Trusting in God
I was just sharing with someone today by email how God has been so amazingly faithful, again, in our transitions. He always has been faithful but sometimes we notice it more when we are about to make a big move. I know folks are praying for us as well.
The Psalmist declares God's faithfulness over and over and over again. That is kind of the habit of those who truly have entrusted their whole lives unto God’s care. Sometimes, however, I think the common run-of-the-mill Christian [like me] wonders if we should do the same, the "thanking God for his faithfulness" thingy. I know I just don’t do it as a regular thing. Perhaps I get tired of the falseness that can sometimes creep in to eager and well meaning God talkers, who praise God for stuff that doesn’t seem to have anything to do with God’s role in our lives. However, the other problem is that I think the case could be made that many times we have taken care of business fairly well on our own strength and therefore have no need to praise God for something.
Saying grace before a meal is a case in point. How many times is this just a perfunctory thing we do because that is what Christians normally do? It has been awhile since I had to really worry about having enough to eat. Actually more honestly, I don't think I have every really had to worry. I don't want to turn this post into an occasion to feel guilty about something that just is not our reality. Maybe the point is that I realize more keenly in our moves and transitions that God is with us. Perhaps that is because these are the times when I acknowledge more acutely that we truly need him. Like we need a place to live within 3 weeks and why should our gracious in-laws always have to bear the brunt of our call to serve the Lord? Not to worry.
We have been able to take care of almost all of our big ticket items on this side of the pond and have a place nearly in the bag for us to move into close to Erick´s high school in Bellevue. Today, the owner of our apartment here in Barcelona showed our place to two interested parties. It is expected that one of those will sign a contract in a week, thereby guaranteeing we won’t have to pay rent for another 2+ months through the termination of our lease in October. We also were able to take care of some furniture today! Wow, these are not small things! God is faithful, so very faithful. This is not to say that the journey is always smooth, but that in one way or another, God reminds us that he is with us, goes before us, prepares things for us to step into and allows us to grow in the process. We need to do our homework, but it is not ALL up to us.
The picture above shows the hands of one of my Pakistani friends and his baby boy that I took today when I visited them. It was a precious reminder of the trust I feel in the Lord. The story of what God is doing among this group can be found in my May Prayer & Praise list. Click the following link for a brief report: The first Urdu speaking service in Barcelona.
By the way, you can pray this week for some continuing growth in some key relationships with my Arabic teacher and Pakistani network. We will be joining together this Saturday for a special fellowship and meal with another 70 immigrants from all around the world. That will be fun. Today, one of them told me they always feel the peace of God when I am with them. That is of God, let me tell you. It was also an encouragement. Continue to pray for our transition…and include our children in your prayers. Kjel just went to Mexico to serve with work teams with Covenant Merge ministries. Nicki is working in the Midwest and considering plans for the fall. She still has some health challenges. Erick has a friend visiting us from Seattle and will soon pack his bags for our trip home. Thanks for joining us in the journey.
Psalm 36:5
Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
Andres, Thanks for sharing this with us. God’s faithfulness is so much greater that we can comprehend and it extends to everything, even to the minutest details. I say that as one who though overall I suppose am a classic theist, yet am open to some things I hear from open theism.
I lift up prayer for you now, and blessings on you, yours and the work God continues to unfold before you.
Comment by Ted Gossard | July 7, 2007
Ted,
Thanks for your heartfelt prayers and encouragement. There are new things each day to trust God for but he continues to demonstrate his faithfulness, even when I don’t feel as faithful. Sounds like Paul’s words to Timothy. Blessings on you and your ministry as well.
Comment by andres | July 7, 2007