Anja, the Boys, and I, have now been in Cali since June. It has been a roller coaster ride with high moments and low moments, and plenty of culture shock! I knew that the culture shock would be there, we have not been in the United States to live for 6 years, and though not much has changed a lot has, and will take some time to adjust. Thanks for the Prayers!
Many wonder How things are going for us, So I write today to let all know this is where God has us right now. One Step at a Time. The Lord has not shown Anja and I the big picture yet all we see right now is the next step our foot needs to go. Listen to this verse we got the other day.Psalm 86:13 Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.
What an amazing verse, Yes it speaks of our Lord, how righteousness is going before Him and it prepares the way for his steps. But as a Pastor friend of mine shared how the Lord used this verse in His life in a time of change, it sunk deep into my heart and I knew this is exactly what God is doing in our life. This is where He has us.
We all know what is right and wrong, the question is are we doing what is right? It is amazing as you read through the Bible and see the Men God used, there was wickedness all around them yet those who did what was right, God always prospered, God always showed them the way in which they were to go. It is said of Noah that He was found a just man in His generation, in a generation that wanted nothing to do with God, they were only interested in their own things, and they were wicked. This was all around Him, Yet He did not give in to the temptation but kept his focus upon God and in doing what was right. What took place then, was that it prepared the way for his steps and GOD led him and his family through difficult days. This is what God is calling us the four harts to do. To Trust in Him who is the author and finisher of our faith, who has promised never to leave us nor to forsake us, Who said to us as we were leaving Germany to Fear not He is with Us and When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Let me tell you we are having our shares of passing through waters that are High and through the rivers, But we are not being swept away. He is sustaining us, and helping us take the next step.
We Rest upon Him, and His promises knowing that it is impossible for Him to lie. He is always and will always be True to His Word. When He says He has a plan for our lives and His thoughts toward us are of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope that is exactly then what it is, regardless of the now situation. I am right now barely able to move, I have really bad back spasms, I broke my big toe just before Halloween, Yes I could sit here and ask Why, God don't you see I don't need this right now, well that is what I think. But He knows what I need.
And He is directing my steps. His word tells me in Proverbs That though my heart plans my ways He directs my steps.
He is calling Anja, the Boys and I to walk right now One step at a Time, Doing what we know to be right, staying focused upon Him and that will prepare the path in front of us.
So for you in whatever situation you find yourself in, You know what is right! Don't follow those around you who are seeking the things of this world, Seek the Kingdom first and all these things will be added unto you. Seek righteousness and that will prepare the path you are to be taking.
We don't know the big picture, but we do know, He has called us to take it One Step at Time, doing those things we know to be right, and watching that Prepare the path in front of us.
God is Good! Keep your eyes upon Him, your ear's open to His voice and when He speaks Obey.
As my pastor in Germany always said May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen
2 comments:
Dear Josiah and family, I appreciate you sharing openly and honestly about how you guys are doing! We too, were missionaries overseas for 6 years. One year ago this month we returned. It has been the hardest time of our lives yet as we look back, without going through this we would not have learned the lessons that we have and continue to learn. I have really appreciated the book "Hinds feet on High places" by Hannah Hurnard. It's an allegory about the Christian life. It really spoke to me as it shows the way in which the Lord takes us through this life, not usually the way we think! For us, we thought we would be overseas missionaries for the rest of our lives. The reality has been that we have returned from the field and now my husband has a less than desirable job since he doesn't have any
"skills" that would be used except for foreign missionary work. We have been humbled, but through this God is teaching us a deep quietness that we have not ever had before. Also, realizing that as missionaries we receive a lot of praise, but now what we do is only between us and God. We are so thankful that we have learned this now and we pray that someday God will use these things we have learned to minister to others! We pray that you, too, will see the things that the Lord is taking you through is to teach you things that you cannot learn in any other way. It's amazing how going through such a thing can almost bring you back to the simple things in life. Overseas we had such a responsibility (as I'm sure you did) and yet we come back and are finding the very simple things hard to overcome. God is wanting us to remember Gal. 2:20 "Not I, but Christ".
May you quickly reach for Christ's hand as you navigate through this new stage in your lives. Once again you will rejoice and be glad in Him!!!
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