New seasons. New chapters.

I'm not sure how to start this blog, so I will just dive right in. 

I'm moving… 

There, I said it! Finally, after 3 months of praying, searching, asking, sharing and fighting… I can now say that God is moving my heart towards a new city with new challenges and new opportunities. 

I'm moving to Dallas, TX. 

The last 3 years of my time in Charlotte has been difficult. I have shared some of that on this blog, but most of it is between me and my counselor :) It really has looked NOTHING like I thought it would...

...But. (You know, there is always a "but")…

In the quietness of the last 3 years, I found out some things about myself and my King that I wouldn't trade for anything! Really, I wouldn't. In the middle of all of the ups and downs, I found me. I found my voice. Really, my time in Charlotte has been a gracious and humbling gift from the hands of Jesus… as he gently and patiently pulled back the layers to show me… me. 

Just as I was "settling into" the normal rhythms of life here, God started to stir my heart to take a good, hard, long look at a few things :) And, I finally started asking myself some LIFE questions :) Have you ever done that?! Questions like…why am I here? what am I supposed to be doing? what are my gifts? And on and on. Patiently, privately and queitely… just me and Jesus. We talked. 

Then a few months ago, after a series of events that I can look back at as the providential hand of God, I asked myself these questions…

"Are you ready to truly serve the Church? Would you be confident to reason through the scriptures with the broken and outcast? Do you know why you believe what you believe? "

… my answer to each question: nope. nada. 

I am SOOOO grateful to the Lord that He didn't allow these questions to send me on a tailspin. Just the opposite-- I started to pray. Like really pray! I pulled a few (of the MOST amazing and Godly) people around me to help me navigate it all… and then, His answer became clear...

… Seminary. Dallas Theological Seminary. 

Scary. Exciting. Thrilling. 

AHHH!!! I have always heard that Seminary is more of a cemetery. Hmm. I do realize that Seminary is NOT for everyone. I know that I am ill equipped to handle the testing, trying and shaking of my faith. BUT (there is the "but" again)… what happens in fire? what truly happens in trials? what happens when we step out of the boat, and into the wind and the waves? 

Refining. Completion. Water walking. 

SO… here I go! OH, to say that I am overwhelmed when I look at what the next 5 months will bring… would be an understatement! I mean, I am walking away from my job at Billy Graham, need someone to rent my apartment for 3 months and still am in the process of completing my application! WOW. And, in all honesty, I am about 86% sure about this decision (which is another blog post for another day)… but just like my friend Sophie says… "IT'S A FAITH WALK" (THANKS SOPH!!!) … and to go off on a little tangent, I am forever grateful for the handful of sweet, sweet friends that fueled this walk of faith by their prayers and encouragement!!! thank you all sooo crazy much!

Really, I don't want regrets. I don't want "what if's". I want to stand before my Lord one day and know that I emptied myself fully for the cause of Christ saying…"wherever, whenever, whatever you have for me, I will take it willingly and love you as we walk together"...

Journeying onward!

Love, 

Nandi