Thursday 28 October 2010

Dearly-loved Children


I've been writing devotionals on 1 John 2 for the international student ministry I'm involved in here called The Well. I love how all throughout this chapter, John refers to his readers as dear children. The Greek used is “τεκνίον” which can even be translated as, “darlings” (Strong’s Greek Dictionary). Paul used the same Greek word when he wrote in Ephesians 5:1, “Be imitators of God, as dear children.” 

It struck me anew the miracle of grace to think that when God looks at me-- knowing me completely, knowing all I have done or haven’t done and am yet to do in this life, all my secret thoughts, all my deepest selfishness, and how very far I fall from the mark-- He still sees his very own dearly-loved child...

My amazing friend Abbie once drew this for me
during a time of prayer for me. It's me and Him...
The Greek for “dear” in Eph. 5:1 means, “beloved, esteemed, worthy of love, favourite.” Did you know that when He looks at you, He sees His favourite little darling child? Strong’s Greek Dictionary explains that Paul’s use of “children” in Eph 5:1 is “an affection address for those led by the Spirit of God, therefore closely related to God.” When you really stop to think about what it means to be His child, doesn’t it just blow you away?

Suddenly things which I've been stewing over, details of this crazy lifestyle, the travels, the costs, the matters of safety, being on my own, the wondering how it's all going to work, the trying to be strong enough, smart enough, whatever enough-- suddenly they fade into the background when I let myself stop and realize what it means to be His. And it's not just that He's my Father by chance; He's my Father by adoption (Eph 1:4-5). He wants me. I find that stunning...

And, dear children, "darlings", He wants you too.

 I am writing to you who are God’s children
      because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.
I am writing to you who are mature in the faith
      because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
 I am writing to you who are young in the faith
      because you have won your battle with the evil one.
 I have written to you who are God’s children
      because you know the Father.
 I have written to you who are mature in the faith
      because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
 I have written to you who are young in the faith

      because you are strong.
 God’s word lives in your hearts,
      and you have won your battle with the evil one.

-- 1 John 2: 12-14

Saturday 16 October 2010

News! News! News!

Hello praying friends!

I've been meaning to update you on the trip to England to meet with Pioneers for ages now. Oh, busyness!

I really want to thank those of you who were praying for holding me up before the Father regarding this meeting and the whole trip! There were a few near-misses with train/bus travel due to a strike on  the Underground in London and a late arrival to a train station (thankfully, wouldn't you know it, the train was delayed JUST long enough for me to run across the station to the platform and hop on it!). I was surprised at how small my anxiousness was regarding all the train travel (which I'm not a pro at) and I knew then that it was only His grace answering your prayers to give me peace.

My meeting with Pioneers went so smoothly! I was quite nervous leading up to it, mostly about how my own nerves might get in the way, what a fool I might make of myself :) But as I spent the afternoon up in Bawtry with the directors of Pioneers-UK, I truly felt so at peace, and was able to talk naturally and communicate what He's placed on my heart and ask questions about what they're envisioning of our partnership in mission, etc etc. All in all, it was just as I asked you to pray-- a clarifying day.

The Pioneers-UK headquarters are located in a beautiful old
estate called Bawtry Hall, near Doncaster, England.
I need to go back to meet with them for a formal interview and to meet with the team they'd like to see me join in Birmingham doing international (Yep! Perfect :)) student ministry, alongside doing mission mobilisation for that region for the head office in Bawtry. We will plan for this meeting to take place straightaway after I return from Uganda in April. The ideal would be to then apply for the visa and move to Birmingham in late summer/early autumn 2011!

But this will require a great deal of prayer!! I will need to see Him increase my support team 2/3rds of what it is already at. This is what deters me the most, this feeling of, "But God, the finances are impossible!" He is challenging me daily to trust that NOTHING is impossible with Him. Please pray with me as He works to  raise up new members of my support team to work with me to see this ministry fulfilled! The directors of Pioneers broke it down to needing 30 people to partner with me by sponsoring my ministry $1 a day-- $30 a month (or 20 Pounds). If some can give more and some can give less, it will then even out. And somehow, that makes it seem less daunting! Would any of you reading be interested in partnering with me to share the love of God in the UK this way? Or know anyone who might be interested? PLEASE do not hesitate to get in touch...

And we will need Him to supply the visa in a country where visas are harder and harder to come by as the gov't puts more and more restrictions on them. Of course, this is nothing to  Him. But Leah worries. hehe. Prayers, please!

I'm so very thankful for how smoothly my journey with Pioneers has been thus far. I'm so thankful for the way the Lord is leading one little step by one little step, guiding me onward in this life of serving Him. It is one wild ride. But He can be trusted! And if in the end that's the only thing He used my life for, to get that message across, it's enough :)

So... onward we go, learning to live in love and trust of Him!
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