In the weeks of Advent Jelle chose to read the prophet Isaiah around the table and he started with chapter 40.
11 “He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.”
In the past weeks this last line is often in my mind.
Yesterday we were at the baptism of the little baby boy of my youngest brother.. I often get goose bumps when I see that water being poured out over such a tiny sweet baby head.. the little eyes of the baby full of trust in mama or dads arms. Not aware of the big promise what is resembled in this pouring out of water.
It is not us who are reaching out to God, it is God who never stops reaching out to us…. enough to be very much encouraged by this deep promise. Whatever we feel or not feel or think or believe. We will never understand the deep desire of God to redeem us.
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Lots of things are going on here now.. lovely.. exciting, very scary at the same time… It is not as if we make the decisions to move easily and just go.
It gives us also deep feelings of anxiety and being unsettled. But in all of that, we both see that God is revealing Himself in new ways.
In this time, I go through a whole cycle of feelings and emotions. First there is the relieve that we made this decision, to go, to really live out, what we believe. That we can and may follow the desire of our hearts. The certainty and peace that we are on the right track again. After that there are also often feelings like: Are we not crazy! We can’t, I can’t, How can we?
But at the bottom of this all, I sense that prompting of this Isaiah 55 what Jelle was reading just tonight:
” For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
12 “For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
So good to hear how you and your family are doing in this transition time Janneke! Your courage to follow Jesus in personally costly ways is commendable. I will continue to pray for you and Jelle and the kids as you move cross culturally and all the challenges that will imply. As I pray for you all I think of 2 Cor. 4, “Therefore since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart…For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed…Therefore we do not lose heart.” Thank you for being willing to bring light where there is darkness. May the Holy Spirit cause you to take heart that He has given you this ministry and will walk with you in it. May Jesus richly bless you and your family. Much love, and many prayers for you, Claire-Marie
Thank you, Claire Marie, for encouraging us with this Bibleverse.. I can use that extra focus! Blessings on you in this time of year.