“I Will Do It”

  I laugh at myself because it doesn’t matter how well I learn a lesson…I need to relearn it almost immediately.  It seems the most continuous one for me is to rest in God; to depend on Him.  Some time ago I wrote a short song, or rather an incomplete song, based on a line I read in Valley of Vision and also one of the Psalms.

Great God, Mover of all things

Nothing exceeds Your power

Immovable Rock, Victorious Warrior

You are faithful to every promise

  With God there is nothing that is impossible.  This morning I read from John 14 "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father."  Ultimately the purpose is glorifying the Father, God.  So if what I’m facing is God’s will, if it will bring glory to Him, then why on earth am I worrying about it?  Why am I not trusting?  In 1 John we read that if we ask anything according to God’s will, He’ll do it.  Right now what I am looking at is going to see my sponsor child in Uganda.  It’s confusing and complex.  Part of me wants to be denied access just so I have an excuse for not trusting God to meet all the needs to get there.  Why do I short change myself of seeing God work?  I don’t know but  I do know that there is freedom in expectantly running towards the open door that God has placed in front of me.  If He has opened the door, He will provide all that’s needed for the journey. 

Bragging

  I just have to brag on this couple from my church.  They are such an amazing example of Christian love and generosity.  They are older, in their seventies.  In a few weeks they will be moving to Alberta.  This Saturday, my church put on a community farewell for them.  I did absolutely nothing to be of assistence to this event, although I don’t think they knew that because when I got home this evening there was a bouquet of flowers waiting for me with a thank you card from this couple.  On the dinning room table was a second bouquet for my mom.  Did they buy bouquets for everyone?  I don’t know.  I can only assume so. 

  This is the same couple who will be taking their fifth missions trip in ten years this May.  Yes, they are the couple who invited me to join them in May (and are substantially supporting me financially to do this).  They love to share Jesus with their neighbours and family.  At the farewell celebration there were many people who have never come near our church who’s lives have been touched by this couple.  Recently they went to Switzerland when the Mrs.’s sister passed away.  They decided to stay an extra two weeks so that they could visit more of their family, especially those who do not know Jesus Christ and share Him with them. 

  Interestingly, not all of their immediate family is serving the Lord.  But it’s obvious that they pray diligently for their family and love them.  Even this cannot dampen their joy in the Lord.

  I am excited for the opportunity to spend the month of May with them, getting to know them better and soaking in their wisdom, even with the language barrier.  (Their native language is Swiss German, closely followed by French)  We need to treasure the saints that have gone before us.  They are very special people.  They won’t boast themselves, they are much to humble for that.  But I want to call attention to the legacy they are leaving so that we may be encouraged to leave a similar one.

Website Updates

  Besides the fact that I have seriously been neglecting this site, I am unable to upload pictures, and have been for a while, on to here.  When I can, I will update them.  Thanks for your patience!

Rock of Ages

(My New Favourite Hymn)

 

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy riven side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Cleanse me from its giult and power.

 

Not the labors of my hands

Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone;

Thou must save, and Thou alone.

 

Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress,

Helpless, look to Thee for grace;

Foul, I to the foutain fly,

Wash me, Savior, or I die!

 

While I draw this fleeting breath,

When mine eyes shall close in death,

When I soar to worlds unknown,

See Thee on Thy judgment throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee!

 

~Augustus M. Toplady

Amazing Grace

  This summer on the canoe trip one of the staff members made a comment along these lines: "What I’ve noticed is that people who have grown up in a Christian home don’t see the grace of God very easily.  Because I have a ‘testimony’, I am very aware of God’s grace."  Very true.

  I am definitely of the ‘Christian home’ variety who has not only taken grace forgranted but for the most part not understood it; knowing that grace is "getting what we don’t deserve" but not knowing experientially why I didn’t deserve it.  By God’s grace, He has been teaching me day by day to see His grace not just through theological eyes, but also to be awed by it and thankful for it.

  First off, I have learned that the gospel can be summed up into two sentences:

1.  I am a great sinner

2.  Jesus is a great Saviour

  It is impossible to appreciate the second without understanding the former.  I have written a blog about sin previously (January 4) but this quote from The Valley of Vision in a prayer entitled "Self-Knowledge" words it well.  "I have cause to loathe myself, and not to seek self-honour, for no one desires to commend his own dunghill."  God has been abundantly gracious to me in the way He has worked in my life.  I honestly do not remember a day without Christ.  Paul said in Philippians 3 that he had a lot of reasons to boast.  So do I.  I grew up in a Christian home, go to church and went to a Christian school, never committed any ‘major sins’ and have always been zealous for God.  That is the grace of God active in my life BUT because that is how He has chosen to work in my life, it is incredibly easy to miss His grace, to pass over it, to think it’s because I’M so good.  No matter what my situation or reputation, God is showing me more clearly all the time that I am indeed a great sinner.  Every day, every hour, every moment.

  Which would be depressing if not for the second sentence.  Hallelujah!  I have a great Saviour!  I say with Paul, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"   

Unexpected Opportunity

  I find the way GOD works fascinating.  Over the past few months my heart has been stirred towards missions, particularily short term missions trips.  I knew that GOD was stirring my heart for a reason and that at some point it would come to light what His plan was.

  I didn’t expect it to be so soon.

  Less than a week ago I receieved an invitation to join a couple from my church on a two-three week trip to Burundi, Africa to do evangelism with the churches there this May.  What an unexpected opportunity.  So, now I’m going forward step by step as GOD opens doors.  Because Burundi is so close to Uganda, I’m also hoping to meet my sponsor child, Lydia.  To be honest, it’s going to take a miracle for me to get to Africa between getting my passport, visa(s) and shots so I would much appreciate your prayers. 

  To GOD be the glory.