"We can be sure that anything that touches us has been allowed by our Shepherd. He is our refuge today!"
The above quote came from my teacher's guide for my 3-4 year old Sunday School class. Last week in my daily Bible reading, down to my Sunday School lesson preparation, God had a theme: "I am your refuge."
"But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble." Psalm 59:16
"For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy." Psalm 61:3
"He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah." Psalm 62:6-8
I did not think anything of this theme - until after I needed it. But God went before, preparing me through His Word for what lay ahead.
Last Friday when I came home from work (a little later than usual because of some errands I had to run - but even then, God was in it) I was met by the sight of an ambulance and several other vehicles in my driveway. Well, from that part of my driveway until my house comes completely back in sight is a long way when you don't know what's going on. All kinds of thoughts started running through my head. Was something wrong with somebody? Did something happen to the house?
I was met by my niece and brother. Asking them what was going on, I was told, "The RV caught on fire."
My first thought was one of relief - relief that it was only the RV, and not something worse, like something wrong with a person.
Later I began to get bits and pieces of what had happened. The refrigerator in the RV had an electrical short, causing the fire. The damage was pretty bad, rendering the RV unusable.
But despite that, I have a God Who goes before. He knows what lies ahead even when I don't.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Because I Love You
Those roses that fill your heart with joy - I made those because I love you.
The sunshine that makes your day - I made it because I love you.
Look around and take creation's beauty in - I made it all because I love you.
Men might make those words sound trite - but know with Me they are always true.
No matter what others say...
No matter what others do...
Know that I will always love you!
"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3
Friday, May 27, 2011
Value Beyond All Thought
I came across this part of a Puritan prayer yesterday. I thought it was too good not to share.
-Arthur Bennet, The Valley of VisionThy blood is the blood of incarnate God, its worth infinite, its value beyond all thought. Infinite must be the evil and guilt that demands such a price. Yet thy compassions yearn over me, thy heart hastens to my rescue, thy love endured my curse, thy mercy bore my deserved stripes. Let me walk humbly in the lowest depths of humiliation, bathed in thy blood, triumphing gloriously as an heir of salvation.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
When I am Weak, Then He is Strong
Last July, I went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. I've mentioned a little about it before, but now I'd like to share a bit more about what God did in my life. Why now, ~10 months after it happened? Well, I have to admit (rather ashamedly) that I meant to do so sooner, but never did... However, my family is now preparing to go back to conduct another English Camp this July, and I wanted to revisit some of the things God did in my life.
During English Camp, we were teaching English. At first we thought we would be the helpers, and that they would have Dominican teachers, but when we got there, we found out that we were it. Talk about out of my comfort zone! I had never taught English before, and I found out that I was supposed to be in charge of one of the classes! I told God, "There is no way I can do this," and He agreed with me. He agreed with me and told me, "You're right. There's no way you can." But with that revelation he also revealed that with Him all things are possible. I was to find out that week just how much I couldn't, but how much He could.
Things seemed to be going well - the first meal. Then came our first night. I expected all of the 12-15 year olds to get in their beds and stay there. They might talk some (that's normal for girls), but I knew they had to go to sleep eventually. Well, I was wrong. That first night after everyone was in bed and I was starting to drop off to sleep, the girls started getting up, moving, and messing around with stuff, and our Dominican helpers were doing nothing about it! (after all, our helpers could speak Spanish, and my Spanish was very limited, so of course they should take care of the situation, right?) I eventually ended getting up out of bed and confronting the girls in English (after they had already caused some trouble), telling them to go to bed, and to stay in their beds. To deter further trouble-making, I sat up in bed 'til the wee hours of the morning when the girls finally quit moving around and making "awake" noises (during that time a couple of them did look to see if any of the leaders were still up, and I yes, I was). I didn't understand why going to bed had to be so hard, but God just used it to show me how much these girls needed to be prayed for.
Morning finally came. And I knew the only way I could make it through the day was by God's strength. I was tired - and facing leading morning cabin devotions and teaching my first English class ever. Well, I made it through that day. And through that night (which was much better than the first). And through the next day. By the third day, I knew I was really going to miss the crazy kids I taught and shared a cabin with. Throughout that week, God was at work. He showed me His all-sufficient grace. And there's something awesome in knowing that I can't accomplish anything because I am too weak, but knowing that God will come through with His strength. It's awesome to know that He is at work, and using me to accomplish things I never could on my own.
God's strength in my weakness was made very real to me that week as I was forced out of my comfort zone. I don't know what God has in store for this year, but I'm looking forward to the things He is going to do. As you read this, have you been burdened for the kids in the DR? Would you pray with us that God would raise up and provide for more young men and women who are passionate about Him to serve with us this summer?
To read more about our trip last summer, go to www.ccbcmissionteam.blogspot.com, or http://rdzimianski.blogspot.com/2010/08/great-things.html
During English Camp, we were teaching English. At first we thought we would be the helpers, and that they would have Dominican teachers, but when we got there, we found out that we were it. Talk about out of my comfort zone! I had never taught English before, and I found out that I was supposed to be in charge of one of the classes! I told God, "There is no way I can do this," and He agreed with me. He agreed with me and told me, "You're right. There's no way you can." But with that revelation he also revealed that with Him all things are possible. I was to find out that week just how much I couldn't, but how much He could.
Things seemed to be going well - the first meal. Then came our first night. I expected all of the 12-15 year olds to get in their beds and stay there. They might talk some (that's normal for girls), but I knew they had to go to sleep eventually. Well, I was wrong. That first night after everyone was in bed and I was starting to drop off to sleep, the girls started getting up, moving, and messing around with stuff, and our Dominican helpers were doing nothing about it! (after all, our helpers could speak Spanish, and my Spanish was very limited, so of course they should take care of the situation, right?) I eventually ended getting up out of bed and confronting the girls in English (after they had already caused some trouble), telling them to go to bed, and to stay in their beds. To deter further trouble-making, I sat up in bed 'til the wee hours of the morning when the girls finally quit moving around and making "awake" noises (during that time a couple of them did look to see if any of the leaders were still up, and I yes, I was). I didn't understand why going to bed had to be so hard, but God just used it to show me how much these girls needed to be prayed for.
Morning finally came. And I knew the only way I could make it through the day was by God's strength. I was tired - and facing leading morning cabin devotions and teaching my first English class ever. Well, I made it through that day. And through that night (which was much better than the first). And through the next day. By the third day, I knew I was really going to miss the crazy kids I taught and shared a cabin with. Throughout that week, God was at work. He showed me His all-sufficient grace. And there's something awesome in knowing that I can't accomplish anything because I am too weak, but knowing that God will come through with His strength. It's awesome to know that He is at work, and using me to accomplish things I never could on my own.
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| One of the Intermediate English Classes |
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| Getting ready to play "Cat in the Hat" |
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| All the girls at camp (a lot more guys attended than girls... and they were much wilder than the girls) |
To read more about our trip last summer, go to www.ccbcmissionteam.blogspot.com, or http://rdzimianski.blogspot.com/2010/08/great-things.html
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