Be with Me, talk with me - ask questions

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd. I am never in need.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters.
3 He renews my soul. He guides me along the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name.
GOD'S WORD^® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission.


I have been thinking recently about what I believe. There are some things I quite simply have formed an opinion and I believe what I believe. Sometimes unquestioningly.
I like simple language, so I am not really a into theological arguments.
There are also other times when I know that I have said that we need to raise our expectancy and expectations and ask questions.
We have all heard of having a child like faith. Sometimes that people think that means having a simple faith.
I am not so sure of that....I have a 5 year old that can have some very profound questions.

We have a relational God that wants us to be co-workers. Surely it makes sense that He wants us to ask questions and build a deeper intimacy with Him.

At the same time, God is God. I don't need to know everything. In fact quite often I am glad I don't - as it would probably blow my mind.

I am relieved He tells me things on a need to know basis at times. I am also quite sure that if He told me His plan for me 5 or 10 years in advance, it may freak me out completely and I may well become a modern day Jonah that turns on my heels.

Sometimes He gives us time....Like my recent trip to Germany. He told me about that 1 year in advance....but He knew that going "alone" and leaving my family for 3 weeks was something I had to ponder, prepare for and wrestle with....so He knew I would need that time.

Sometimes structure can make us feel safe. We like that. The world likes that. Sometimes churches like that....it can make things clear, more professional or business like....

Whose rules are they though? More often or not we put God in a box when we do that...
The problem is my God is not confined to a box. He doesn't do it my way very often (sometimes He might indulge me) ...It's more often or not His plan and His way.

Faith can be complex and it can be simple...There are no fixed rules.

Being obedient

The LORD will continually guide you
and satisfy you even in sun-baked places.
He will strengthen your bones.
You will become like a watered garden
and like a spring whose water does not stop flowing.

GOD'S WORD^® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission.

As some of you know, I have just spent 3 weeks in Germany. A lot of Germany, infact all of it was about being obedient. I first heard about the conference last year. Straight away the thought of going to it was burning within me.
I knew I had to go. That feeling remained, as I prayed about it. I shared my thoughts with my husband who also prayed and confirmed it. As a mum with young children however, it was a BIG ask from God.... Three weeks is a long time for wee ones.
As I shared with people what I intended to do, I got a mixed response. Come to think of it, I had mixed emotions - right up to the night before I left, I was having "frank" conversations with God about why He was asking me to go without the family... but I had to be obedient.

In terms of other missionaries, I have not had to uproot my family or gone to an unchurched tribal village where I have had to learn a new language, but the principle of being obedient is the same whether we are at home, overseas, in missions or in the office.

As one of our speakers said at the conference

"even if you are not successful, you must be obedient."

For me part of me going away was simply about being obedient.

We humans like things neat and tidy - organised and structured. The problem is God does things His way, not our way.

I know that some people raised an eyebrow about my 3 week trip. The fact is though I felt I had to do it that way.
It really all boils down to relationship - Our relationship with God and others.
In order to be obedient, I have to be able to be open to God and learn to listen to His voice.
If I had gone with the family or had gone for a week instead of three - I probably would have been at risk of missing part of what God had to teach me.

By valuing my relationship with God we and being obedient to what He asks of me, I do indeed feel that I have been strengthened and well watered.

Information overload...

For the past 3 weeks, I have been away in Germany. I have been in Herrnhut at a conference, called DNA Infusion.
As a part of that, we were taught about Leonhard Dober and the Moravian community.
Leonhard Dober was trained as a Potter. When he was 19 years old he joined the Moravian community in Herrnhut. He later became the first missionary to be sent out in 1732.
In order to do that he sold himself into slavery. When people at the dock heard what he and his colleague were doing, they asked them why...Their response was

"May the Lamb was slain is worthy to receive the reward of His suffering."

In other words....because Jesus is worth it.

I have had so much teaching in the last few weeks, it is hard to know where to even begin, however I would say that to remember our heritage is a good way to start.

These young men gave up their freedom to answer the call of God on their life.

Two questions I have are

1)What new or fresh thing is God calling me to get involved with?

2)What old/foundational thing is God wanting to renew in me?

These are big questions for me......What does that mean for you?