Lamenting with the Spirit

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While in the States my wife Patty and I watched a service online of a church we attended before moving to South Africa.  The head pastor led the congregation through a time of grieving for a beloved pastor who served for 20 years in the church and had recently passed away. It was devastating to watch.

This pastor was in his fifties and had walked through a dark season of the soul, experiencing physical and mental issues. The head pastor was not at liberty to say how his pastor friend had died-but there were many unanswered questions.  How does a church recover from such a painful loss of one of their spiritual leaders? The wise pastor leading the service stepped right into the pain, anger, whys, and deep grief, with what the Bible calls “lament.”

In the Bibles prayer book the Psalms, there are at least 65 Psalms of lament. These are songs and prayers of asking God why are these bad things happening? How could He a loving God allow them, where is He in all this chaos, and would He please act in the midst of such deep darkness.

We live in a world marred with pain and suffering where even “creation groans” knowing this was not how it was created to be (Rom. 8:22).  Cancer and all forms of disease, divorce, broken relationships, injustice, natural disasters, fires, covid, wars, poverty, sexual abuse, mental illness, unexpected deaths, persecution, are just a few of the reasons to lament.

A few days after listening to the pastor lead his congregation through this season of lamenting I was studying Romans 8, reading from NT Wright who pointed out how the Holy Spirit comes along side our spirits and He groans with us over things we don’t understand. The Holy Spirit takes the groans which are to0 deep for words and turns them into prayers before the Father (Rom. 8:26-27).

These groans or laments find their way to the heart of our loving Father who is deeply moved by them. These laments and groans are also depicted by His own Son Jesus who prayed a lament from Psalm 22 calling out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me…”  The Father heard the cry of His Son, whom He deeply loved for all eternity, and this lament was answered 3 days later at the Resurrection, where all the wrongs were made right and a new day of hope dawned for all who are in Christ.

When we groan out the prayers of lament through the Holy Spirit t something mystical occurs. We for one share in the suffering of Christ which moves the heart of the Father and His promise is that a day is coming where “In everything God works for good with those who love Him,” (Rom. 8:28, RSV).

Being back in South Africa it is easy for us to get overwhelmed by the countless needs and suffering of those around us. We help the best we can but it always feels like it is just a drop in the bucket. Yet God’s Word reminds me in the midst of all the wrongs, pain, and suffering I can join in with the Spirit of Jesus and bring my laments to the Father who promises to act and work with my prayers to bring about a Good Love, that will never be overcome by evil, as stated in the glorious end of Romans 8.

Our Savior Jesus demonstrated to us how His lament led to Resurrection Love that made Him King, a King who reversed the curse of sin and death for all who put their hope in Him. A resurrection day is coming for all His beloved children!

As followers of Christ we have the opportunity to take our suffering as well as the suffering of others and lament with the Holy Spirit in us. We are invited to bring these groans and laments to a loving Father who will act because of His glorious resurrection power and one day will make all wrongs right.

 

 

New Beginnings

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Written by Mike Verkaik

Today I am transcribing a celebration story of a renewed life in Christ. Rejoice with us as you read the transformation, spoken through a surrendered life, by our Father who proclaims in Joel 2:13:

“Tearing your clothes is not enough to show you are sad; let your heart be broken. Come back to the Lord your God, because he is kind and shows mercy. He doesn’t become angry quickly, and he has great love.”

Clark is a former resident at the motel. He and his family, wife Ashley and three young boys, arrived at the motel in 2021 after losing their business and house. Covid had a huge negative impact on their lives and he wore the signs of anger and bitterness on his sleeve.

Over the next six months Clark and I had many conversations standing outside of his room, or at the restaurant next store. Clark grew up in the same denomination as I did and was well versed in scripture and theology. Many of our dialogues were seasoned with memories of his former church life, however, he was far away from that place at the current time. Ramifications of life choices and resentment towards his circumstances, overshadowed the beliefs of his past and hardened his heart.

Clark’s anger and fight mentally eventually led to a physical altercation with the owner and eviction from the motel. We kept in touch for a while after the incident, but as time passed our communication became less frequent until a few months ago when I received a text asking to meet for lunch. The encouraging lunch conversation was an honor to participate in. It included his testimony, a fresh story of the Father meeting His son in the midst of his brokenness, sin and shame and overflowing him with His love, mercy, grace and peace.

Listen to the words of a man full of peace who has been redeemed:

Mike, there was a time in my life when I was a real player with a temper. In fact, as you know, I was a loose cannon, but I’m not that guy anymore. I am at a point in my life where I have incredible peace. It doesn’t mean the enemy isn’t attacking my peace or marriage anymore. Old friends are trying to throw my past in my face and sabotage my decision, but I’m not that guy anymore. I know that God knocked me down so the only place I could look is up, and I am seeking God’s heart now. The cool thing is that even my son has noticed a change in me and has commented, “Dad you are really different since you gave your life back to God”.

Things have certainly changed for the better from those days at the motel. Tell all the volunteers to keep loving on those people who maybe don’t know how to love themselves. Keep in mind that you might be the only Bible, or only church that someone ever experiences. We’ll meet again, but for now, I need to grow, and develop this life further. Also we found a local church that is going to be starting Awana on Wednesday nights, in a couple weeks, and Ashley is working to get every Wednesday off from work. It has an adults Bible program to attend while the children attend Awana. We’ve been praying for something like this. So have we Clark!

Clark’s testimony reminds me of a similar story of, as the Bible quotes, A woman in that town who lived a sinful life (Luke 7:36). Like Clark, it must of have been quite the reputation for her to break while living in a small town. The only way for them, and us, to have a breakthrough is to fully understand and accept these words of Jesus in Luke 7:48 – Your sins are forgiven. These beautiful words usher in new beginnings, encourage change, and bring life giving peace.

Jesus said to the woman, “Because you believed, you are saved from your sins. Go in peace.” (Luke 7:50).

**Names have been changed**

 

The Same God!

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There is a song we sing in South Africa called the “Same God.”  Whenever we sing it feels like the whole building shakes because of the passionate hearts are crying out to God for a miracle just as He did in the Bible.  Here is a portion of the bridge:

“You heard Your children then, you hear your children now, You are the same God.  You answered prayers back then and you will answer now…Your were providing then You are providing now …You were the healer then, You are the healer now, You are the same God…”

I found myself singing this song as I was reading through a book called “God’s Healing Grace, Taking Jesus at His Word,” by Wayne Edwards.  This was another Christmas gift that blessed me so much I thought I needed to share it with you.  The book was published by a friend Henry Miersma, who personally knows the author.

Wayne Edwards & his wife June, (not their real names in order to protect their mission work), have been missionaries in remote areas of Kenya for 40 years. They have set up and run a health clinic as well as various development projects to bless the people living in the bush.

The people group they live with and minister to are Muslims, so you can imagine the challenges they have faced. After 20 years of laboring in this hard field Wayne cried out to God asking what needed to change for them to be more effective in sharing Christ saving love. He felt Jesus say, “Do what I was doing!”

He started studying Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts with new eyes.  As he read he asked these 4 questions:

  1. Who did Jesus heal?   2. When did he heal?   3. Who did Jesus not heal?   4. Why did he not heal them.

He also looked at how Jesus gave the authority to his followers to do the same ministry as He did. He came away from this intense study and concluded, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever,” Hebrews 13:8.

Even though healing was not talked much about in their theological background they acted in obedience and started to pray for people that God would bring to them.  It wasn’t easy and at first and they saw few results but as they continued to pray and obey they witnessed Jesus heal many people which opened the door for them to share the Gospel.

The book consists of 48 chapters which are all stories of the miracles they witnessed. These are humble servants of the Lord, not looking for praise from men but for Jesus Christ to be glorified as the healer of bodies, wounded spirits, and the one bringing people to salvation.  There are also stories of people in the US who have experienced Jesus’ healing power through their ministry as well.

As they have walked this journey of seeking to do what Jesus did they have learned some core elements of healing – confession of sin, repentance, receiving forgiveness, and forgiving others, which are the basic Christian practices.  And one key foundational practice for them is to make abiding in Jesus their daily walk.  As Jesus taught in John 15:4-5 “Abide in me, and I in you…for apart from me you can do nothing.”

I was so blessed by their stories of Jesus’ Kingdom being unleashed in healing the sick, driving out demons, and preaching the Gospel. It truly challenged me again to seek to follow in the steps of Jesus.  How our world needs to see the same God of miracles in the Bible unleash the glory of Jesus in our day.  If you want to strengthen your faith and be challenged to live like Jesus this book will bless you.

If you’re interested, you can click here to find the book online. Please note that all proceeds from book sales go directly to supporting the ministry of the author.

 

Living on the Rock!

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This Christmas season brought many blessings! One I for sure enjoyed was the gift of reading some really good books! “This is My Story, This is My Song, My Life and Testimony,” written by my 95 year old Uncle Bob DeBoer really touched my heart.

I loved the family history and pictures, and was so encouraged by his faith, a deep faith that weathered some of life’s most horrific storms. One of my very fist memories as a child was going to a funeral service on Christmas Eve for my aunt Marilyn who passed away from cancer. That Christmas grief and pain was forever etched in my mind as many tears were shed for my aunt, only 39 years years old and who left behind four children.

By God’s grace after a few years God brought a blessing to Bob in the form of a wonderful wife named Oveta.  She jumped right in to her instant family. Those were not the easiest days as you can imagine but together the made it work. The storms were far from over as all four of Bob’s children would pass away along with a grandson. He watched his two older children die from long agonizing battles with cancer, along with his grandson. The two younger adult children tragically lost their lives in accidents.

Yet in the midst of all that loss and suffering his faith never wavered. He continued to live out the words from the old hymn – “This is my story this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.”  Instead of going inward and living with anger or bitterness at God he persevered and served God as a leader in his church and for 30 years walked alongside a Cambodian refuge church in Colorado.

I would often tell Patty when I think of my Uncle Bob the word “Rock” comes to mind. He was a rock in the midst of life’s storms because he lived on THE Rock  just like the story Jesus shares at the end of the Sermon on the Mount. One builder constructs his house on the stable rock and the other on the shifting sand.

In South Africa we have seen over and over again people quickly building literal homes on the sand or even in the midst of a dry river bed. But when the winter rains come their “shacks” are washed away, along with all their earthly possessions. It is harder to build on the bed rock, takes more time and energy, but in the long run it will stand in the midst of the battering storms.

How do you build spiritually on THE Rock? One of the main points that comes out in Uncle Bob’s book is the word “Trust!” In fact he would repeatedly tell his family,  “remember to Trust, Trust, Trust!” Trust is not easy especially in our quick fix world where we want it all now and we opt for the sand.  Trust demands we hold on to the promises of Jesus and stand on those life saving promises even when storms continue to pound us.  We must continue to dig deep into His Word and follow these truths even through the valley of the shadow of death may be ever near.

I praise God for Bob and Oveta DeBoer whose life sings a song of praise to THE Rock Jesus Christ. He is the one who they have built their life upon.  Stormy days will come but it is good to be reminded to live on THE Rock, and to “Trust, Trust, Trust!”

“Everyone who hears My teaching and applies it to his life can be compared to a wise man who built his house on an unshakable foundation. When the rains fell and the flood came, with fierce winds beating upon his house, it stood firm because of its strong foundation.” Matt. 7:24,25.

The book can be found on Amazon

See, I told you!

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Written by Mike Verkaik

Seven years ago our Good Father opened a door to begin a ministry at a local motel in Holland, Michigan with a Christmas dinner. As our relationship with staff and residents has grown, Haven Church began to provide means for Oceans Ministries to also bless the residents with gift bags filled with hygiene products, gift cards and even a partial weeks rent payment.

You might think that attending a free Christmas meal at a local church would be an easy decision to make if you were spending Christmas in a motel room with no kitchen or means to cook. However, that is not the case for many of the residents who are not comfortable in crowds, or are new to the motel and have no relationship with the volunteers that serve there. Such was the case for Mary and Michael and their two children.

For residents that choose to, or can not attend our Christmas dinner it gives us the opportunity to bring them their gift bag and present it individually. While approaching Mary and Michael’s door I began asking the Holy Spirit for words to introduce myself. Nothing eloquent came as I prayed, only the simple truth was given. So, as their door opened and they invited me in I spoke His truth-filled words, “Hi, I’m Mike and I love Jesus, and Jesus loves you, in fact …” While continuing to speak about the Father’s love for them, Mary’s posture and big smile drew my attention. She was leaning over her 7-year old son saying, “See, I told you!”

Those simple Holy Spirit filled words was the key to the door of relationship and them sharing their story of loss, addiction and pain which led them to the motel. It was, and continues to be not an easy path to travel, but how beautiful and redeeming for them to know that in the midst of the mess their Abba Father sees them, validates He is with them, and supports a mom in bringing the message of Jesus to her son.

I have been pondering those words of Mary, “See, I told you”, during the past few days while dwelling in Luke 2. I Wonder if what I witnessed with Mary and Michael in that dark, musty motel room was similar to Mary and Joseph’s experience. I pictured the two of them, with their new born child, perhaps wondering is this really happening? And possibly, if like me, doubts and fears were creeping in about previous words spoken by angels seen.

What a reassurance it must have been for Mary and Joseph when our Father sent many angels with a gift message to shepherds and prompted them to go, see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. Luke 2:15b (NIV) I envision our Father smiling, holding Mary and Joseph, while listening to the shepherd’s recollection of the angels message, and whispering into their spirit, “See, I told you”. Although the uncertainty of their life did not change, the shepherds message had Mary treasuring words and pondering meaning the new trajectory of her life with Jesus.

If you are like me, in the midst of the challenges of life, you maybe need to be reminded frequently that our Father who sees you and is encouraging you. Maybe that is why the three snapshots written in Luke 2 of Mary and Joseph’s life with Jesus (with the shepherds, Simeon and at the Festival of the Passover) reveal our Father’s assurance and reminder that the Jesus they are raising is who the angel said He was before He was born.

As you enter into 2025 does your current life have you in a position where you are looking for validation, encouragement or wondering if you are walking on the right path? Are you looking for that reassurance again, even though you have sensed it before? Cling to the truth of your Father’s words, may they sink deep into the depths of your soul. Let them meet you where you are at, and bring you to trust in Him more deeply as He reveals Himself and says, “See, I told you.”

Matthew 6:8b (NIV – ) … for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.