Eighteen years ago, God called our family to leave behind all that was familiar, move hundreds of miles, and join Presentation Ministries as volunteers. In a small way, I came to learn some of what Abram learned about following the Lord:

• When you step away from what is familiar to you, you allow God to become more familiar to you.
• Before the Lord calls you somewhere, He has already prepared everything for you (Heb 11:16).
• "All depends on faith, everything is grace" (Rm 4:16). Often God doesn't provide the grace until you step out in obedient faith. Then the grace arrives without fail.
• "You have no idea what kind of life will be yours tomorrow" (Jas 4:14). So don't worry about tomorrow (Mt 6:34).
• Whatever you give up for God's sake and the gospel will return to you a hundredfold in some way (Mk 10:29-30).
• Though there are personal benefits to obeying God's call, it's not about you. It's about God blessing others through you (Gn 12:3; see 1 Cor 12:7).
• Jesus is always with you — always (Mt 28:20; Ps 23:4).
• "Fear is useless. What is needed is trust" (Mk 5:36).
• God's timing is perfect — far better than ours.
• Only in the Holy Spirit is to be found the critically necessary balance between actively stepping out in faith and having the docility to let it be done to you (Lk 1:38).

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 22, 2007

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