Nearer my God to Thee

I have put off writing this for too long. It seems as though there is too much for words. But I want you to know what God has done and is doing. In August, I went to the Czech Republic for a short term mission trip. I met my sister there, Esther who had been there since March. I was gone for 28 days and Ess and I flew home one week before my wedding.

It is funny that the last blog entry I wrote was about the Body of Christ; about other believers and the might of Love and a United Front, because that is so much of what I met in the Czech Republic.

The bulk of my trip was spent with 90 teenagers at a music camp where these incredibly talented kids – some believers, some not – learned music and dance and drama. That’s the hook, get it? They were there learning and being taught talent by amazingly talented people! But what we were really doing was teaching them the Gospel. The teachers and leaders were believers, sold out, for-real lovers of Jesus Christ. And the truth was spoken and LIVED. In a culture that is essentially void of God, a remnant of the secular Soviet sixty year occupation, these kids saw and heard the truth. The truth that there is meaning to life, that they were created for a reason, that there is a God who holds all things and who LOVES them. It was awesome!

I got to share one night, early on in my time with them about my romance with God and my then fiancé, now husband, Mitch. I told about my heartache and pain and God’s grace and rescue and care and tender affection. And how He led me to the man that will love me for the rest of our lives. And I saw the tears come down the faces of some of the girls and the eyes that would hardly blink for fear of missing a detail, and I KNEW that the Holy Spirit was speaking through me. And my vulnerability before them all opened the door to so MANY relationships and conversations and opportunities to show how Jesus is REAL and He is crazy about us and wants us so so soooo much.

And that was just a little bit of what He did! I was blessed beyond measure! I got to work with and serve the most incredible body of believers. Believers were there from all over – the UK, the USA, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Estonia, Germany and of course, Canada. And let me tell you about the power of a shared love of Jesus Christ! Wow, God spoke to me through them, I learned from their teaching and I drew strength from cleaning up after them, from doing their groceries, from making them coffee, from coordinating their efforts, making the creative dream of someone who may not be so coordinated into a reality. Because that is mostly what I did. I worked behind the scenes, I came up after people, I was generally a quiet, unassuming presence that made sure other people could shine. And I loved it! I got to talk and pray with the people I worked beside, about who Jesus is and what they were learning. I was encouraged with news of healing and the pursuit of the Holy Spirit and of those whose hearts are for the mission field. Whose visions are bigger than their bank accounts and abilities but who hope in the Lord. This God who uses the weak to shame the strong and the small to slay the giant.

And I got to talk to Jesus. Each day there was somehow time to go and be alone with Him. Our camp was actually in a building that seemed like a school. It was old and looked “communist-built” but it was just what we needed. It was built on the outside of a town, and that meant that I could walk into the woods or climb up into the hills to a place where I could see for miles and miles. And I heard His voice and knew His peace and His strength. And secrets and hidden things were unlocked to me.

I went to the Wild Places. I went far away at a time where it didn’t seem to fit – I was gone until a week before my wedding! But God called me there. And He had me right where He wanted me. I gave myself over to be used and the service I was called up for was incredible. And the JOY of it! And the strength I was given to do what was being asked. So gently asked.

This morning I was reading my devotional, “Streams in the Desert.” Read this book! It is so good. It quoted the words of an old hymn,

“Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me...”

It made me think, is that really my song? Do I covet the presence of God so much that I would ask for anything to bring me closer, even the greatest suffering? I know it is the call of my Spirit. Of a Spirit that has been sealed for Him, for Glory. But my heart is selfish and slow to heed the call; my body is adverse to the tasks of putting my hand to the plow – getting up early enough to spend time with my Savior when my bed is so warm. Oh, how much I need Him to give me the strength to go to Him. Can I do anything good without Him? No. He is the Good. He is the One. In Him I put my trust; I will not be put to shame. Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord, rejoice!

Thank you so much to all who supported me with your prayers and your giving. I had no idea what was in store, and with that in mind, I face the future. We don’t know what is coming – but it is big and beautiful and from the hand of a Father who loves us and we can be SURE that whatever it is, it is good because it is meant to make us like Jesus, that He may be the first born among many. That nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, no condemnation, no charge, no act of men or of angels or demons. And in that hope may we make our stand.

Praise to the Lamb who is worth of all.

And Merry, Merry Christmas!!!