I haven’t talked to one of my 5 children since mid January. She left for South Africa to volunteer in an orphanage on Jan. 13. She did call us a couple days after she arrived and we have been emailing almost every other day. But I am so excited to be able to talk to her again! I’m thinking of all the things to talk about and I know we won’t be able to cover everything. She has managed to email us regularly and we have emailed back as well, much more often than we thought we would be able to do.
Being in a new and different country grows a person in many ways. Learning about a new culture can be exciting, hard, confusing, interesting, and challenging. Getting along with one’s fellow volunteers affords constant opportunities to grow spiritually. Let’s face it, people are sinful and learning to get along can be a joyful challenge. We need to try to be humble as Jesus was humble. We need to listen to other people’s ideas and not just want our own way. I see much growth in my daughter as I read her emails and see her pictures. I will let all of you know how the phone call goes. God’s riches blessings on each of you.
We are anticipating a challenging time at our church’s missions fest this weekend. There will be speakers from out of town coming to talk about how God is working in different parts of the world. One will speak about the spread of the Gospel in France; another will talk about local churches sending teams of people out to different parts of the world. We will have times of worship together, and times of prayer together.
This is a time for the whole family to come out and sing, pray, learn, and grow together. We are to go into all the world and make disciples, teaching them to do what Jesus taught us. There will be a book table, too. If you know of any books about missions to add to the book table, let us know!
This verse from the Psalms says, “Though the Lord is on high, yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.”
Isn’t that awesome that the Lord has great concern for His people, those who put their trust wholly in Him? Some of the definitions in my American Heritage Dictionary for the word “regard” are: to look at attentively, observe closely, look upon or consider in a particular way, to consider or to take into account, and more. I was trying to find my 1828 Webster’s dictionary but it has been moved again! We all enjoy look words up in that tome because the definitions are usually so much more rich and meaningful and at times include Scripture verses. When I find it, I’ll update this!
Are we dependent on God? Are we trusting in Him alone for our salvation? Have we humbled ourselves before Him, thanking Him for His greatness, for His majesty, His mercy, His forgiveness? He is so awesome! He has, as it were, stooped and reached down to us to forgive us, to guide us, to bind up our wounds. He is attentive to us. Lord, how I thank You for YOUR very being, You are the great “I AM”, you are the Alpha and the Omega, You are the King of Kings!
I was checking some of my favorite sites and came across this entry from Amy Scott’s blog. She writes about reading the Bible to one’s children and the importance of that. She also included some catechism questions and answers pertaining to sin, yes, that’s right, SIN. So many people are afraid to mention that word. Kudos to Amy for including this material on her site called http://www.humblemusings.com
I have thoroughly enjoyed going through the Children’s Catechism with each of my 5 children. Right now, with my 12 yr. old we are up to the questions re: the 10 Commandments. I think learning the catechism gives a good theological foundation for children; I learn alot, too, as I go through the questions and answers. This is in addition to reading and studying the Bible together alone and as a family.
Truly, God is merciful to send His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to take the punishment that His people deserved. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be washed white as snow.”