Review your decision-making in the past. Were there decisions that you made based upon the expectations of others? Were there decisions that you regret? This move can be a great opportunity to approach decisions (community involvement, friendships, healthful lifestyle, etc.) with greater wisdom and a desire to plan according to your personal mission statement.

Embrace Opportunities for Direction and Enrichment
Let's face it, new communities and involvements are going to provide a different environment for you. It may take some time to adjust if the community or involvement you left behind is still tugging at your heart. Approach each moment, encounter, and experience with the knowledge that God is directing your path and these are opportunities for direction and enrichment.

Expand Your Comfort Zone
Be open to trying new things as opportunities arise. Often times, the hardest part is just picking up the phone or making a commitment to go. Put aside any excuses and begin today!

Expand Your Talents
What is something that you've always wanted to try or to be better at? Why not take that college class, a music lesson, or join that book club or women's group? Look into it! Do something that can take you one step closer to expanding your talents.

Examine Your God-Given Gifts and Abilities
Seek an opportunity to use your gifts and abilities in your community. Ask those close to you for input as they may provide an insight you hadn't considered. Contact local schools, community centers, church, etc. and offer your skills.

Join An Outreach
Commit yourself to a cause about which you feel passionate. Research the causes available in your community. Search for ideas by using an internet search engine. Type in your town and state and then add a keyword to it such as: volunteer, clubs, organizations, activities, calendar, newcomer's club.

Be Good To Yourself
Get the beauty makeover that you've been thinking about. Ask women whose look you admire where they get their hair cut. (Yes, you can ask a stranger! Any woman would be flattered to be told her style was admired!) Go to a stylist and ask for a style that would be fabulous without a lot of fuss. Add highlights for a lift to your existing color or try a new color altogether! Department store makeup counters often apply their makeup for free! Ask them for tips and new trends.

Just Savor The Chaos!
Don't wait until you have all of your "ducks in a row" to get involved. Gathering information and weighing opportunities is important, but at some point you just have to jump in and move forward with your life!

March Moving Tips

2011-03-25T10:38:00.001-07:00

Who am I?
When a life change means a loss of identity

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Keep Your Focus on God
Spend time in prayer and in Scripture, asking God for direction.

March Moving Tips

2011-03-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

Who am I?
When a life change means a loss of identity

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Keep Your Focus on God
Spend time in prayer and in Scripture, asking God for direction.

March Moving Story

2011-03-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

(Editor's note: Rose has been a special part of the Just Moved Ministry family for a long time. Several of her blogs about being uprooted have appeared on our website as a Moving Story. She writes with honesty and a deep reliance on the Lord. You can read more of her blogs at http://www.rospiration.blogspot.com/)

Lost and Found

You may have noticed my posts are distinctly lacking in the "God is in the flowers and rainbows" flavor. In fact, more of my posts are about trials I face or disappointments in myself. This no doubt comes from the fact that, while I am every bit female, I‘ve never been a "girly" girl. I look like death warmed over in pink, I simply look silly in ruffles, and though I love jewelry, the beautiful blingy cocktail rings my sweet friend Patty has given me are a glaring contradiction on my thin, veiny hands. And frankly, my life has been so challenge-filled since 1995 that I find little comfort in stress-busting devotionals that advise me to take a bubble bath or have my nails done. God IS in the flowers and rainbows, and probably in bubbles, too, but I need a God who is there to be found IN my pain, loss, anxiety, disappointments, grief, and frustrations. If He isn't to be encountered and experienced there, then what hope do any of us have?

After I take the bubble bath and have my nails done, what has changed? Have those admittedly fun exercises changed my circumstances? If they haven't changed my situation, have they changed me? No. And while I love bubble baths, I need something more substantial in my life. The most effective stress-buster to me is seeing God's hand moving to transform me in the middle of the messes my life seems to step into again and again like the ubiquitous gum on a summer day in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

I long to dance in the rain - not because I'm a pessimist, but because I know rain will come. I need a God who isn't afraid to get wet, who can transcend, transfigure, translate and transform, as the lyrics in John Mark McMillan's moving, anointed song, "How He Loves", powerfully declare: "When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory, and I realize just how beautiful You are and how great your affections are for me." I need a God of grit and guts and glory. That's who I'm encountering in this deepest trial of my life - a God of incredible, deep compassion and love - and that's who I pray you find within these thoughts and discoveries of mine.

March Devotional

2011-03-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

Moved but not shaken...

When the strong winds come in March, it usually leaves everything in my yard in disarray. Patio chairs and flower pots blow over, branches fall, and leaves scatter. It looks like the whole yard has been turned upside down and everything has been shaken loose from its foundation.

For those of you moving through the "winds of change" in your life, you might feel like the very foundation of your world is shaken. Just like the wind is beyond our control, so are many of the circumstances that blow into our lives. From a traumatic job loss, home foreclosure, or unwanted move; a devastating divorce, or being a self-supporting single mom; a debilitating illness, or the painful death of a loved one; being an empty-nester, or a caregiver to aging parents---change can leave our life turned upside down and often brings unexpected chaos to our world. Nothing seems the same around us and we don't know where to begin to start putting the pieces back together again.

When we are moving through change, remember that our God is unchangeable. (Malachi 3:6) When the winds and the storms of life hit us, we must stand strong on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and His promises; then our foundation will not be shaken-regardless of our circumstances! He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. Psalm 62:2

Scripture to Remember:

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against the house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. Matthew 7:24-25

Question to Consider:

What are the winds of change that have shaken up your world?

Prayer:

Oh Lord, I am going through major changes right now, and my world has turned upside down. I run to you, my rock! Protect me, calm me, and let me rest in the shelter of your arms. Give me the strength of your Word to get through this. Amen

Thought for the Day:

Today, I will cling to your Word.

- Susan Miller

Heart Talk March 2011

2011-03-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

My dear friends,

My granddaughter, Savannah, who is eight, has always ruled the roost with her three brothers, who are nine, six, and five. She keeps them in line - from reminding them of their table manners, to keeping their rooms picked-up. I get a kick out of listening to her talk to them when she is in her "mothering mode," and I already see in her so many nurturing qualities of her mother at this young age.

I went over to their house last week and entered through the door that leads to the garage. It's the door we all use for coming and going instead of the front door, probably much like your house too. When I was ready to leave, I walked towards the garage and saw the neatly printed, large sign in Savannah's handwriting taped to the door at eye level. There was no way anyone on their way out could miss reading the words that said:

Got your lunch?

Got your jacket?

Got your homework?

I couldn't help but laugh as I realized these words were a reminder for her three brothers as they left for school each morning! Obviously, Savannah had heard her mother ask these questions every day as all four of them scurried off to school after the typical morning chaos of getting ready.

As I was driving home, I couldn't help but think how I needed to post on my door a little check-list reminder of things not to forget as I leave each day. It would read like this:

Got kindness?

Got right attitude?

Got joy?

If I choose to be kind in my actions and words during the day, it will encourage those I come in contact with. If I choose a positive attitude, it will be contagious for others. If I choose joy in the midst of my circumstances, it will be a testimony of my faith and trust in Christ.

I think I'll add a few more. Wow! I could paper the whole door with post-it notes!

What would your checklist say?

From My Heart to Yours,

Susan Miller

A Word of Encouragement

2011-03-11T10:34:00.001-08:00

Moving is an uprooting and unsettling time in your life. You long to feel rooted and grounded, and yet you’ve just begun to break new ground in a new place. You are probably experiencing the normal shock of adjustment from being transplanted. God wants you to “grow” in your relationship with Him as you put down new roots.

"Many of us refuse to grow where we are put;
consequently, we take root nowhere."
Oswald Chambers

A Moving Story

2011-02-26T13:04:00.000-08:00

A journey of faith...

Heather in Indiana

My adventure began in 2001 when my husband graduated from Northern Arizona University and got a job in Texas. Married less than two years, we left everyone we knew with all our stuff and our four-month-old baby boy in tow. I was recently married, a new Christian, and a brand new mom in an entirely unfamiliar place. It was new and challenging, yet at the same time, it felt exciting and daring to start a new life.

Although I didn't realize it at the time, that was just the beginning of my adventure. A job promotion for my husband meant moving our family to the suburbs of New Orleans in 2003. In 2005, two months after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, we were transferred back to Texas. Then last year another promotion brought us to Indiana.

Moving around every few years does have its benefits. I've found that each new place is unique and special in its own way. I've met some wonderful, interesting people and seen some remarkable sights. I've learned about myself and others and their warm-heartedness. I've been given several fresh new starts with new things to see and do and have become much closer to my husband and boys in the process.

Of course, moving around has also meant facing some new realities. Realities like the constant pressure to get involved, to get to know new people, and feeling incredibly misunderstood along the way. It's meant never feeling fully settled or having a sense that I'm truly home. I'm not outgoing by nature and becoming part of a larger community is difficult when you don't stay around for the long-term.

Leaving the known behind has been a strange mix of fun, excitement, awkwardness, and difficulty. I haven't done it as gracefully as I would like to say I have. In some seasons I have grieved and withdrawn from everyone. In others, I've rushed boldly and confidently into the newness. Mainly I have just fallen forward while trying to find my way.

Through this process, I have found that only God can love me the way I need to be loved. He has remained so faithful to our family. He has never failed to provide us with a wonderful church home, a safe, friendly neighborhood, and great schools.

In the midst of the newness and uncertainty, one thing has remained certain: my faith in Christ. The flame that God lit in my heart when I committed my heart and life to Jesus continues to burn brightly. He has given me a desire to live everyday with extraordinary faith. He has challenged me to make the effort to bloom where I'm planted and to embrace the newness and the people that come and go. Knowing Him is what has carried me through my journey.

The Just Moved Community

2011-02-23T13:15:00.000-08:00

The Just Moved Community is ready to welcome you!
Join now!
The Just Moved Community grew out of a vision to help women around the world who have recently moved to find the connection that they long for. The Just Moved Community will help to give you the courage to start over, move ahead, and put down roots all over again.

More women are joining every day. Here's what one woman wrote after joining:

I was unsure about joining the Community, but now I see that this is a real community of people that truly care. I thank you so much for taking out the time to call and send me an email it made me feel like someone actually cares about the transition I am about to embark on.

Joining the Just Moved Community is FREE
Here are the benefits that you'll enjoy as a member of the Just Moved Community:

Answers to your Frequently Asked Questions about letting go, starting over, and moving ahead with your life after a move

Connect with other movers at the Just Moved Community Forum. Post a question, offer advice, find other newcomers in your area!

Free download of all 22 Just Moved radio broadcasts.

Access to the Just Moved Library -- a wealth of encouragement and devotions, moving tips, and moving stories.

Prayer Support from the Just Moved Prayer Team.

Join Now!

Class Leader Ideas

2011-02-20T13:08:00.000-08:00

Are you a Moving On After Moving In class leader and need some new ideas? See what other leaders are doing:

Donna Luger, Class Leader, Red Mountain Community, Mesa, AZ

Publicizing her class:

•Sent an email to list of local friends and family explaining the Moving On class.
•Gave specific information (when, what, where, how to register, etc.) about the class and shared the mission of Just Moved Ministry.
•Donna asked them to contact any newcomers they may know and invite them to the group.

Zonya Hamilton, Class Leader, The Rock Church, Castle Rock, CO

Session 1 – 1st Day of Class:

•Purchased small brown 4x4 inch boxes and decorated with “fragile”, just moved, handle with care” on the outside an filled the inside with goodies such as candles, luggage tags, pens, Kleenex, and candy for each lady.

Carol Gulletine and Suzi Kuenster, Class Leaders, Highlands Church, Scottsdale, AZ

Session 1:

•Have gals use a push pin and a map to mark where they moved from last. One who moved the farthest got a gift. This gift was a favorite Bigelow Tea and a scripture glued to the back and placed in a cellophane bag with a tag saying ”Arizona “Son” Tea.
Session 2:

•Purchased some postcards with Arizona scenery for the gals to mail to someone they cherish. It is helpful to place a stamp on the postcards. Return address labels were made for each gal with a cactus as a graphic. This helps them remember this is where they are residing now.

Do you have ideas you would like to share with us? Please email them to info@justmoved.org

Monthly Challenge- Feb 2011

2011-02-17T13:06:00.000-08:00

"You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving."

-- Amy Carmichael

Let Go: What have you done this week to better someone else's life?

Start Today: Watch and listen for the needs and desires of family members, friends, neighbors, or people at church.

Move Ahead: Show your love by doing something kind. Send a note, take a meal, visit someone who is lonely, do something extra to help a family member get out the door in the morning more quickly.

Moving Tips- Feb 2011

2011-02-14T13:05:00.000-08:00

10 tips for helping your relationships thrive....

Moving can put a lot of stress on relationships. Make a decision to keep the relationships in your life strong despite the pressures and challenges of your move. The health of your relationships will add to your physical and emotional strength and will be a gift of stability in your life and in the lives of your children. You may only feel that you can do one idea each week or each month, but that's a start!

1. Write a love letter or compose a song for that special someone!

2. Hide a special note or card in an unexpected place: the medicine cabinet, on a steering wheel, in the refrigerator, in a lunch box or brief case....

3. Give a single flower... or a bouquet!

4. Buy a guidebook for your city or region. Explore a new place together.

5. Reach out and touch. Hold a hand, rub a neck, give a hug.

6. Sign up for a dance class, cooking class, drawing class...any class that allows you to share in a new experience or an interest that you both have. The added bonus: meeting new people with the same interest.

7. Use Valentine Conversation Heart candies to spell out a message.

8. Call, text, or email to say, "I love you."

9. Give a gift toward his or her favorite hobby or passion: a new golf club, new tennis racket, new DVD, favorite food, tickets to a favorite event, etc.

10. Speaking of favorite foods... make it a mission to discover the restaurant that prepares the best of that favorite food in your community. This could take some time, but the fun in discovering new restaurants will be well worth it.

A Moving Message from Susan Miller of Just Moved Ministry

2011-02-11T22:25:00.000-08:00

Monthly Devotional- Feb. 2011

2011-02-08T13:03:00.000-08:00

Take care of your marriage

Don't overlook how moving can affect your marriage. For many women, the changes and adjustments that come with relocating bring their marriage relationship closer; for others, it's just another brick in the wall between them. Be mindful that your marriage needs time, attention, and communication to stay strong through all the changes that take place after a move.

Sometimes, you can become so distracted with taking care of the details of home and children, that you don't take the time to take care of the details of your marriage. Think of ways you can demonstrate an "observable love" to your husband. Write down the things you love and appreciate about him, then take the time to share these things with him.

Fall in love with this scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21 (God is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think..." in our marriage!)

Scripture to Remember: For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Ruth 1:16

Question to Consider: Am I disconnected with my husband in the maze of moving?

Prayer: Oh Lord, reveal to me how this move has affected my marriage. Soften both our hearts toward each other. Draw us closer together during this time of transition. Amen

Thought for the Day: Today, I will communicate my love for my husband. I will set aside time for just him, and give him my full attention.

- Susan Miller

Heart Notes from Susan Miller

2011-02-05T13:03:00.001-08:00

Dear Moving Friends,

I am an incurable romantic! Being in love with Bill for 45 years set the stage of my heart for corny cards, mushy words, and anything with hearts imprinted on it. "How do I love thee, let me count the ways..." was always my leading line to an endless list of the reasons I loved him. When life and schedules got too busy for "us", I would put my arms around him and say, "Have I told you lately that I love you?" which always seemed to put "us" back into perspective.

Knowing and loving Jesus goes back far beyond 45 years. It was when I gave my heart to Him, that I began to grasp what real love is, and how to really love Bill for all those years. My relationship with Jesus set the stage, of not just my heart, but my life. I learned from His unconditional love for me, what unconditional love looks like in a marriage when times were tough. I learned about His grace in my undeserving life, and how to give grace to Bill when I thought he didn't deserve it. I learned how to forgive the hurts, and unmet expectations in my marriage, when Jesus kept forgiving me over and over and over again for all the stupid, hurtful things I did.

Whether you are married, or single, young, or old, you can live out Valentine's Day all year long. Start now by telling your husband, your children, or your friends, how much you love them - verbally, written, or with a simple act of kindness. Sprinkle lots of grace into their lives. Forgive, and forgive, and then forgive again. Oh, and by the way, if you haven't given your heart to Jesus, now is the perfect time to begin a relationship with the One who loves you the most!

From My Heart to Yours,

Susan Miller

Meet Our Staff

2011-01-30T19:24:00.000-08:00

Susan Miller- Founder/President

Ann Kelley- Creative Design/Website Management

Jill Maher- Office Management

Paulette Miller- Regional Coordinator

JoAnn Smith- National Coordinator/Military Liaison

Donna Ludwig- Director of Volunteers

Joan Langston- Financial Magagement

What is a Moving On After Moving in Bible Study?

2011-01-25T19:22:00.000-08:00

A Moving On After Moving In Bible study is an excellent way to reach out to women experiencing the loss and loneliness of a move. They are eager to make friends and to be connected within a church like yours. During a move emotions are raw and hearts are more inclined to the Lord more than ever as women seek direction in their new community.

Moving On After Moving In is a 13-session Bible study that addresses a woman’s emotional struggles and the opportunities for spiritual growth as she starts over in a new community. It is based upon the book, After the Boxes are Unpacked, by the President of Just Moved Ministry, Susan Miller. A seasoned mover and popular speaker, Susan shares the biblical principles she learned as a result of her 14 moves.

The study takes women through the important stages necessary for a successful move: letting go of the past, starting over in a new community, and moving ahead with a new life. Not only does the study prepare, encourage, and equip a woman for the emotional and spiritual strain of such a major life change, it provides a wonderful way for women to make the friends and community connections they long for. Upon completion of the class, many women go on to serve in other capacities within the church.

Since 1995 this Bible study has been offered wherever women find themselves brand new and starting over: churches, military installations, homes, seminaries, missionary organizations, and corporate settings around the world.

The class is available in two formats.

1. The DVD Teaching Series can be viewed by members of the class and requires only a facilitator and a DVD player. In this format the women will watch Susan Miller teach a Moving On After Moving In class. A Facilitator’s Guide is included to help the Facilitator lead the discussion following each viewing.

2. The second format is the Class in a Box. It contains everything you need to offer a Moving On After Moving In class, including a Leader’s Manual, books, and Newcomer Workbooks. The Leader’s Manual provides a Class Leader with weekly lesson plans, chapter objectives, icebreakers, ideas for getting the women to share, visual aid suggestions, scripture references, and prayers.

For each format it is highly recommended that each class member has a copy of After the Boxes are Unpacked and a Newcomer’s Workbook that accompany the study, enrich the experience of each woman, and facilitate spiritual and emotional growth. (When you order After the Boxes are Unpacked for your group members from Just Moved, you receive a discount on the book and you support the ongoing efforts of the ministry to direct women to Jesus Christ as they experience a challenging time in their lives.)

A Moving On After Moving In leader or facilitator that registers her group with Just Moved Ministry is offered one-on-one guidance, teaching tools and ideas, a quarterly Leader’s Connection Newsletter, and promotion of her class on the Just Moved Ministry website.

For more information, please call Just Moved Ministry at 480.991.5268, 9am to 4pm, MST.

Class Spotlight

2011-01-21T19:14:00.000-08:00

Overlake Christian Church
Redmond, WA
Lori Creekmore, Group Leader

This is my January 2010 photo of all of us at my house when I did a brunch to celebrate the arrival of a baby in our group. From left to right, Jericho, myself, Perry, and Melodee. We are missing Josie, who could not attend the brunch.

Monthly Challenge- Jan 2011

2011-01-18T19:14:00.000-08:00

People who focus on joy, who look at life through its lens, and who express joy in all their dealings and relationships have a more satisfying life. - Karen O'Connor
Let Go: What brings you joy?

Start Today: Don't miss the joy of this day by trying to figure out what's coming next.

Move Forward: Whatever unknowns are ahead this year, I trust God to be with me.

December 2010

Let Go: What were your expectations for this move? Have you been disappointed?

Start Over: No one expected God to come to earth as a helpless baby. God works in ways that are unexpected for a plan that is too wonderful.

Move forward: Write down the expectations you had for this transition that you are in. Destroy the list that you made to symbolize that it no longer has power over you. Write down a new expectation: that each day God will reveal more of Himself and His plan for you.

A Moving Story

2011-01-14T19:13:00.000-08:00

From east coast to west coast... from anger to peace

Marnya, a military spouse in VA

I thank you for the recent phone call and email. I was so surprised that someone called me. I was unsure about joining the community but, now I see that this is a real community of people that truly care. I thank you so much for taking out the time to call and send me an email it made me feel like someone actually care about the transition I am about to embark on.

I am a military wife and my husband has been stationed in Japan for the last year. It has been a very hard year without my spouse, but I am home with my family and friends for support. My husband is awaiting new orders for his next duty station.

All year I have prayed that we will stay home and have been pretty much selfish about the moving thing - even angry at times. But I decided to seek God about the matter and, after all my kicking and screaming, I am at peace that we must move in order to keep the family together and not spend any more time apart.

Driving home from work one day, I heard about this ministry on a broadcast called Family Life Today. I was so surprised to hear that there was such a ministry. I thought, "Wow God, you really know what I need." It has been a month or two since that drive home and recently I decided to check out the website. The website was great and so encouraging. ...I look forward to the things to come as I transition to a new location.

The move from the east coast to the west coast is very scary, but I am trying to trust and believe God that everything will be ok.

Editor's note: Since Marnya sent in her story, she has made the move to the west coast and, while the transition has not been easy, she writes, "...it is getting easier to make friends and reach out to others. The key word is 'reach out'. I had to make myself available to make friends. I am learning to be content no matter what situation or location I am in. I am learning to trust God in everything. Thank you and the Just Moved Ministry for your prayers and support."

Tips for Moving On

2011-01-10T19:12:00.000-08:00

A Fresh Start for a New Year

Because I'm a creature of habit, I'm often reluctant to change my routine. Some habits are worth keeping but some need a good cleaning out.

Are you, too, a creature of habit? Do you find it hard to change old ways? Many aspects of your life may need to be examined and weighed to see if change is necessary. They may be important matters of the heart or just minor things in the course of a day that need rethinking or revising since you've moved. Now is the time to make a fresh start. What a great opportunity to make some changes that will give you new direction, and make your life easier and more enjoyable.

The giant step of self-discipline will be the springboard for setting new goals, new priorities, and doing some reorganizing. Philippians 3:13-14 gives me some biblical insights regarding self-discipline. "I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Do you see the four key phrases in these verses which are necessary for self-discipline? They are: one thing, forgetting, reaching forward, and press on.

1. One thing means I need to be single-minded and focus on what I'm trying to accomplish. Doing ten things at once is definitely a distraction from my primary goal.

2. Forgetting indicates putting something out of my mind. I need to clear my mind of less important things so that I can be free to do what is most significant.

3. Reaching forward involves stretching or extending myself. At times I feel like I'm trying to do something that's out of reach; but the more I stretch toward the goal, the closer I come to achieving it.

4. Press on means to go forward with effort and commitment. Worthwhile goals aren't simply going to happen. They must be pursued with determination.

My daddy told me when I got married, "You can find out everything you need to know about how to live your life - everything from spending money to being a good wife to raising children - all in the Bible. That's the best manual you can have." I continue to get wonderful direction, for even the smallest things, right within its pages. I even find instruction for self-discipline and setting goals.

I encourage you to rethink and reflect on any area of your life that you feel might need a change, either personal or spiritual. This may be just the right time to turn things around.

(Excerpted from After the Boxes Are Unpacked by Susan Miller)

Monthly Devotional- Jan 2011

2011-01-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

The fresh start you need, the second chance you yearn for, the new beginning meant just for you.

God is all about giving people a fresh start, a second chance, or a new beginning in life. Countless stories in the Bible remind us of this: Ruth and Naomi, who were given a new beginning; the woman at the well, who was given a second chance; and the prodigal son, who was given a fresh start in life.

It is reassuring to know that God can do the same thing for us today when we surrender all to Him. He is the author of forgiveness, restoration, and healing. He is calling your name. Run to Him as the New Year begins. He is waiting with open arms to welcome you and give you the fresh start you need, the second chance you yearn for, and the new beginning meant just for you.

Scripture to Remember:

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Question to Consider:

Have I surrendered everything to God-including my heart?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I need you. Please come into my life and my heart today! I accept you as my Savior and Lord. Forgive me, as I have sinned against you and against others. Heal me from the hurts of my past, restore my life, and renew my heart. Amen

Thought for the Day:

Today is a fresh start, a second chance, and a new beginning for me!

-Susan Miller

The story of Ruth and Naomi is in the Old Testament in the Book of Ruth

The story of the woman at the well is in the New Testament in John 4:7-28

The story of the prodigal son is in the New Testament in Luke 15:11-32

Heart Notes from Susan

2011-01-04T19:11:00.001-08:00

Dear Moving Friends,

It's Monday morning, the first week of the New Year, and I find myself moving slowly, just trying to get my thoughts together for the day. Because of the holidays I'm out of the rhythm of my normal routine, and a little overwhelmed with a long to-do list demanding my attention between home and office. I'm waiting on a service man to show up for some home maintenance so I can get to the Just Moved office--when the phone rings. Although I don't recognize the number on caller ID, the name is all too familiar.

"Susan, it's Elaine! Happy New Year darlin', how are you?" I smile from ear to ear just hearing her unforgettable voice and feeling the warmth of her love over the phone. I've known Elaine since I was in college. She lived across the street from my mom and dad in Florida, and was my mom's best friend for what seemed like forever. She was an intricate part of my family's daily life. I wore Elaine's wedding dress when I married Bill, she celebrated the birth of my children, she tucked me in her bed the night my mom died, and grieved with me when Bill died.

Elaine and mom celebrated any and every holiday, with great zest and enthusiasm-- especially the 4th of July. The tradition was always a sheet cake decorated like a red, white, and blue flag with little toothpick flags on top; a red, white, and blue paper tablecloth for the picnic table in her back yard, with matching red, white, and blue paper plates and napkins. Red jello salad with cool whip was the first thing on our plates. We always wore the same stars and stripes head bands and matching red t-shirts for pictures, which I still have. Sparklers glittered at dusk dark as we waved them in the air, as if we could, at that moment and time, sparkle the world with our laughter.

Elaine is now 81 years old, and lives alone--but has lots of friends, as you can imagine. I haven't seen her in years, but I call her a couple of times during the year, and she always calls me at Christmas. This year she didn't call-until this morning. Perfect timing to get me back on track. Her words not only encourage me, but help to put my life in perspective for the day, and even for the New Year. Her life has been tested with pain and heartaches over the years, but she stands unwavering in her faith, and leans on the everlasting arms of Jesus each day. She shares how every day when she awakes she says, "Good morning God, I can't handle today alone, so I'm depending on you to help me." Then she says, "Susan, I don't know how people live every day without God. I talk to Him all day long. I couldn't have gotten through the death of family and friends, health problems, and hard times without Him."

Do I know this in my head and heart? Yes, and I hope you do too. Do we need to hear it again (and again) from people God puts in our path, at just the right moment, when we need it the most? Yes, we do. Let me be your "Elaine" today, as I remind you that God will never leave you, or forsake you in the New Year. Greet Him every morning and give Him your day. Talk to Him all day long. Depend on Him to meet your needs, through the good times, and the hard times, as you face this year. Then, perhaps when we are 81 years old, we can share the wisdom of our years with God to encourage someone-like me, or you.

From My Heart to Yours,
Susan Miller

January Moving Message from Susan Miller

2011-01-03T15:54:00.000-08:00

January Moving Message from Susan Miller

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T12:20:00.000-08:00

Moving on Class Spotlight

2010-12-20T14:12:00.000-08:00

Christ Community Church
Huntersville, NC

We just finished our Fall Just Moved! class - our biggest yet at 19 members! Such a blessing for all of us to be a part of!

This is a photo from this week's "graduation" celebration! (four women were unfortunately not in the picture.)

After breaking for the holidays, we plan to begin praying for and planning our One-day Spring Just Moved Conference.

Leadership team: Julie Tipton, Marjorie Newhook, Janelle Kjolen, Melissa Winters, and Mary Ann Vickers

December Devotional

2010-12-15T14:04:00.000-08:00

Will you trust?

An angel ushered Zacharias and Mary in to a miraculous story of mystery and wonder far beyond the scope of their individual lives. Zacharias would be the father of John the Baptist and Mary the mother of Jesus. Zacharias needed to know the certainty of events yet to come; Mary received this sudden change in her life in faith and trust.

Scripture to Remember:

"And Zacharias said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this for certain?'" Luke 1:18

"And Mary said, ‘Behold, ...be it done to me according to your word.'" Luke 1:38

Question to Consider:

Has your life been redirected in an unexpected and, perhaps, unwanted way? God is asking you to trust Him as He invites you into a life of mystery and wonder. He is using your circumstances to not only shape your mind, heart, and spirit, but to affect your family and community - perhaps even the world. Will you choose to believe this - with faith and trust?

Prayer:

Lord, I trust you with my circumstances and my future. I choose to believe that you are doing something wonderful through them and I say ‘be it done to me according to your word.'

Thought for the day:

Today I will wear my watch or bracelet on the opposite wrist. Each time I take notice of it I will say aloud or silently to myself, "I choose to trust God with my circumstances."

-Ann Kelley

What ministry leaders are saying about Just Moved Ministry

2010-12-12T20:35:00.000-08:00

Dr. Dennis Rainey

President, FamilyLife

Just Moved Ministry picks up where the moving van drops off. Through their Moving On classes, marriages are strengthened during the stress of relocation, parents are equipped to help their children cope with a move, and women are given biblical principles and encouragement.

John Trent, Ph.D.
Author: Encouraging Words
President of StrongFamilies.com

Susan is doing a tremendous job of helping women deal with the trauma of transition. Her material can help anyone who wants to move ahead in a healthy way after they have experienced a move or major adjustment. I highly recommend her work shops and materials.

Barbara Johnson
Author: Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy

Susan Miller's After the Boxes Are Unpacked, is a handbook of suggestions and encouragement, not just to those who are moving, but to all of us. This book will enrich lots of folks who have felt pangs of grief over our losses because it teaches us how to survive our losses. I LOVED IT!

Keith Carlson
Pastor, Adult Ministries
Johnston Evangelical Free Church
Johnston, Iowa

Thank you for your ministry. I have personally met some of the ladies from our community who have come here to attend the Newcomer's study and I want you to know that it is working, and working well. I was so impressed when I saw the number of ladies who attended, all who were brand new visitors to our church. This is very exciting to watch. Who knows what God may do through all whose lives are being touched.

Aileen Ostendorff
Family Life Ministries
Little Rock, Arkansas

Your ministry has had such a huge impact here at Family Life as we use Susan\'s book with every new gal who comes.

Dianne Christensen

Director of Women’s Ministry

Hoffmantown Church, Albuquerque, NM

I deal with many organizations in my ministry here and Just Moved reflects excellence and encouragement. Your staff reflects Christ’s character and my dealings with them have been affirming that this ministry direction is of the Lord’s leading. Thank you!

Tips for Moving On

2010-12-04T20:33:00.000-08:00

Gift-Giving Ideas for Far Flung Friends and Family

If you're far from family and friends, but plan to send them Christmas gifts, how do you do it in a way that doesn't require collecting boxes from the produce department of the grocery store, searching for the bag of packaging peanuts that you're sure you saved last summer, and standing in line at the post office? Here are a few ideas to simplify long-distance gift giving.

Give to a favorite charity
Does Mom volunteer at the Humane Society? Your brother, Bill, sings in a community choir? Let them know that you will be giving a donation to their organizations to show support for what is important to them.

Pay for a helpful service
Is your closest friend hosting the family or the company party for Christmas? Arrange to pay for a cleaning service to spruce up her house and give her one less responsibility.

Gift Cards
Purchase and send gift cards for restaurants or stores that you know are in the area. National chains like Starbucks and Home Depot are everywhere!

Event Tickets
By using the internet, you can learn about upcoming concerts and events in any city in the world. Do a little research in the area where your loved ones live and purchase tickets for them to an event you know they'll love.

Buy on line
Order gifts through the internet and have them mailed directly to the recipients. Many online businesses offer free shipping for a minimum purchase.

Magazine Subscription
Buy a gift subscription for a magazine that pertains to the interests of a long-distance loved one. There are magazines to suit everyone's interests: from outdoor living to needlepoint, from Civil War history to video games.

Outdoor Adventure!
Through the internet you can purchase an exciting adventure for the outdoor enthusiast on your list. With just the click of a mouse you can find hot-air balloon rides or river kayaking lessons that are offered around the country.

Invest in an Interest
Does your brother-in-law enjoy playing golf, but wishes he was better? Arrange for a lesson with a golf pro in his area. Does your sister enjoy cooking? Purchase a gift certificate for her to take a cooking class at a local kitchen store. Do they wish that they had more time together? Pay for some ballroom dancing lessons! (Think... "Dancing with the Stars"!)

No matter what you choose to send your loved ones this Christmas, be sure to express your love and appreciation for each person. Be specific! Tell each person at least one quality that you love about him or her.

-Ann Kelley

A Mover's Story

2010-12-01T20:32:00.001-08:00

December 2010

When it seems that nothing turns out right...

Sheila in Texas

As I write this email, my eyes are welled up with tears of desperation. I feel overwhelmed, anxious, frustrated, and confused. Nothing we do turns out right. I don't understand why we are going through this. I feel God has abandoned us.

We came to Texas because my husband was out of work for eight months and got a job offer here. We left our families and home of ten years in Wisconsin. We were so glad to have a job opportunity, that I never thought this move would be so hard on me and the children.

I cry every day, and I think there is something wrong with me. Our house in Wisconsin hasn't sold and we may be facing foreclosure. My two boys are not adjusting in school. They are a mess, and my marriage is a mess, not to mention I'm a disaster! I don't know what to do and where to turn. I found your website, and for the first time feel a glimmer of hope that somebody understands me and might be able to help me get through this. I know we should be going to church. Can you recommend a good church that offers a Moving On class in my area?

(editor: Susan Miller called Sheila and encouraged her with God's word and prayed with her on the phone. She gave Sheila the name of a great church nearby and called the Moving On After Moving In group leader who quickly contacted Sheila and invited her to the study the next week. Sheila keeps in touch and shares how God is working through this crisis in her life.)

Monthly Challenge- Sept 2010

2010-09-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

Challenge 56

“But blessed is the man who trusts Me,...the woman who sticks with God.
They're like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers—
Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf,
Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season.”
Jeremiah 17:8 (The Message)

Let Go: What has this season in life brought you? Change? Uncertainty? Loneliness?

Start Over: You may feel that your roots in a new community or a new phase in your life are too new and too shallow, but your roots in God can go deeper than they’ve ever been. Dig deeply in the rich “soil” that is God’s word and His promises and you will find refreshment for your soul and a miraculous serenity in the midst of “drought.”

Move Ahead: Start memorizing scripture that will remind you of the truth that God is with you in this transition. When you find yourself doubting, be strengthened by these verses.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled,nor let it be fearful.
Isaiah 40:28-31
...Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary.
Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 37:3-5
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him and He will do it.
Joshua 1:9
....Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

2010-09-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

Harrison United Methodist Church
Charlotte, NC
Class Leader – Anita King
http://www.harrisonumc.org/

Class “Day Away”

Our Moving On After Moving In class took a day trip up to the North Carolina mountains and visited the Biltmore Estate while we were there. Spouses and children joined in the adventure and it was a great time of fellowship and fun!

Harrison Church started offering Moving On groups over two years ago now and each time we offer the class the participants have loved it– they learn about our local community and find and share resources together. They have developed friendships that continue on after the class is over, as well as connections to the different ministries available at our church. This is a non-threatening way to connect with others who are new to the community and who share a common goal:to get connected.

Our next class will start on September 15, 2010 and will run on Wednesday mornings from 10 to noon. We’d love to have you join us!

Moving Tips- Sept 2010

2010-09-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

Tips for a Winning Move
OR Lessons from the gridiron

What is it that signals Fall for you? Is it the leaves as they take on rich tones of red and gold or their musty aroma after they’ve fallen to the earth? Is it the start of a new school year and the laughter of children on the school playground? Muggy, hot air giving way to cooler temperatures? Sure, it may be all of the above, but for many households it’s the whistles, grunts, and familiar voices of Monday night football emanating from the TV. You may or may not be the one sitting down to enjoy a game, but you have more in common with those brawny players than you know.

Like an ‘away’ game, you may be running on the unfamiliar turf of a new home, and Just Moved Ministry is cheering you from the sidelines as you kickoff the fall and “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

A quarterback never steps on the field without checking in with the coach or listening and watching for his signals. You, too, are the “ball carrier” for your move and your team (family members) moving with you. God cares deeply about every part of your move and is going to coach you to a victorious transition. Don’t try to win this game on your own! Take some time to put together a game plan.

1. Go deep

Spend some time every day in God’s Word. This indispensable Playbook will encourage, instruct, and inspire. After the move, find a Bible Study that you can be a part of. A Moving On After Moving In class or any other Bible study will help you to feel part of a team and keep you running in the right direction.

2. Huddle up

During a move everyone in the family needs to “huddle up” together to stay connected, be informed, and receive instruction. Even a teenager who mayact as if he or she wants to pull away really wants to be included. This is your opportunity to fill everyone in on the progress of the move and to check on each other’s emotional, spiritual, and physical status.

3. Time out

Grab every chance that you can to have some down time. Whether you’re waiting for your son’s piano lesson to end, the little ones have gone down for a nap, or you find yourself home alone, fix a cool drink and put your feet up or go for an energizing walk. While you will be tempted to make every moment “productive”, sometimes quiet rest or alone time is the most productive thing you can do.

4. Lateral pass

A quarterback would never make it through an entire game if he never passed the ball off to a teammate. Ask for help from family members and friends. Be willing to delegate tasks and to enlist the aid of friends. Jonny could pack his own toys, daughter Sara could fill out change of address forms, and packing (or unpacking) could become a social event with a few friends.

5. Don’t sweat a fumble

Even the best players may fumble the ball. Interference, interceptions, and incompletion may cause you to fumble the ball, but it doesn’t have to mean that you’ll lose the “moving game.” Just because you snapped at your kids, packed the overdue library books, or feel waves of anxiety over this move, doesn’t mean that you can’t recover the ball and continue on toward the goal. Expect setbacks. Expect a loss of yardage. But keep your eyes on the goal and don’t lose hope. Check in with The Coach for the next play.

6. Double team

A particularly formidable opponent often calls for “doubling teaming”. According to James Alder’s Guide to Football, this is “playing two defensive players against one offensive player in order to prevent him from making a play.” Satan wants to tackle you, rob you of your joy, and fill you with all kinds of worries. But Scripture assures us of this: "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." (Matthew 18:20) and “...greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) Commit to pray with your husband, with a friend (on the phone or skype if you need to), or with a pastor or mentor against Satan’s attacks during a time when you may be exhausted and vulnerable.

7. Play offense

Write out the steps for reaching your goal of a smooth move (see our Moving Countdown). Don’t try to keep it all in your head. When you’ve created a list of the myriad tasks to accomplish, you’ll get more done, use your time more efficiently, forget fewer things, enjoy the satisfaction of ticking them off, get a little less crazy, and do less last-minute scrambling.

8. Be patient with personal fouls

A personal foul may be called in football for (among other things) late hits and unnecessary roughness. You may experience “late hits” by your teenager who is dreading the move. Moving is especially challenging for teens and you may find yourself the target of your teen’s frustration over having to leave friends and familiarity. Assure him or her of your love and Christ’s promise to provide strength for each day and bright hope for the future (see Jeremiah 29:11). Unnecessary roughness could come from the moving van that failed to show up, the new teacher that seems to have no empathy for the unique needs of your child, or the loneliness you feel. People will disappoint, mistakes will happen, and expectations will be violated, but don’t lose heart. Jesus never disappoints, Jesus never makes a mistake, Jesus will help you with your expectations, and he’ll give you the ability to be patient and trust Him with the outcome.

9. Celebrate in the end zone

No penalty for celebrating in this end zone. Throw a little party for yourself and your family (even if the dog is the only family that moved with you!) after the move is complete. Any move is a tremendous feat and should be acknowledged and congratulated. Bring in pizza, put on some party hats, and have a victory party in your new home: the end zone.

- Ann Kelley

Sept. Devotional

2010-09-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

Putting down roots…

Moving is an uprooting and unsettling time in your life. You long to feel rooted and grounded, and yet you’ve just begun to break new ground in a new place. You are probably even experiencing the normal shock of adjustment from being transplanted. It’s never easy to start all over again, but with God’s help, you can do it. God wants you to “grow” in your relationship with Him, and with that growth, begin to bloom, as you put down deep roots in the soil of His love. You will need the garden tools of God’s word from the Bible, involvement in a bible study group, Christian friends, and a church home to cultivate a rich foundation. Then, plant seeds of trust and faith in your “master gardener” and begin to bloom!

Scripture to remember: May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. Ephesians 3:17 TLB

Question to consider: Am I watering my woes, or fertilizing my faith?

Prayer: Oh Lord, I want to grow deep roots in my relationship with you as I break ground in this new place. Equip me with the garden tools I need to start over and become deeply rooted and grounded in you. Amen

Thought for the day: Today, I will plant seeds of trust and faith in my “master gardener” and begin to bloom!

-Susan Miller

Connect with Susan Miller!

2010-09-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be great to have regular encouragement from Susan Miller as close as your phone or computer? Now you can! Follow her on Twitter and on her new Facebook page.

Twitter and Facebook

Heart Notes- Sept. 2010

2010-09-05T09:13:00.001-07:00

Dear Moving Friends,

With summer behind you, and fall just around the corner, life is once again regaining a rhythm of routine and schedules that seemed lost in the casual days of summer. Vacations are over, time off from work has come and gone, and children are back in school. Some of you may have a daughter, or son, going away to college, or moving away from home for the first time. Perhaps you might have experienced great sorrow over the summer from circumstances beyond your control. Or you might still be in the midst of settling in after a move, and haven’t even come up for air yet. You might be thinking, “I didn’t even have a summer break, and I’m spiritually, emotionally, and physically drained from the stress, pain, and chaos in my life.” This brings me to my question, ”How are you doing?” I want to go beyond your smile. I know so well how a smile can cover a multitude of feelings. I want to go straight to your heart. You might need to stop right now--pour yourself a cup of coffee, or make a cup of tea—as you ponder your answer. Now, take a deep breath, and listen up my friends. Here are some ways that I have learned to restore a broken heart, calm raw emotions, and strengthen a spiritual relationship with God.

It’s okay to cry. With change, comes loss. With loss, comes grieving. With grieving, come tears. Give yourself permission to grieve the change and loss in your life.

Remember you are not alone. It’s easy to slip into a pattern of thinking you’re carrying stress, pain, and even chaos, all by yourself. Remind yourself through God’s word that He will never leave you, fail you, or forget you. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Recall God’s faithfulness in your life. Oh, how easily we forget! Sometimes I can become so consumed in seeing only what’s happening right now, and how it’s not going according to the “plan of Susan” that I forget God’s faithful track record with me in the past. He has always met all my needs, although not necessarily all my wants (Philippians 4:19). It is all according to His plan, not mine!

Stay grounded in what’s important. A lot of things might be going on in your life right now, and to-do lists are getting longer. Sometimes you just need to pull back to center and get your feet back on the ground before you can move forward. Are you listening to the voice of the world, or the voice of God? God’s to-do list is short, just “Come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). He also says, “Abide in Me” (John 15:4). Then everything else will fall in place.

Stop and smell the flowers. In other words, take time to be good to yourself. Schedule some self-care by taking a break to rest your body, renew your mind, and restore your spirit.

Count your blessings. Regardless of your circumstances, put aside all the “what ifs” and the “if onlys” and start counting your blessings! “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

It was one year ago on August 9^th, that my beloved husband, Bill, moved to his eternal home and is now residing in heaven with Jesus--free from the pain of cancer. With summer behind me, I begin another busy fall schedule of teaching, speaking and overseeing Just Moved Ministry. Through ministering to you, I am able to redeem the pain and grief of my own loss. Together, we CAN move forward.

From My Heart to Yours,

Devotional- Aug 2010

2010-08-29T13:48:00.000-07:00

I think I can, I think I can...

When you are starting over there are two giant steps to take: persevere andpress on. You cannot always take these steps in your own strength, but God can equip you and enable you to do both. His word is your strength and hope.

At times you might feel like the “little engine that could” who said, “I think I can, I think I can…” as he pushed up the hill and discovered that, through perseverance, he really could make it.

For hope and perseverance that will push you up the hill, listen to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed..”

Scripture to Remember: “…through perseverance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

Question to Consider: In what situation do I need to persevere and press on?

Prayer: Oh Lord, give me a persevering spirit! Reveal through your word the encouragement and hope I need to start over.

Thought for the Day: Today, I will press on through the obstacles I am facing!

-Susan Miller

Heart Talk from Susan Miller- Aug 2010

2010-08-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Moving Friends,

Have you ever had exciting news you just couldn’t wait to share?

If you promise to act surprised when it comes, I’ll tell you now, because I know you’ll want to start checking your mailbox in September for the arrival of----your first Just Moved newsletter!! Our staff is busy preparing for the birth of Bloom (named by one of our volunteers) and I want to pique your interest in anticipation of its arrival.

Bloom will bring hope to you, the uprooted woman. Our newsletter is another way for us to prepare, encourage, and equip you to embrace your new life when you are uprooted because of a move. Whether you’re still adjusting to a move, or feel like the adjustment is behind you, Bloom will help you face the many transitions in life. Just Moved is there for you when you need us—through the personal touch of phone and prayer, our website, and now, our newsletter.

You’ll love the practical tips and helpful information to encourage you with the challenges of moving—from children and pets to winning over worry! The personal testimonies about how God works in and through a move will inspire you. You’ll be the first to know where I’ll be speaking and where new Moving On After Moving In classes are forming. We’ll keep you informed about Just Moved events and conferences and any items in our gift shop for you or a moving friend to help make it a smooth transition. Of course, it will always open with my written hug to embrace you across the miles.

If you know someone who might want our newsletter, send us the mailing address and we’ll be sure to send out a copy. In the meantime, get ready toBloom in September!

From My Heart to Yours,

Class Spotlight- Aug 2010

2010-08-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

Franklin Christian Church
4040 Murfreesboro Rd
Franklin, TN 37067
www.fcctn.org

Leaders: Miranda Kokes and Laura O'Neal

We held our first Moving On Class last October 2009. As I compiled my class roster, I was in complete amazement that we had 27 women signed up for the class!! I knew that it was a "God" thing!

The class helped the women with more things in their lives than just moving....it gave them encouragement for any type of transition. Most importantly, it brought them closer to God! One of our class participants will be co-facilitating the class with me this fall!

This class blessed me personally in ways that I can hardly put into words. It strengthened my faith and proved that God gives you what you need when He calls you to do something in His name. I realized there were some "boxes" that I had not yet unpacked....and they were emotional boxes. This class helped me to grow closer to God, it improved my family life, and it provided me with some dear friends that I may have never met otherwise.

Sometimes He has to "move" us physically in order to "move" us closer to Him!

Miranda

Moving Story- Aug 2010

2010-08-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

God has taught me and is teaching me so much through my moves...

Heather in Texas

A friend of mine recommended you to me a few years ago. Last year I found out about your teaching on DVD (download). Your DVD’s have been a powerful help in understanding the stages and process of moving. Thank you so much for your ministry. I’m moving on now, in large part due to the wisdom and experience God gave you in your many moves!

God has taught me and is teaching me so much through my moves. I don’t take friends or small groups or even volunteering for granted as I did when I lived in my hometown. Most importantly, I’m certain that there is no way I would have grown in my relationship with the Lord if I’d never moved. I’ve matured as a result. Moving and losing my external support structures caused me to desperately seek the Lord and learn to know Him as friend. Out of sheer loneliness, I developed a habit of daily quiet time with Him. I have actually done those 10-week bible studies on my own at home without a small group just because I was so lonely and desperate to meet with Him and get His love! Moving has caused me to see how little I really depended on God’s comfort and sufficiency. In so many ways, I can see that my hometown represented “Egypt” for me. I was in bondage in ways that I didn’t realize until God called us away. Each move brings us closer to our “promised land” and I find more healing and freedom in each place, as I trust Him.

Even though I don’t know you, I love you and think of you as a friend! I will absolutely remember your ministry and recommend you to others who need help moving on.

Moving Tips- Aug 2010

2010-08-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

Now what?
When you're new and you've got too much time on your hands...

You’ve settled in to your new home. The kids are back in school. You’re husband is off to his new job. Suddenly, you find yourself with hours to fill in a town where no one knows you and you’re afraid you’ll get lost just going to the grocery store. You may be tempted to stay within the security of your four walls, but you know that will only add to your loneliness.

Use these 15 ideas to launch you into a plan to make the most of each day.

Start by taking care of yourself:

Read and meditate on the Beatitudes found in Matthew chapter 5, verses 3-11. I highly recommend that you read these in The Message Bible paraphrase by Eugene Peterson. Jesus is teaching about contentment here and he has a lot to say to you. Don’t have this paraphrase? One of the first steps in your plan to get out and explore your new surroundings can be to find a bookstore and buy one! You can also read this in a past Tips for Moving On by clicking here.

Get your blood pumping. Working out affects your whole mood and outlook for the day. Anything from a brisk walk to a spin class will give you energy to face the future.

Keep a water bottle within arms reach at all times. Water is cleansing and refreshing and contributes to maintaining a proper weight. Your body will thank you.

Be quiet. Turn off the TV, your music, the computer… anything electronic… and ask God to speak to you. I’m not talking about an audible voice here, but He wants to instruct, encourage, and guide you and he’ll do that through your thoughts and feelings. But He can’t always get through to you if you’re never quiet. He’ll use scripture too (see action #1).

Examine yourself. Now that you’ve spent time listening, consider how you might like to take advantage of being the newcomer by making some changes in yourself that you’ve always wanted to make. This is your opportunity to redefine yourself. No one in your new community has any expectations of you. Have you always wanted to be more bold? Make the decision to invite a neighbor over for coffee.

Journal about this time in your life. Writing can bring clarity, release, and a reminder of any conclusions you reach. Years from now you’ll enjoy reading what you wrote and being reminded of this period in your life.

Bring flowers inside. Keep flowers on the table, counter, or in your bedroom. You’ll be surprised how much they can lift your spirits.

Now let’s turn your focus outward:

Be neighborly. We don't know if they are shy or just too busy, but neighbors aren't always the first to say hello. Bake some cookies and knock on your neighbor's door to say hello.

Volunteer. Opportunities abound for volunteering. From the local school to the hospital to the homeless shelter -- no offering is too small and your time and skills can make a real difference. While you’re helping, you’re also meeting people!

Be an explorer. Every day decide on one new place you’ll investigate… even if it’s just the DMV. It could be an area like a lovely park or neighborhood you’ve heard about. It could be a business or attraction that interests you or is historically significant.

Be a joiner. Join a fitness class, the library book club, a political campaign, a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group, a neighborhood watch… you get the idea. A “joiner” more quickly becomes a “belonger”.

Find a Bible study to attend. By all means find a church to attend regularly, but beyond that become a part of a smaller group that is doing a Bible study. Your best bet as a newcomer is to find or start aMoving On After Moving In study. Contact us here at Just Moved Ministry to learn more about this great way to make friends, connect with the community, and discover God’s perspective on your move. (email newministries@justmoved.org or call 480.991.5268)

Go back to school. You don’t have to be pursuing a degree to sign up for a class at the local community college or university. There are plenty of choices for those who are interested in personal and professional development. Take a guitar class, hone your writing skills, take a computer class… just sign up for something that interests you.

Choose one room at a time in your home to give your attention to. What can you do to make the room more inviting, more comfortable, and to more clearly reflect your style? Carry measurements and color swatches with you so that you are prepared to make a decision should you come across something that you’d like to buy for the room.

Remember that the rest of the family is also having to make lots of adjustments to this move. When family members get home, stop what you’re doing and give them a warm, loving, and interested reception. Ask about their day. Be a good listener. Act as if each of them is the most important person in your life.

-Ann Kelley

The Moving On After Moving In Class Reunion

2010-08-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

If you attended a Moving On After Moving In class in Arizona,
join us for a
Reunion Luncheon
September 24, 2010 at Scottsdale Bible Chapel, 7901 E. Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ
10am-2:30pm

Click here to Register

Moving Tips- July 2010

2010-07-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

15 stress busters when you're settling in to a new place

We are all like washing machines - when our load gets out of balance we threaten to shut down and may even make loud, annoying noises. When the washing machine is letting you know it’s out of balance, do you ignore it? No, you open the lid and redistribute the weight or remove some items. So it is with our lives.

When the stress of settling in after your move is causing an imbalance that could lead to an emotional or physical shut down, follow these steps to help redistribute or lighten the “load”.

Start with one room
Concentrate on getting one room settled so you have a place to rest when it seems everything else is in disarray.

Take a break from those boxes
Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day and your house won’t be settled in a day either.

Don’t get too upset over broken things
Something always breaks or gets damaged. Remember, they are just things.

Trust God
...even when it seems everything is going wrong.

Get enough sleep
A sleep researcher reported that the number of people who can get by on fewer than 8 hours of sleep each night can be rounded to... 0. Everyone needs 8 hours of sleep and if you can’t get that, grab a short nap.

Join a fitness class
This is a great stress reliever and an opportunity to meet others.

Pray
Pray about everything.

Have one goal per day
Don’t try to get new license plates, a library card, and a driver’s license all at once.

Reward yourself
What brings a smile to your face when you've accomplished a dreaded task? Reward yourself with a special treat like new nail polish, a favorite magazine, a bubble bath, or a fruit smoothie!

Browse
Visit a local bookstore or your favorite shop and browse the aisles.

Make time for you a priority
Read that book you’ve always wanted to read. Unload your thoughts in to a personal journal. This is time set aside just for you, even if it's just half an hour each day.

Feel inspired
Listen to music that energizes or inspires you.

Gain perspective
Moses was charged with moving 2-3 million people from Egypt to the Promised Land. Kind of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?

Eat out
Watching your budget? Do carry-out or bring home a “you bake” pizza. Use one of those coupons that came in the mail. You may discover your favorite restaurant.

What would Scarlet do?
When all else fails, put on your sweetest smile and in your best southern belle accent say, “I’ll think about that tomorrow!”

Adapted from After the Boxes Are Unpacked: Moving On After Moving In by Susan Miller.

July Devotional- 2010

2010-07-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

I am often asked by this younger generation, "what’s it all about--this freedom in Christ thing you talk about?" It’s easy for me to share my joy about the freedom that comes with knowing and living Jesus Christ! You see, Jesus is in the business of changing lives.

The more you become like Jesus, the more He releases your God-given potential and you experience a freedom that can only be found in Him. Jesus "moves" us from a "state" of bondage to a "state" of freedom! He "moves" us from a "state" of sorrow to a "state" of joy. Jesus can give you freedom, so trust Him and follow Him. His truth can give you freedom, so study His word, believe it, and obey it. Following the light on His path leads you out of darkness and takes you from despair to hope.

Oswald Chambers says it best. "Freedom is life controlled by God’s truth and motivated by His love. Bondage is life controlled by lies we believe and motivated by our selfishness. Freedom is the result of a living relationship with Jesus Christ--walking with Him, talking with Him, and learning from Him."

Let the freedom of Christ ring with every beat of your heart!

Scripture to Remember
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
- 2 Corinthians 3:17

Question To Consider
Am I living in the freedom of Christ or in the bondage of the world?

Prayer
Lord, change my heart today. Help me to follow your light on the path of life. Release me from the bondage of lies and selfishness that I might clearly see and understand the freedom of Your truth and love. Amen

Thought for the Day
Today I will choose to stand firm in the truth of His word!

-Susan Miller

Heart Talk from Susan Miller- July 2010

2010-07-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Moving Friends

The beach is one of my favorite places to go during the summer. Of all the beaches I have known, none holds my heart like the beaches of Destin, Florida. I grew up along the NW Coast of Florida, known as the Florida panhandle, where my dad served for many years, and later retired, at Eglin Air Force Base.

The beautiful Gulf of Mexico, with its emerald green water, and sugar white beaches, are an intricate part of my childhood memories. I have walked those beaches, picked up sea shells, climbed the sand dunes, played in the water, courted Bill there during our dating years, and took our children there for their first taste of sand and salt water. Any opportunity I have of going back to wiggle my toes in the sand, find a spot to nestle in, spread my beach towel, and gaze out at the Gulf, is as refreshing to my heart and soul as the cool water is to my body when I first go in the ocean. So you can imagine my excitement when plans began to form many months ago for a “girls’ weekend” in Destin with my daughter, daughter-in-law, and three granddaughters.

And then came the oil spill in the Gulf, affecting and changing the lives of those who work and live all along the coast—as well as the emerald green water, and the sugar white beaches we all love. When my eight-year-old granddaughter heard about the oil reaching the shores of our beaches, her spirit was not dampened at all about going there. Her response echoed the thoughts of our family, “Well Nana, if we can’t go swimming, we’ll just find a place somewhere to build sand castles on the beach!” And, that is what we will do—we won’t give up, or give in to the oil spill. We are still going to Destin. We will build sand castles on the beach--somehow, someway. We will find new things to do together as a family, and make memories. Perhaps it will be to pitch in and help--somehow, someway--to make our beaches beautiful again.

My granddaughter’s response is a lesson for us to remember. I couldn’t help but think of how many times our plans, hopes, and dreams are changed or altered through circumstances beyond our control. Never lose heart, my friends. Don’t give up, or give in, to the disappointment and discouragement that can so easily consume us when life doesn’t happen as we’ve planned. Wherever you are, whatever the circumstances may be--go out and build your own sand castles in the sand—somehow, someway. “Behold, I will do something new. Now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19) (….and even sandcastles in the sand!)

From My Heart to Yours,

Susan Miller

2010-06-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

South Mountain Community Church, Draper, UT

Maureen Maldonado, - Class Leader

From Co-Leader, Michelle Calmy...

I was born and raised in Las Vegas, and hadn't budged until October 10, 2009. That is when we moved to Draper, UT.

As the class was letting go, I was letting go. As the class was starting over, so was I. And as I helped the class move forward, I was in the process of moving forward myself. This class forced me to reach out beyond my comfort zone, and take the first step, make the first phone call, offer love and support to a wonderful group of women that, 11 weeks ago, I hardly knew. Moving to a new city for the very first time in my life, I would have never taken those steps. I would have just driven in my garage and shut the garage door while shutting out the rest of the neighborhood, the new friends that I would not have made, and essentially the rest of my new Utah world. I would still be clinging to everything that I left in Las Vegas, instead of cherishing it.

I honestly had no idea how much this class could change the lives of women who feel pain from their losses - sometimes even feeling hopeless - that it may never get better. I believe that there is now hope. I believe that we are now moving forward, with the help of Just Moved Ministry.

Moving Story- June 2010

2010-06-24T13:13:00.000-07:00

This month we’re sharing the Moving Story of a Moving On After Moving Inclass leader in Utah. Michelle played a unique role in the class: not only was she helping to lead the class, she was a new mover herself...

Michelle in Utah

As the class was letting go, I was letting go...

When I first was asked to help lead the [Moving On After Moving In] class, I was a little nervous. I have a teaching degree in elementary education, and have worked for In-N-Out Burger (mostly as a trainer) for almost 17 years, so I knew that teaching a class would not be the main challenge for me. But what I did think was, "What do I have to offer anyone about moving?" I said this to myself because I had never moved before.

I was born and raised in Nevada, and hadn't budged until October 10, 2009. That is when we moved to Utah. But, as I was beginning to assist in the class and starting to take on some of the responsibility myself, I learned that maybe I could help some of these women get through some of their struggles. I was able to do that because I was going through the struggles myself. I had lost some of my own identity in the move. So, how am I working to get through that? I was able to share those things and get some great advice from some of the ladies who had already struggled through it. I realized, just as Susan Miller says in one of the videos, that I was in the trenches with the ladies. I was able to help, as well as be helped.

As the class was letting go, I was letting go. As the class was starting over, so was I. And as I helped the class move forward, I was in the process of moving forward myself. This class forced me to reach out beyond my comfort zone, and take the first step, make the first phone call, offer love and support to a wonderful group of women that,11 weeks ago, I hardly knew. Moving to a new city for the very first time in my life, I would have never taken those steps. I would have just driven in my garage and shut the garage door while shutting out the rest of the neighborhood, the new friends that I would not have made, and essentially the rest of my new Utah world. I would still be clinging to everything that I left in Las Vegas, instead of cherishing it.

I honestly had no idea how much this class could change the lives of women who feel pain from their losses, sometimes even feeling hopeless, that it may never get better. I believe that there is now hope. I believe that we are now moving forward, with the help of Just Moved Ministry. I thank Susan Miller for going through these moving experiences first, and sharing her story and her life with us, as well as her deep faith in Jesus. I want to acknowledge In-N-Out Burger for allowing us the resources to be able to have this class, and for caring about the people who work for the company so much. I truly know what an extraordinary company that I work for. I also thank the class leader for inviting me to join her on this journey. I have made a lifelong friend in her. And to the ladies that I spent my Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings with, I am so grateful for the special time that we have been able to share with each other. I am truly blessed to have been a part of this class.

Moving Tips- June 2010

2010-06-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

Tips to help your kids cope with a move...

Summer is the most popular time for families to make a move. Kids can struggle emotionally with a move as much, if not more, than Mom. The following are some tips from Susan Miller’s book, But Mom, I Don’t Want to Move!, to help keep the lines of communication open, offer emotional support, and help them grow through a time of great transition.

A reminder to you and your children:

· Grieving for friends and family is normal. It’s okay to cry. Your friends and family are worth every tear.

· Comforting with loving arms speaks volumes.

· Laughter can soothe the heart. Laugh a lot.

· Spend one-on-one time with each child. It makes each one feel cared about during the chaos of a move.

· Learn to read behind your children’s eyes. It’s amazing what you will learn.

So how do you help your children process their move? There are some key things you will want to remember that will help to pave the way!

1. Get in the trenches with your kids. Share some of the feelings you had when you moved as a child. This lets them know they are not alone in their feelings.

2. Provide an atmosphere of safety and freedom to express feelings openly.

3. Give them permission to feel angry or sad. “You’re not giving them permission to be disrespectful or destructive; but to feel what they’re feeling. All emotions are acceptable, but all behaviors are not,” writes David Ferguson in his book Parenting with Intimacy.

4. Children need to feel understood and supported when they express their feelings.

5. Don’t judge or criticize them when they express their emotions.

6. Remind your children that their feelings are normal. Explain to them that grieving is part of the healing process after a move.

7. Give them unconditional love and acceptance.

8. Listen, listen, listen---with your heart, with your eyes, and in between the lines of conversation.

9. Reassure them that it’s okay to cry. Let the tears flow. They can be healing and cleansing for emotions.

10. Keep communication open by encouraging everyone to talk during times of emotional stress points. Work at getting it all out on the table to better understand who, what, and why.

11. Comfort your child. It can restore and soothe the emotions.

12. Don’t forget the value of touch. A hug can speak a thousand words. Holding your child in your arms can break down emotional walls.

13. Remember, your children are watching how you respond to the situation. For the most part, they will take your lead emotionally.

Extra Emotional Support Provided by God’s Word

For loneliness—“And lo, I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).

For fear—“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity (fear), but of power and love and discipline (sound judgment)” (2Timothy 1:7).

For anger—“Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26).

For disappointment—“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:8).

For grief—“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2).

For anxiety—“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22, NIV).

For sadness—“Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5, NIV).

For resentment—“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you” (Ezekiel 36:26, NIV).

For hurt—“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1Peter 5:10, NIV).

For self-esteem—“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

For comfort—“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).

For hope—“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19).

Devotional- June 2010

2010-06-18T13:12:00.000-07:00

Take time…Make time...Spend time...

As you begin the summer months, take time to smell the flowers along the way, make time for yourself to refresh and renew, and spend time in God’s word. You can take time to smell the flowers if you stop long enough to lookfor God’s beauty in nature, and listen to His voice. You can make time for yourself by rescheduling your calendar and giving yourself permission for needed self-care and rest. You can spend time in God’s word by opening your Bible and starting now! Here are some scriptures for summer reading. Add to the list as you read your favorites.

As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God. Psalm 42:1

Be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

In the morning, O Lord, Thou will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch. Psalm 5:3

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8

We can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord, and as the spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him. 2 Corinthians 3:18

For we walk by faith, not by sight... 2 Corinthians 5:7

And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives! Job 19:25

Scripture to Remember: Choose one from above

Question to Consider: Will I take time, make time, and spend time in God’s word?

Prayer: Oh God, as I begin the summer, lead me to the path of rest and renewal. Along the way, let me stop, look, and listen—for you. May your word flood my heart and mind, and quench a thirst in me for you.

Thought for the Day: This is the beginning of a new day! I will rejoice and be glad in it!

-Susan Miller

Heart Talk from Susan Miller- June 2010

2010-06-15T13:11:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt like you’ve met yourself coming and going with a busy schedule? I think I met myself several times at the airport last month! My travel took me to California, Georgia, Utah, Washington D.C., and Virginia. I absolutely love connecting with ourMoving On class leadership teams all over the country and having the opportunity to speak to the hearts of women in our classes. It’s my privilege to be up close and personal with women whose lives have been touched by Just Moved Ministry.

It was wonderful for me to reconnect with Carla Land, a dear friend and class leader at Community Presbyterian Church in Danville, California. She hosted a lovely combined mother-daughter tea, class reunion, and fundraiser for our ministry in her home. They raised almost $1,500! In Vienna, Virginia, I had the joy of speaking to the morning and evening classes from McLean Bible Church, and being a part of the birthday celebration for their beloved class leader, Jackie Spiegel. As a corporate spouse, Maureen Maldanado is committed to bringing our classes to spouses and employees at new In-n-Out Burger locations. She hosted a dinner in the Salt Lake City, Utah area for the women in her two classes, including husbands and children! What a privilege to be their guest and get to see the impact for Christ Maureen is making on these women and families!

Even though I get tired from the physical aspect of traveling, these are the times that refresh my spirit in the ministry I love. Whether I am speaking in a church, a home, at a military installation, at a conference, or in a corporate setting—I get to rub shoulders with women who move, look into their eyes, listen to their stories, teach them about Jesus, pray for their brokenness, and walk away knowing my life will never be the same.

At the end of a busy spring, I guess what I’m saying is simply, thank you. Thank you for being a part of my life—whether you are a class leader, or part of a leadership team who gives your all to women who move; whether you are one of thousands of newcomers who touch my life; whether you work behind the scenes at our office as staff, as a volunteer, or as a friend standing on the sidelines—all of you cheer me on to do God’s work. You make me look better than I am and do more than I think I can. You fill my cup so that I can keep pouring out. You are the wind beneath my wings.

Have a safe, blessed, and memory-making summer. I’ll be hanging out a lot with my family and grandchildren. Stay in touch; lots of things are happening at Just Moved in the fall!

From My Heart to Yours,

From Our Mailbox May 2010

2010-05-28T13:48:00.000-07:00

There must be others like us...

Even though I moved within the last 9 months, I've given Susan's book (Moving On After Moving In) to 4 people in my new town already. The book helped me tremendously to overcome the grief and loss I was feeling, and I love to share the truth in it with others that I meet!

I am actually thinking about co-leading this with another dear friend who just moved to this area. She was the first person I shared the book with and, since then, we have both said that if we felt this way, it is likely that others who have just moved would benefit from this kind of group--especially in Iowa City. Our town is built around the University of Iowa, so people move in for a few years for residency and then are uprooted to a new place, so there are just a whole lot of disconnected women roaming around! It seems like God has brought them to me during the last few months. We are excited to start this.
Kelsey in Iowa

On April 27, 2010, Susan Miller spoke to the women of Fort Huachuca in Arizona. Read some of their comments left on the Just Moved Facebookpage.

Thank you for your sweet demeanor and for always pointing us to Jesus...such a wonderful time of learning and refreshing...

Cindy

...found you such a blessing ... God used you mightily. I am sure I will enjoy the books. I so admire your strength!

Joyce

It was such a blessing to have you with us this weekend. Thank you so very much for all that you shared and taught us. You have been and will continue to be a blessing for the Ft. Huachuca women no matter where we move to.

Amy

Wonderful, "precious" Susan (I've always loved that word and use it a lot, too)...You are the hands and feet Jesus, shining His light in this dark world. Thank you, thank you, thank you for serving the women of Fort Huachuca PWOC this weekend. Your messages were profound, uplifting, encouraging, and motivating! I love you, my dear sister! Feel a road trip comin' on...

Annie

Thank you for coming to Tucson for our Fort Huachuca Retreat! You leave a pleasing aroma of Christ everywhere you are!!

Julie

I love you Susan!!! Thank you for the best retreat EVER!!! HUGS XOXO

Erin

Military Devotional

2010-05-25T13:47:00.000-07:00

Here I am again, Lord...
by Becky Bolduc, regular Just Moved! website contributor and wife of a Marine

In everything you do put God first and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success. Proverbs 3:6

In “our career” in the military we move so often that school can become a thing to dread for children who abhor change, and are painfully shy. I have struggled to find an answer to this for my Matthew who is both.

In the conversations I have been having with God the past few years regarding my sons it goes something like this: “Becky, are we here AGAIN to discuss this AGAIN! Why, if you keep coming to me, will you not let me have the situation?”

“Well you see God, I know I said last time I was going to listen and let you truly have the control of their lives and do what you want, BUT...”

“But what? You think I can’t handle a couple of boys...”

“Well yes but....”

“You HAVE to stop taking them back the second you walk away from our conversations. DO I have to show you AGAIN how much I love you and them?”

“Maybe just once more.” Here I always imagine God sighing, as every parent does with a willful and disobedient child and with His benevolence and grace proves to me one more time he loves my boys MORE than I do. He also has been showing me HIS plan is infinitely better than anything I could cook up.

God knew a year ago that pulling my son out of school would be one of the scariest things I would ever do. I knew I could teach, but not MY own kid. It has been a blessing of time spent getting to know Matthew as I wouldn’t have normally. God gives me the strength to stand up to people who question the wisdom of our decision. We can move and Matthew may have to learn a new town, new friends, and new activities but he will NOT have to go through the constant change of schools with their differing tests and policies. I also do not have to try and convince each new school that my son would behave in school if only they would give him a challenge. God has given me the chance to ease the transitions that, while unavoidable in the military, are so very hard on the sensitive child like my son. A child that hated math and loathed (his word not mine) school now goes and does his work each day with no fight. The same child is currently writing his first novel and many original songs as part of his schooling.

God knew I would use my educational training at home this year before I ever selected education as a career, and has given us, through my husband’s job, the ability for me to stay at home and teach. As I face the testing process with my youngest, who is far more Semper Gumby than my oldest, I am reassured I did the right thing. I thank God each day for pushing me to do this, and apologize to Him for ignoring Him for so long.

monthly challenge- May 2010

2010-05-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

Challenge 52

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.
Matthew 11:28 (Amplified Bible)

Let Go: Has life has left you burning the candle at both ends until you’re nothing but a pool of wax? Perhaps it is an emotional burden that weighs your spirit down.

Start Over: Come to Jesus for your soul to be refreshed. Responsibilities will not disappear, but a refreshed spirit will inject peace and energy that you may be able to return to the task at hand.

Move Ahead: Carve even a few minutes out of each day to read from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John to soak in Jesus’ words. Memorize Matthew 11:28, 29 and post these verses in a place you’ll see.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “ Matthew 11:28, 29

Class Spotlight- May 2010

2010-05-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

Scottsdale Bible Church, Scottsdale, AZ

Linda Flentge, Peg Cottle, Carol Peters - Class Leaders
Susan Miller - teacher

"This class has been a lifeline for me. Moving here and not knowing anyone, I had no idea how I was going to make new friends in a community that didn't seem to notice how much I needed someone to reach out to me. Without this class and the women in it I think I'd still be pretty lonely. This is the first time I've moved in 23 years, so it's a real life-changing experience, but one I am so glad God has brought me through. He is so faithful."

Jill - class member

"I know now that I am not alone. I have the tools I need to move on and I have met wonderful women who have the same needs. Thank you with all my heart."

Pat - class member

"I have learned a lot and will use so much of the tools you have given me to 'start over' in my new place. I feel like all will be OK with God by my side and an open heart."

Annette - class member

Your ministry is a very unique and important one that helps so many women in transition. Your insightful stories made me aware of ways to improve myself and reconnect deeper with the Lord.

Fran - class member

Moving Story- May 2010

2010-05-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

Sarah in California

Kingdom Assignment and how I got to the tea party...

(The following comes from a blog by Sarah Fravel of California. Sarah is helping with a Girlfriends’ Tea Party Fundraiser for Just Moved Ministry in Danville, CA on May 8, 2010. Susan Miller, President of Just Moved, will be speaking at the event. Visit Sarah’s blog and her creative stationery business.

In Kansas City I had volunteered at Ronald McDonald House in their craft room. It was one of the best experiences of my life! I have truly missed that since moving here.

So, I began to wonder if I could do something similar here. Nothing panned out...and then the Kingdom Assignments happened.

When we first moved here I attended a class for newcomers, hosted by Community Presbyterian Church, called Moving on After Moving In. It was a Bible study developed by Susan Miller. I can't tell you how important this was to me. During a move, any move--across town, or across the world--emotions are raw and hearts are more inclined to the Lord than ever as folks seek direction in their new place. How wonderful it was to be reminded that God is in the move, that He is with me and never forsakes me. This is something that as a Christian I knew...but so much had happened in our lives before getting here, and on the way here, that I really needed to be reminded.

Here is what I experienced in the class: Women who are hurting and need Christ are more open to seek Him during difficult periods of life. In the class I was a part of, one woman was grappling with her need for a savior, while another woman was experiencing for the first time love and care through the prayers of others. 25% of the population moves every year. That is a potential 25% people group that could be reached for Christ!

My gift mix includes teaching; and I love God's word. I am passionate about ways to help the Bible and a relationship with Jesus make sense in the lives of people. I believe through Just Moved, that's what I'm helping to do.

Our tea party is coming at a time when the ministry has been offered a matching gift opportunity. Carla is a good personal friend of Susan Miller. When Carla told her about our idea for a fund-raiser tea party, Susan was excited and found that her calendar would allow her to come! Susan speaks all over the world, teaches classes to military families, and to corporations: yesterday she was in Utah at In N’ Out Burger teaching to some corporate types who had just moved. Susan has written two books about moving and has spoken on the radio at Focus on the Family and Family Life Today many times.

What we are hoping to do at the tea party is reconnect some of the women who have been through the class, as well as connect Just Moved Ministry to a couple other churches in the area. Personally, I'm hoping that we can crank up the classes at CPC again this summer or fall. We are asking for donations of any amount that will go to Just Moved. I'm going to make boxes of cards and journals to be sold with all proceeds going to Just Moved. I'm pretty sure that after our tea party, I'll be more involved with Just Moved in some way. I have a heart for families who have been pulled up by their roots and are seeking, perhaps without knowing it, for the love of Christ.

Originally I thought that this assignment needed to be difficult, needed to be to start up some new ministry that had not existed before. However, through reading the parable of the talents again and through prayer, I have begun to see that the task put out with the Kingdom Assignment was to simply trust God with His finances, trusting that He'd lead the way to multiply the original 100.00 for the good of His Kingdom.
posted by Sarah Fravel at 9:52 AM on Apr 9, 2010

15 Money Saving Moving Tips

2010-05-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

15 Money-Saving Moving Tips

Most of us are looking for ways to cut back on expenses. If you are planning a move, the costs can really add up. Here are 15 tips to cut costs where you can when it comes to your move.
Pack in boxes that you can get for free from grocery or warehouse stores. Let your grocer know ahead of time that you will be needing boxes and he or she can save them for you. Another free source... use boxes left over from a friend’s move.

Compare and get quotes from different moving companies and truck rentals.

Consider using a moving company that delivers the truck to your door, you load it, and a professional driver drives it to your new home. You unload the truck and the driver returns to pick up the truck. You only pay for the space that your belongings take up.

If you have the flexibility, avoid the months of June and July for your move. These are the most popular months for a move and you’ll have less bargaining power at this time.

Similarly, if you can move during the week, instead of on the weekend, the cost of renting a truck or hiring a moving company should be lower. Better yet, be flexible on your moving date and a moving company may quote a lower price for a date that is more convenient for them.

Consider renting a truck, packing, and driving it yourself. Be sure to consider your confidence behind the wheel, road and weather conditions, your strength and stamina, and whether you’ll have help. Also take into account any loss of income from taking time off to pack, load, drive, and unload.

Use your own blankets for padding instead of renting padded blankets from the truck rental company.

Borrow a tape dispenser instead of buying one.

Read the fine print in a professional mover’s contract. For example, there could be additional charges for moving heavy objects, disassembling pianos or pool tables, or requiring the movers to walk more than 75 feet or use stairs or an elevator.

Purge your belongings as much as possible. Sell items at a garage sale or donate items to a charity. The money you make at the garage sale is money in your pocket and the heavier and bigger your load, the more you will pay to have it moved.

Paper is heavy and there is no need to move junk mail or old documents. Recycle junk mail and shred paper with personal information. Consumer Reports provides helpful advice when you need to know how long to keep important papers.

For a small move, trucking company, ABF, offers a service called “Terminal to Terminal”. You deliver your belongings to the nearest ABF service center, load them into an ABF moving trailer or moving container and unload them at the service center nearest your destination. Needless to say, this requires that you have a way to haul your things to and from each service center. A variation of “Terminal to Terminal” is “Door to Terminal” or “Terminal to Door”. This is a money-saving option if one end of your move is escalating your overall costs. For instance, if you currently live in a rural area far away from the nearest service center and are moving to a larger city, the cost for delivery at your origin location may be more expensive. By loading your items at the nearest service center you can cut costs.*

If you qualify, some moving expenses are deductible, so keep records and receipts of all of your moving expenses. Click here to find out if your move qualifies for deductions.

When you’re on the road pack plenty of food to satisfy your hunger without having to buy every meal and snack from a restaurant or fast food joint. Breakfast is an easy meal to handle in the car when you can enjoy muffins, bagels, yogurt, fruit, and juice boxes. Lunch is often a less expensive meal at a restaurant and it can be a welcome break to have a sit-down meal during a long drive. Consider take-out for dinner and bring it back to your hotel room.

It may be time to stop using a telephone landline at your new home, but rely solely on your cell phone.
*Just Moved Ministry does not endorse this company or guarentee your satisfaction in working with this company. Please do your own thorough investigation to assure your satisfaction. We provide this information only as a possible resource.

Monthly Devotional- May 2010

2010-05-08T13:41:00.000-07:00

Getting through the storms of life…

When the wind blows, and the rain comes down, God alone is your refuge and shelter from the storm.
...God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
…And there will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain. Isaiah 4:6

In the midst of the storm, remember to trust God in all things.
…He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. Psalm 62:2
…My times are in thy hand. Psalm 31:15

God is our anchor, our place of peace and calm. He strengthens us when tossed about in the storm.
…Thy word I have treasured in my heart. Psalm 119:11
…Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27

How will you respond to the storm?
…Therefore I have hope. The Lord’s loving kindness indeed never ceases, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3: 21-23

Scripture to Remember: Choose one (or more) from above.

Question to Consider: Will I respond or react to the storm in my life?

Prayer: Lord, you have equipped me for the storm in my life through your word and your promises. I will run to you for refuge and shelter. I will trust you in all things. You are my anchor, my rock. I will not be shaken. Great is your faithfulness! Amen

Thought for the Day: Today I will put my hope and trust in You, Oh Lord!

-Susan Miller

Save 15% this month on the MOOving Family

2010-05-05T13:50:00.000-07:00

Just Moved! is celebrating 15 years of ministry this year! Take 15% off the retail price of the MOOving Family throughout the month of May!

MOOving Family

Soft and wonderfully plush!
This MOOving Family will be a favorite gift for that special child affected by a move. They arrive with a pocket-sized storybook that features Susan Miller's wonderful gift of story telling. Book is simply illustrated in black & white. Cows are made with all new non-allergenic and non-toxic materials and are washable. Adorably packaged in their own home! Largest cow measures 19".

Heart Talk from Susan Miller- May 2010

2010-05-05T13:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Moving Friends,

Don’t be discouraged! Spring is coming! I can feel the difference in the air when I’m outside. I can see new green growth on bare tree and plant branches. Flowers and green grass are emerging on what was a barren winter landscape. The sun is brighter and stronger and seems to cast a glow on whatever it touches. It is as though nature is echoing the resurrection.

Rising within you can be a resurrected hope and a resurrected opportunity for a new beginning. Spring is a reminder to me of our risen Lord, who gives us the assurance of new life, a second chance, and a fresh start.

Take time this Easter, to allow a season of Spring to emerge in your heart. Feel the difference God’s presence brings all around you. See new growth come from within. With the fullness of His beauty, He will fill the emptiness of your life. It is the Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who will cast light on our darkness and change whoever He touches!

I welcome Spring. I celebrate our risen Lord. I embrace the change that emerges in my heart from knowing and trusting Him. I am grateful that in Him I am a new person, filled with His eternal hope!

Happy Spring! Rejoice, He is Risen!

From My Heart to Yours,

Susan Miller

Monthly Devotional- April 2010

2010-04-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

New beginnings...in more ways than one

Some people look forward to moving because it’s an opportunity to start over and a chance for a new beginning. It’s a time to start fresh with relationships, begin a new job or career, live in a new place, or even leave behind a hurtful past. For some people it’s like looking forward to spring after a long hard winter. Seeing new growth come on the brown limbs of a tree or plant is a gentle reminder of better things to come, or better yet, that there is hope for a new beginning and a chance for a new life.

Christ defined the words "new beginnings" when He died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected from the dead. (He is alive! Hallelujah!) Knowing that our sins are forgiven, and that we can have new life in Him, is the best new beginning we can ever have. This is your opportunity to start over and begin fresh and new--in Christ. Do you know Him personally? Have you invited Him into your heart and your life? To know Him is to love Him, to love Him is life changing. Put the welcome mat out at the door of your heart, my friends. He’s been waiting a long time for you to invite him in. Make this move a new beginning---in more ways than one.

…forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14

Scripture To Remember
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 5:6-8

Meditate on Christ’s death and resurrection.
- Matthew Chapters 27 and 28

Question To Consider
Have I accepted Christ into my heart as my personal savior?

Prayer
Oh Lord, I call myself a Christian, but I’ve never really surrendered my life to you completely. I need you. I’ve tried for so long to run my life my way and I’m so weary and so empty. Fill me, mold me, and move me to you, right now. I surrender all. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Thought for the Day
Today is the first day of the rest of my life - with Jesus!

-Susan Miller

Monthly Challenge

2010-03-29T14:38:00.000-07:00

Challenge 50

“I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving.”
-Oliver Wendell Holmes

Let Go: You are moving in the right direction if you are following the leader – Jesus Christ. To know Him is to love Him and to follow Him is life changing. The more you read, study, observe, and understand the life of Christ and then imitate Him, the more your life will be a reflection of Him.

Start Today: Ask yourself, “What are the detours and dead ends I’ve taken by trying to go my own way?”

Move Forward: This week examine the life of Christ by reading in the Gospel of John. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and to open your eyes to one way that you can begin to imitate Christ.

Class Spotlight- March 2010

2010-03-26T14:37:00.000-07:00

Cornerstone Christian Fellowship
Chandler, AZ
Class Leader: Vicki Tverberg

The Moving On After Moving In study has been absolutely life-changing for so many women who have participated. I have been leading the group for the past 4 years, and I still run into gals who have taken the class before, and they come up to me and say how important that class was for them! The gals in each group form a very special bond with one another, regardless of age or life stage, it seems. They have a common thread – moving – and work through some very deep and personal feelings alongside the other women in their group, so I think that helps them connect quickly. My current evening group has just met for 4 weeks now, and already they are connecting outside of class to hang out together, etc.

The class always helps gals connect with our mega church, and feel like they actually know someone among the crowd! It’s amazing how God works through the study, and really ministers to the tender hearts of each gal. They begin to feel a sense of purpose, start to memorize scripture verses, and hope in their future begins to flourish! As a leader I am always blessed by each group, and I enjoy watching the miracles that occur during our time together.

All for His Glory,

Vicki Tverberg

A Moving Story

2010-03-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

Dawn in Arizona

A Texan in the desert...

On March 7, 2010 I will be celebrating my one-year anniversary in Arizona. The last year has been a roller coaster that I wasn’t prepared for. I’m pleased and so thankful to say that instead of hanging on waiting for the next unexpected dip, I am finally enjoying the view. Here is my story.

My name is Dawn and I’m from Texas. In November 2008, my husband came home from a business meeting very excited about a possible role change within his company. I assumed that it would involve more travel but never guessed it would include leaving Texas. I’d moved to Texas in 1991, 7 days after graduating from college and had built a life there: friends, church, marriage, babies -- you get the picture. I fully planned on living there forever.

After the initial shock that we’d be moving to Arizona, my adventurous spirit kicked in and I started looking at houses online, interviewing schools, and planning our relocation. During this time, my mother-in-law bought me the book, After the Boxes are Unpacked by Susan Miller. I politely thanked her and put it in my travel tote. We arrived in Arizona and, for the next few months, I was buried in unpacking our house, getting my children settled in their activities, and figuring out where to grocery shop. I started reading the book and soon realized while visiting Scottsdale Bible Church that Susan Miller taught the Moving On After Moving In class there. I immediately signed up for the class and could not wait for it to begin.

Each week I walked in that class after reviewing the chapter and I listened to Susan share deep truths about Christ and how looking to Him can meet our unexpected needs after a move. I heard stories from other women who were vulnerable enough to share and it became such a safe, encouraging place. I cannot describe how incredibly encouraging this was in my life. I realized that it was okay to grieve my old community, the intimacy of my old friendships and the end of dreams I had that involved living in Texas. I learned the difference between clinging and cherishing. This class was the first thing I did in Arizona for me. I felt like I was dieting all week and once a week I received a big, rich piece of chocolate. YUM.

I’m most thankful for what attending this class did for my relationship with Christ and with my husband. Neither of them was in his rightful place in my priorities. A fresh start in Arizona has deepened my awareness of how intimately involved God is with the details of our lives. It has also reminded me how crazy in love I am with my husband and that no matter where God leads him, I will follow.

Thank you, Susan, for following God’s call to encourage women and help them navigate unexpected feelings and experiences that accompany relocating! May God greatly bless your ministry!

moving Tips- March 2010

2010-03-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

Tips to take you through the stages of moving.
From preparation to becoming part of your new community...

Following Susan Miller’s guest appearance on the FamilyLife radio broadcast in 2009 with hosts Dennis Rainey and Bob Lapine, the FamilyLife staff put together their own list of moving tips. We shared many of those tips with you last spring and are bringing you 30 more. Whether you’re preparing for a move or adjusting to a recent move, you’ll find something here to help.

Thanks FamilyLife! These are great tips!

Preparing for the Move

Relax and trust in God’s timing instead of being concerned about things you are not in control of.
When you are preparing to move, have a sense of adventure. Look for fun and excitement in starting life in a brand-new place! Your success in adjusting to your new home and town will depend largely on your attitude.
Allow yourself to grieve the friends and home you are leaving.
If you have children, make the move an adventure for them. Keep them involved with the planning, deciding what to throw away or give away, and let them help with the packing.
When getting rid of things, ask the children if they would like to donate some of their belongings to shelters, hospitals, your church’s clothes closet, Goodwill, etc. The possibilities are limitless. You’ll be surprised by how much the kids will give away/share with others if doing this is their idea.
If possible, familiarize yourself with the dimensions and floor plan of your new home so you can tell the movers where to put the furniture and boxes.
Clearly mark the outside of each box with the location for the items it contains.
Color-code the boxes according to room. Include the location of small items (Ex: second drawer in oak desk).
Label the boxes by the room they will go to and by the essentials you will need (such as kitchen—dishes, silverware; or bathroom—toilet tissue, towels). You may want to include identifying information about the contents. Ex: bathroom/lower left drawer of vanity; master bedroom/top dresser drawer; baby’s room/sleepers and undershirts.
Think in stages. Mark boxes not only for room location, but also 1-5 (based on how urgent/early you will need the contents). The boxes labeled 3-5 will not need to be unpacked the first few days. Consider putting them in a garage, or somewhere out of the way, where you can go through them as time permits. Doing this will make your living areas more livable much quicker, and not stress you to unpack everything so quickly.
Label each box carefully and tape a list of contents inside. Load the truck so that the beds and bedding are packed last. That way, when you unload, you can easily set the beds up first so that everyone has a place to crash when they are tired.
Know how many boxes you have and put a number on each (Ex. 1 of 25).
For each day of travel, pack one suitcase with a complete change of clothes for every member of the family. Also, pack one overnight bag with toiletries and medications. When you stop for the night, you will only need to bring one suitcase (with clothes) and one overnight bag (with toiletries/medications) in to the hotel.

Moving Day

When the movers disassemble beds, tables, bicycles, etc., ask them to give you the screws, bolts, etc. Put each set in a separate bag and label.
Remember that the movers will pack everything as is. One friend found a kitchen garbage can filled with garbage when she unpacked.
If you move a lot, it’s a good idea to retain the original boxes for crystal, stereo equipment, punch bowls, etc.
Insist on a separate box for each lampshade you value.
Ask the movers to put any loose cushions for your furniture into boxes so they won’t get lost or soiled.
If you set up the children’s rooms first with toys, the kids can begin to feel at home while you work on the rest of the house.

Becoming Part of Your New Community

This is a chance to draw closer to God … allow Him to be your best friend for a while—then you won’t miss your other friends so much.
Focus on what you can learn in your new culture. Cheer for the hometown football team, try a regional recipe, tour a local art museum, etc. You will miss the “old,” but you don’t have it anymore. Be content with today, and look for the gifts God has for you in your move.
Get involved with a small group (for exercise, to study the Bible, volunteer, etc.). Involvement in a new community is key to resettling.
Bloom wherever you are planted.
When you move, you are not ending friendships; you are expanding them.
Smile, because people will smile back and be more willing to converse with you.
Get involved.
Accept all invitations you possibly can. People will ask you to do things when you’re new—if you say “no” enough, they will quit asking.
Introduce yourself to your neighbors … even when you’re sweaty and carrying boxes. Ask for their names and phone numbers.
Invest time and energy into building new relationships and be willing to let go of some relationships you left behind. Some people spend all of their time talking to friends where they moved from and not trying to develop new relationships in their new hometown.
Don’t expect similarity, accept God’s amazing differences

Monthly Devotional- March 2010

2010-03-16T14:34:00.000-07:00

Moving to a Place of Trust

Kim wrote me a letter to tell me the news. Her husband was with a large company and they were being transferred to another country. She had never moved out of the city limits and now she was moving halfway around the world. Kim was excited about the opportunity, but anxious about all the unknowns that faced her family. She was leaving a job she loved, her extended family, and a town where everybody knew her name.

As Kim described her feelings of sadness about leaving so much behind, I noticed how she kept coming back to the word trust. “I trust God in all of this,” she wrote, “I’m anxious about the housing there, the kids’ school, the language barrier—but, I trust God to work out the details. He’s been faithful to us in the past, so I trust Him for our future.”

I couldn’t help but sense her calm spirit and inner strength through her words on each page. I knew, even with the adjustments ahead, she would be okay. She had already chosen to move to a place of trust in God. “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God,” said Corrie ten Boom.

How about you? Are you afraid to trust your unknown future to God? At a time when everything around you is changing, put your trust in an unchanging God who will not fail you or leave you, and who even prepares a place for you. “In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.” Psalm 56:4

(Exerpt from But Mom, I Don’t Want to Move! By Susan Miller, a Focus on the Family Book)

Scripture to Remember: But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord…My times are in Your hand.” Psalm 31:14-15

Question to Consider: Have I moved to a place of trust with my circumstances?

Prayer: Lord, I feel so worried and anxious! Help me to release my fear of the unknown and trust you each day for what lies ahead. Give me a calm spirit and an inner peace. Amen

Thought for the Day: Today, I will choose to trust God in ALL things!

-Susan Miller

Heart Talk from Susan Miller

2010-03-13T14:33:00.000-08:00

I never know what story will unfold, or what people will cross my path to leave a memorable imprint on my heart, impact my life with the presence and power of Jesus, and thus become my “Heart Talk” for the month. Writing from my heart to your heart is always personal and “in the moment” as God reveals what He wants me to share with you. This month, it all began in the prayer garden at our church. As always, God’s perfect timing is unpredictable and unexpected.

It started with a little something I wanted to do without a lot of fanfare that would bring me joy in the midst of the great sadness I feel with the loss of my beloved Bill. In the prayer garden, there is a wall that displays individual bronze plaques--with name, date of birth and death imprinted on it--honoring those who have gone on to be with the Lord. Bill’s plaque is the most recent one placed on the wall. I thought how lovely it would be to have two large planters at each end of the wall, planted with flowering geraniums and white alyssum. I would furnish the planters, the dirt, and the flowers, take responsibility for watering them, and for changing out the flowers each season. The planter on the right side would sit beneath Bill’s plaque. Knowing how much I love to garden, I knew Bill would be pleased with my little prayer garden endeavor.

I called the maintenance department at our church, got permission to do this, and asked for someone to meet me there to help unload my car. As I walked into the prayer garden, looking for someone who would show up and help me, I saw to my surprise, two of our maintenance staff already there, busily weeding the area. I introduced myself, and told them what I planned to do. With eyes of recognition, one of the men asked, “Was it your husband whose funeral service was held here months ago? Was your husband that Bill Miller,” he said as he pointed to the plaque. “Yes, yes,” I replied, my eyes brimming with tears, “that’s him.”

There was excitement in his voice and a big smile on his face as he shared how he remembered Bill and the devotion he gave to all the men in maintenance shortly before he became so ill. He shared how much Bill’s words meant to all the men, and how he made them feel important for who they are and what they do for our church. “We still have the nails he gave each of us,” he said. (I remember so clearly the preparation and prayer that went into that devotion. Bill was excited to have the opportunity to minister to these men, and so wanted to impact their lives with Christ. He gave each one a big nail, as a reminder that every person has value in God’s kingdom, and no job is insignificant when done with an attitude of serving Christ.)

As I fought back the tears, I smiled and thanked these two men who “just happened to be there” to offer a helping hand, and an act of kindness. (They even ran a water line to my planters so I wouldn’t have to water the flowers with a watering can.) I couldn’t help but notice they had an attitude of serving, and there was a glimmer of value and significance in their demeanor as they worked…

And, I thank my God, who in His infinite wisdom and perfect timing, once again ministered to me in a most unexpected and surprising way to soothe my heart when I needed it the most.

May you too, my friends, discover God’s compassion and kindness in unexpected ways when you need it the most!