Thanksgiving for our Living Hope

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This season of the year can be difficult for many. Presently we have family and friends journeying through loss and suffering and Thanksgiving maybe filled with more lament than praise. As we are daily reminded through sources of media suffering abounds all around us from natural disasters, wars, and idols of destruction fueled by the sin nature.

How can we “rejoice always” and “give thanks in every circumstance” as stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:17? One of the answers to this is found in the brief letter of 1 Peter written to followers of Jesus who were going through extreme suffering and persecution. Peter gives them these comforting words:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1:3-5).

Our Thanksgiving can flow out of the fact there is an empty tomb in Jerusalem! The resurrection of Jesus from the dead changed everything for those who have been “born again.” My sin and your sin have been buried with Christ in His death never to resurface again before our Father. And on that glorious resurrection morning we were raised with Christ new life, a life  experienced by heaven invading our hearts in the person of the Holy Spirit. We are beloved children of the Father just as Jesus is, and everything that belongs to Christ is ours both now and for eternity and these precious gifts can never ever be taken away!

I can’t say I enjoy suffering and my first response is often complaining, yet I have learned that even in suffering as unwelcome as it is, can be a a gift.  Peter tells us that suffering is like a refiners fire that strips away “stuff “from our lives that may be holding us back from encountering the Father’s glorious love. In an unanticipated way, suffering brings forth His love, and awakens within us a longing for a deeper desire to know and love Him. Surrendering our broken  and contrite hearts to the Father,  points us to His faithfulness, and creates within us thankfulness and a “joy unspeakable and full of glory!” (1:6-9).

The Father’s greatest gift to us through Jesus is to know deep within our souls that we are loved forever by our faithful Abba. Our ur last enemy is death and yet death becomes the tool to bring us into the glorious love of God.  What a glorious day it will be when our faith becomes sight. When we encounter our Savior face-to-face and dwell with Him and the born again sisters and brothers for all eternity.

Perhaps it is a tough season of suffering for you right now. My prayer is that the resurrected Lord Jesus who lives in you will fill you with a “living hope,” covering your wounds with the His healing promises of love. That He would open the eyes of your heart to see His Fatherly hands holding you tight and carrying you safely home.

In conclusion, I’d to recommend two powerful books  by Timothy Keller that have blessed Patty and I in difficult seasons:

“Walking with God through Pain and Suffering”  and “Hope in Times of Fear -The Resurrection and the Meaning of Easter.”

 

Hungry!

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It’s that time of year again where food is a big deal with Thanksgiving are right around the corner and friends and family with gathering for a time of feasting and celebrating. Just saying the word “Thanksgiving” can trigger our minds with smells, tastes, of past memories that cause a hunger for what’s ahead.

An amazing hunger is occurring throughout the world and evident in South Africa as well. The Holy Spirit is stirring a hunger in the hearts of many for a supernatural feast. In October one of the teachers at the high school on Oceans’ campus decided to offer a worship time during a 15 minute break.

The week before this teacher was wondering if anyone would show up but none the less decided to give it a try. The picture above  clearly indicates that there was only standing room. The crazy thing about it was that some of the students had no faith background. This has also happened on Friday chapel times, where students are not required to attend and yet are asking thought provoking questions and becoming more and more engaged.

I can’t tell you the joy it is to observe what the Spirit is doing amongst these young people. As I stood outside of the room I could sense a hunger for something  more than this world had to offer.  This generation has been exposed to so much at such an early age and it has left their souls depleted and hungry for something our culture can’t fill.

It reminded me of Jesus’ teaching in John 6, where He encountered a hungry generation as well that were looking and longing for something more to satisfy there deep desires.  Jesus’ spread the table out for them and said:

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believe in Me shall never thirst…I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” (vs. 35, 51).

Many of His followers did not understand it at the time, but Jesus was pointing out His future work on the cross. His broken body and shed blood that would bring them back to their Father’s table, bring them back home to the place where we were created for, a place to dine with Him surrounded by His unconditional love.

Lord willing in the next month or so I will have a devotional coming out called, To the Place I Belong.  In these 31 days I seek to show from John 13-17 that Jesus’ whole mission was to bring us back to the family table. This is the only place where our hunger will be satisfied.

Our hearts our so hungry to find a true place of belonging , a place around a table where we can be satisfied, a place where our hearts will be filled with love. When we feast on the finished work of Jesus by faith we are brought home to a true table of Thanksgiving with hearts filled with gratitude for the amazing grace given to us.

I pray this Thanksgiving season you will eat at the Father table filled with His perfect love by feasting on the gift of Jesus!

 

Carrying the Presence

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A few weeks ago a blessing, or perhaps a better word would be miracle was carried on to the Oceans campus. Brian, a plumber from Michigan brought out a sump pump and other cool plumbing devices to help deal with the flooding issues on the property. I can’t tell you the joy and relief I felt as trenches were dug, pipes laid and the pump installed. Beyond thankful to know that when the winter rains pour down in Fish Hoek we will sleep in peace.

Do you know what was also truly miraculous? The fact that Brian and the Holland Christian Middle School team carried on to the campus the presence of God’s Spirit.  No doubt there was a lot of hard work involved. Students removed huge rocks and other obstacles in the way. Hours were spent unclogging backed up sewers, and dealing with other plumping issues due to old corroding pipes. Yet, while in the dirt and mess there was a tangible joy flooding on campus as the work was being done.

Both staff and students from the high school on Oceans’ campus were impacted by what they witnessed. As Brian and the middle school team worked together, these by standers were in awe that in the midst of the hard work and mess there were smiles, laughter, and a passion to serve.  A staff member shared that there was definitely something special taking place that was difficult to describe. One day a group of students approached me and asked, “When can we spend time with the Americans, they seem cool!” The HCMS team couldn’t pass up that opportunity, so a time was set for an epic hike through some local caves.

What is so wonderful about all this is the fact that many  of the students on campus are not followers of Christ. Yet, during those days they felt His presence as the team used their gifts, talents, and servant hearts motivated by the Christ living in them.  Oceans’ campus was flooded with the presence of Christ by this team simply being who God created them to be.

It reminded me of the text from 2 Corinthians 5:17,18:

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…”

The Spirit was carried on to Oceans’ property through His beloved children and with it Jesus’ resurrection power brought forth new creation life. The Father used the gifts and heart of Brian with his knowledge of plumbing and this HCMS team with servant hearts to be ministers of “reconciliation” with the spirit of Christ dwelling in them.  Their every day life and actions not only  reflected the Father but also pointed others to see the Jesus living in them.

As a follower of Christ I challenge you to remember who dwells in you. Do you believe you are a “new creation” and you carry the resurrection power of King Jesus. His Spirit flows through your veins. Carry that presence with you to the breakfast table, as you workout, when you enter the office, sit in the classroom, serve at a food bank, or walk around your neighborhood. Everywhere you go you bring the Christ and His presence has the power to reconcile hearts back to the Father through your everyday ordinary life.

Don’t forget: each and every day you carry the miracle of Jesus living in you!

**Special thanks to Haven Church for the funding to help make this project possible.

 

How Heaven Invades Earth

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The atmosphere of a place is transformed when the Spirit of God shows up. It was the last day the middle team from Holland Christian would be serving at the Ocean View Care Center  I had just arrived with a lunch for the teachers and entered into the office as I witnessed prayers being spoken over the director by a few of the team. It was a holy moment as tears flooded down her face and you could feel an overwhelming peace in the room.

Next these uninhibited middle school students along with a leader offered each classroom teacher a time to prayed for in the care center court yard. I watched in awe as these anointed students cried out to the Father on behalf of each teacher. Once again the tears flowed like a river.

Little did anyone in our group know that there was a government worker on campus, quietly testing students in the court yard. Over the last 4 years we have gotten to know this lady, who has been advocating for the care center children as so many come from difficult backgrounds.  She is from a Muslim background and works for a well know Muslim education organization.

As she observed what was going on and the emotional response of the teachers being prayed for she asked the director what was going on. She then proceeded to ask, “Would they pray over me? ” The director replied, “Of course!” Principal, Tom Strikwerda and Oceans leader Mike Verkaik readily agreed, and attentively listened as she shared some of the battles she was facing.

As they prayed a dam of emotions broke as they interceded for her. After the team departed she spoke with the director with more tears as she explained how as they laid hands on her she felt this powerful warmth come over her entire body like fire. She had never experienced anything like it before.

What brings the glory of God’s presence to earth? Prayer! What happened that Friday at the care center was an invasion of the Holy Spirit coming in a tangible way as the Father’s children prayed simple prayers of faith. Prayer is the gift given to us by the Father with a direct line to His heart to change the spiritual atmosphere even in the most difficult of places.

It may start as one spiritual drop of water from heaven but before long it becomes a healing river of God’s grace that floods through broken souls in need of a Father’s love. I was reminded that day of how powerful prayer is and how so many people are longing to encounter God’s loving presence.

Jesus demonstrated and taught His disciples how prayer was the tool used to bring His Father’s Kingdom to earth overcoming the deepest darkness. They followed His example and and carried His Spirit into the darkest places-transforming the atmosphere with His life changing love.

Right now wherever you may be reading this know you have been given the gift of prayer. Such prayers are a way to the Father’s presence even in the most difficult places. These prayers can bring forth a change in the atmosphere by His powerful love.

“Until now you’ve not been bold enough to ask the Father for a single thing in My name, but now you can ask, and keep on asking Him! And you can be sure that you’ll receive what you ask for, and your joy will have no limits!”   John 16:24

Kingdom Encounter

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This is the 4th time a group of students from Holland Christian Middle School have traveled to South Africa for a Kingdom Encounter.

The Kingdom Encounter trip is about serving, hiking, journaling, enjoying creation, and encountering opportunities to grow in faith through other cultures. Oceans Ministries desires for each student to know they are loved by their heavenly Father!

Be blessed as you read a few of the experiences this team encountered. OceanView Care Center

I thank God for the week at the care center and the opportunity to help out and bless the kids and teachers while serving in a community that really needs it. I pray for the teachers that they can continue to bless others and do their job amazingly and know that the Lord is so proud of them! I pray for the students and that they can know how much God loves each and every one of them and that God has an amazing plan for them as well as the people around them.

 

The Township of Jim Se Bos

We went to Jim Se Bos and helped people who don’t really have any food at all. It changed me in a spiritual way because I could go and serve people and help them have a meal, and I saw the look on their faces when they got the food. I am very thankful for Pastor Raymond because he is always helping people and trying to help everyone have a better life, like giving them food and giving the children a place to have fun and learn about God.

I am very thankful for the ladies who were working in the kitchen. While we worked together we danced and sang beautiful worship songs. I am very thankful that no one got cut or hurt while making food and that everyone had fun. Many people were thankful for their food, and I pray it can nourish them and keep them sustained.

In the United States, we are very blessed. Even when we go to a place like South Africa, we are living in a nicer place, eating better food, and have more opportunities than some of the people that live there. I encourage the people that are reading this to pray for the people of South Africa. Pray for their safety, health, and most of all that they come to know and love Jesus because when their earthly bodies die they will be able to have eternal life in heaven which will be the best thing that anyone will ever experience no matter where they live.

I also learned that it doesn’t matter where you are or what you have seen because you can still turn to God for guidance. I also learned that helping people brings me lots of joy and peace.

Playing Rugby at Fish Hoek Beach

One afternoon we met Pastor Raymond and some of the kids our age he had brought with from Jim Se Bos at the beach. We played a version of rugby because we didn’t know all of the rules. While we were playing, one of the lifeguards that was watching came down the ladder and played rugby with us. When everybody got back from the beach we had pizza for dinner.

 

Family Time at Oceans Retreat Center:

Each night after dinner we had family time where we would share our highs and lows of the day. A few nights we had a guest speaker. One night Andrew spoke about his story and ministry. He talked about glorious inefficiency, which is the idea that we try to do things efficiently and don’t always think about the big picture plan. Glorious inefficiency means that God does stuff maybe not the most efficient way but always the big picture best way. We also talked a lot about the power of prayer. Looking back on our days and the opportunity the will have to pray over the teachers at Oceanview Carpenter, we realized more than ever how important prayer is. It can truly change a situation around.

On the very last night we talked about our takeaways from the trip. My takeaway was about God’s love and faithfulness. I talked about how God loves and listens to us no matter what we are: strong or weak, bold or meek, poor or wealthy, sick or hurting or healthy.

Praise God for how He is moving in the hearts of young people!