First Colorado Thanksgiving

     This Thanksgiving will always be remembered by our family as our first in Colorado, and our first with my sister Cathi and her family.  I am dumbfounded by all that has transpired in our lives since our last Thanksgiving in France a year ago.  We could NEVER have imagined that one year later I would have resigned from my roles in Namestan, resigned from CCC, and that we would be re-settled in Colorado.  The events of the past 12 months could only have been coordinated by a Sovereign, Loving God who was always a hundred steps ahead of us, leading us one day at a time through an incredible labyrinth of unexpected turns, secret passageways, and wonderful surprises.  As the popular song says, "We stand in awe of you." 

     We are grateful for a myriad of miracles that God has performed in our lives this past year:

 - The miracle He performed in my life through my experience of burn-out, and the resulting healing and freedom He brought to my heart and soul.
-  The miracle that we were in France when I hit the wall when we should have been in South Africa, and that our friends Scott and Mary Petersen were in France when they should have been in the States on furlough.  They were the Angels of Mercy sent by the Holy Spirit to walk with us through our life-changing summer.
-  The miracle of God's provision for our every need this past summer through our time of counseling.
-  The miracle of both our home and our car being sold in our final five days in France.
-  The miracle of God's provision of a month-by-month house rental here in Bailey.  Our landlord spent the first three days of this week fixing every problem that needed attention - he even got the hot tub working!
-  God's provision of two 4x4 vehicles at a very reasonable cost.
-  God's confirmation through our approval to serve under Mountain Movers International, and my acceptance to the graduate program at Walden University.
-  God's provision of a local body of believers that meets in the girls' high school; we're among the oldest in the church, but we love Mike's teaching and the "risky" spirit that permeates the whole church.

     We serve an awesome God! 

     Yesterday I read a passage in Matthew 11 that puzzled me greatly:

"And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, 'Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another?'  Jesus answered and said to them, 'Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

     Here is John, Jesus' first cousin and the prophesied forerunner of the Coming One apparently struggling with doubts about Jesus' true identity.  How could that be?  John had preached fearlessly of the coming Messiah, and against the prevalent sins of his day.  He even stood boldly and at great risk to himself against King Herod's sin - and landed up in prison for his efforts.  Jesus Himself gave John the highest honor ever given to a man when he said, "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist...".  So, what was going on with John? 

     Here is what I imagine was happening in John's heart, and what so often happens with us as well when we're faced with unexpected and discouraging circumstances:  John knew without a doubt that Jesus was the Messiah and Savior of the World.  His entire ministry was devoted to preparing the way for Jesus - a man he'd known his entire life.  I can't imagine that John really doubted Jesus' identity, but suddenly John lands up in prison after confronting Herod - and His cousin Jesus, the Creator of the Universe and the Son of God.... isn't doing anything about it.  John will eventually die at Herod's hand, and although Jesus is clearly deeply grieved by John's death, He never intervenes on John's behalf.

    I believe this is why Jesus said to John's disciples "Blessed is He who is not offended because of me".  We do get offended at Him, don't we?  I know I do.  I get offended when things don't go the way I want or expect them to.  I get offended when Jesus apparently doesn't intervene on my behalf, and I am forced to WAIT or even to change my plans.  I get offended at Jesus when He doesn't work in other people's lives like I'm asking Him to.  When John's disciples asked the question, Jesus didn't actually give a direct answer; He just said, in effect, "Just remind John that He really does know me.  He knows that my heart is for serving, and healing, and loving... and I don't really need to give him any other answer, do I?" 

     So while we're in what seems like an eternal waiting mode for the closing of our home in France, and to really get launched into our new venture here... He's reminding me to remember His heart.