Why I'm Going Home, in a Nutshell

The Lord spoke to me in 2007 that there would be a significant change happening in my life at the end of 2009. I wasn't too sure what it was, but I patiently waited on the Lord until He gave me clarification. It wasn't until the end of 2008 the Lord spoke to me strongly and clearly about moving back to Los Angeles, taking what I've learned in Norway back to the States. The States needs a touch of the Lord too -- now more than ever! This He spoke to me with the same level of intensity and urgency He spoke in coming to Norway. (For those of you who know the story of me coming to Norway, you will remember it took quite a bit of time for me to obey the Lord before accepting the call to go to Norway.) This time around, I knew the clear voice of the Lord and decided to listen right away. The Lord began to provide confirmation almost immediately, and it was then I knew I needed to communicate to my friends and family in Norway that I would be moving home.

So it was exactly one year ago, I publicly announced the decision to move. While stepping out in faith and communicating God's word to me, it took a couple of months before the Lord was able to convince my heart that this was the right decision because I love Norway, I love Europe, and it has been nothing but a joy and a blessing to serve John Henry and the staff here in Norway and all of my brothers and sisters in the Foursquare family worldwide. While being home for Christmas last year, I received even more confirmation through prophetic words confirming my move (from people who didn't even know that I had made the decision to move home) and also through an incredible sense of the Lord's peace and joy to move back while I was home. This was a marked contrast to previous visits home -- while I enjoyed myself I was extremely eager to get back to Norway. This time, my heart had changed, and I longed to stay in LA -- a change only the Lord could have brought about! His peace continues to guide this decision and becomes stronger every day that passes.

Yet at the same time, it will be very sad to leave everything and everyone behind in Norway, because it has been such a fantastic season in life full of incredible ministry and amazing friendships; I don't know how it could be better! But I do know and have seen that where we are obedient, God is able to bring about greater things in and through our lives, and I am expectant this new season will be incredible as well!

When I move home, I plan to live with my family and am actively seeking a job so that I can get back up on my feet again financially, buy a car, and eventually move out to my own place :) I also plan on serving in my church in my free-time. This is a bit different after serving the church full-time for close to ten years, but I am excited to be a missionary for Jesus in my workplace and home country.

Thank you for all your love and support the past six years. Without you, it wouldn’t have been possible for me to serve in Norway!

Hvorfor jeg skal hjem i et nøtteskal

Herren talte til meg in 2007 at det ville være en stor forandring i mitt liv slutten av 2009. Jeg var ikke helt sikker hva det betydde, men jeg ventet på klarhet fra Herren. Det var ikke før slutten av 2008 at Herren talte til meg veldig sterk om å flytte tilbake til USA, og at jeg måtte ta det jeg hadde lært her i Norge tilbake til USA. Statene trenger et glimt av himmelen óg – mer enn før! Dette talte han til meg med den samme intensiteten og inntrengende følelsen han hadde brukt for å kalle meg til Norge. (For de som kjenner historien bak mitt kall til Norge, ville dere huske at det tok meg en del til før jeg lydte Herren). Denne gangen, visste jeg at det var Herrens røst og bestemte meg for å lyde Ham med en gang. Herren ga meg bekreftelse nesten med en gang, og det var da jeg kjente at jeg måtte kommunisere til min familie og venner i Norge at jeg skulle flytte hjem.

Det var et år siden da jeg offentliggjorde denne bestemmelsen. Mens jeg gikk i tro og kommuniserte hva Guds ord var til meg, tok det meg et par måneder før jeg ble helt overbevisst at det var riktig, fordi jeg elsker Norge, jeg elsker Europa, og det har vært en stor glede og velsignelse til å tjene John Henry og staben her og alle mine ”søsken” i Foursquare verden rundt. I fjor, mens jeg var hjemme til jul, fikk jeg enda mere bekreftelser gjennom profetiske ord (fra folk som hadde ingen peiling at jeg hadde bestemt meg for å flytte) og gjennom en utrolig følelse av Guds fred og glede i å flytte hjem. Det var et merket forskjell fra forrige besøk i Los Angeles (før hadde jeg lengtet etter å være i Norge selv om jeg hadde en god tid i USA.) Denne gangen, hadde hjertet mitt forandret seg, og jeg lengtet etter å være i LA – en forandring bare Gud kunne har gjort! Hans fred fortsetter å veilede hele prosessen og blir sterkere for hver en dag som går.

Samtidig, kommer det til å være trist å reise fra dere alle i Norge. Det har vært en utrolig periode i mitt liv fyllt med tjeneste og gode og dype vennskap; jeg vet ikke om det kunne har vært bedre en dette! Men en ting jeg vet og har sett at når vi lyder Gud, er det mulig for ham å gjøre ende flere ting inni og gjennom oss. Jeg forventer at den kommende periode blir utrolig óg!

Når jeg flytter, skal jeg bo med min familie ei stund og skal søker etter en jobb så at jeg er i god stand med økonomien igjen så at jeg kan kjøpe en bil, og etter hvert flytte til min egen plass. Jeg planlegger også om å tjene i hjemmenigheten min på en frivillig basis. Det er litt annerledes for meg etter at jeg har tjent i menigheten i en hel tids stilling i nesten 10 år, men jeg er spent om å være et misjonær for Jesus i min arbeidsplass og mitt hjemland.

Takk for deres vennskap og støtte de siste 6 årene. Uten dere hadde det vært helt umulig for meg å være i Norge!

Feeling better...

But ugh... I'm stressed! I missed a lot of time this week, and I'm excited and nervous about coming home, and I'm stressed about getting everything done before I move... God keeps reassuring me that everything will get done, and that I have more than enough time; it's just that I'm thinking about all the last minute stuff that has to be done. I'm really glad I got so much done up until now, or else I would be sick from stress. Ugh...

I'm still a bit under the weather, so I decided to not go anywhere today. I need to kick this virus before this coming week, so I can place all my energy into people and last minute preparations to leave. It'll be here before you know it! 18 days and counting...

Blogging again... a new chapter in my life

So, I decided to start blogging again... not that I really haven't been blogging before on my home website or on my Xanga years ago. Then, of course, there's Facebook, but all of the posts are short and not in depth, and do I really want 400 "friends" seeing everything I think and feel all the time? Granted, there are a whole lot more people that could see this blog, but the chances are very slim, and I want only those who really know me to be able to glimpse into my daily world, without people "staring down" my every move...

I've missed blogging. I've missed being able to pour out my heart and my daily thoughts. It's been a long time -- a really long time. I love to write, and I love reading what I write. It causes me to reflect and think about all the good times of the past and in doing so prepares me for the future. Funny concept, huh?

I leave Norway in two and a half weeks. It's bittersweet for sure. I never thought I would be leaving after being here for almost 6 years, but God has called me back home. I can't deny it, and He has given me such peace about it all. A year ago, I wouldn't have even thought about moving back to LA, so I know it is God who has changed my heart and prepared me for what is next. It will be sad to leave all I love here, but I know that God is bring about yet another incredible season in my life. I am greatly anticipating all He has for me. God is good!

When I'm back in LA, I'm going to be looking for a job and buying a car. Highly practical things to do, but I really feel this is what God has called me to for the moment. Also, I want to serve in my home church. I want to give back all they have invested in me these past years while I've been in Norway. And I know God can work through me as a missionary wherever I go, so I know His hand is upon me in this process of moving back home.

I've already been looking for jobs, and I am hopeful. Even with the tough economic times lately, there are still jobs in administration -- tons of them! I am just praying for a job with a good salary, that I can get to easily (because I have no car), where I thrive with my work and co-workers, with good benefits, and good vacation time. I will, after all, be traveling back to Norway next year to attend a good friend's wedding. Date and time are still to be determined, but I am set on coming back for the wedding. It is one I would never dare miss!

Oh... so many things still yet to do and prepare and get ready to go. I've been sick all week and not much has gotten done. This has been an incredibly inconvenient time to be sick, let me tell you, three weeks before I go. I am extremely grateful that I got as much as possible done over the past few months. Stress is almost non-existent, and I keep chugging along, getting things done. Soon, everything will be over, but until then, I strive to get things done with the little energy I do have being sick this week.

Well, this post turned out to be longer than I expected, but it feels good to pour out my heart and emotions and life stories again in a blog... hopefully this will happen more often. It's a good release and a good place for me to keep writing.

Until next time,

Gretchen