Seeds

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The last night at Beautiful Gate, in Lesotho Africa, I handed each team member a package of seeds-there were sunflowers, zinnias and even corn and red peppers! From day one as a group we had been echoing the prayer of Jesus on the cross:

Father, I place my life in Your hands (Lk. 24:46 MSG).

After 10 days of praying this prayer the seeds were a tangible reminder to continue to allow the Father to plant His Kingdom seeds into each of our hearts as we returned to the familiarity of US soil. The challenge was to live our lives to bring Him honor and glory in whatever soil He brought us to.

The team had been exposed to powerful displays of His Kingdom as we cared for abandoned babies at Beautiful Gate, played soccer with high school students at a youth prison, ate pizza with high school orphans and teen moms from Bountiful Hope, were part of an impromptu prayer meeting with a group of young men looking for work, handed out talking Bibles in remote villages to whomever we felt God placed on our heart, danced and worshiped with a powerful freedom at the Christian Revival Church, and a whole lot more. The Holy Spirit used a variety of experiences to show us the Father’s Heart and organic Kingdom Discipleship.

After the seeds were handed out we ended our time spiritually eating and drinking the body and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Once again reminded at the LORD’s Table that abundant life begins with dying with Christ Jesus on the cross to our sinful selfish ways and placing our lives in the Father’s hands to be resurrected into the glorious image of His Son. The tears flowed freely as we released our lives and wills over to the Father. We wanted Him to be the one that planted our seeds in the places where He could raise us up for His glory. We desired the seeds to be planted in fertile soil where His Kingdom would break forth and His love could be displayed.

Seeds, such a small and yet powerful picture of what our Father can do with “faith like a mustard seed” placed in His hands. This picture was taken in Israel while walking through the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane. The guide pulled down a pod from a mustard plant and placed the seeds in my hand. What a reminder of what our Father can do when we do just as Jesus did and surrender our lives over to the Father’s. When you and I “die to self” it means we are surrendering our will so that we can live and grow in His Kingdom.

Why not pick up a package of seeds place them in your Bible and let them be a reminder to keep praying the words of Jesus:

Father, I place my life in Your hands (Lk. 24:46 MSG).

And watch His Kingdom explode in and through you!

 

 

Out of Africa

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The vision of Oceans Ministries is making the Father’s love known to physical and spiritual orphans around the world. That is why the Board of Oceans has asked Mike and Dawn Verkaik to join us in this calling. The Father has uniquely gifted this couple to shine His Kingdom Heart both in Africa and the United States. Please join us in asking the Father to demonstrate His favor upon them as they take this step of faith. Below you will hear a little from Mike’s heart:

This is being written as Tim and I are returning from our fifth trip to Lesotho, Africa over the past four years. Although each trip is similar in design, I continue to be amazed at how our Father takes our preparations and orchestrates something new and unique each time showing us the work of His hand through His Holy Spirit. As this trip concludes there are unexpected images of Daniel, Bernard, Jacob, Raphael, and Goodness. Meeting and praying with these Basotho people were not on any itinerary. They were gifts given by our heavenly Father. As I leave these snapshots are a representation of the poor, the broken, the jobless and the sick of Lesotho. My heart is full as I once again process my life, my repeated prayers and the questions that exist from the deeper knowledge of the injustice and brokenness I have obtained.

For the past 34 years I have been a math teacher and coach. It is a profession I have poured myself into over the years and has filled my life with joy and satisfaction. However, over the years our Father has been instilling in me a greater passion for experiencing and working in His kingdom in a different capacity.

This journey is too full of divine appointments, orchestrated events, and provisions from our Father to mention in this blog. However, I came across this journal entry I wrote after playing with the children at Beautiful Gate. I believe it gives a glimpse of the work God has done to lead me to join Oceans Ministries:

“Father bring me to the place in my life where I run to you and seek you more and more.  I am tired of valuing other things more than you.  I want to get to the place where anything I have isn’t worth holding onto when I know you are here and want me to do something with you.  I keep thinking of the children I play with saying to me, “again, again”!  I get tired of doing the same thing, but they just love being with me and experiencing the rush of the power I have to throw them in the air or push them higher.  Abba Father, may I develop that characteristic with you.  I have seen your power, the way you orchestrate people and events to make incredible, beautiful things happen. I want to see it, and experience it again.  How can I change my life to be more and more a part of the God moments you want me to have?  Father, help me to trust you more, like they do me.”

That piece was written in 2015. Contemplation of leaving teaching was not what Dawn and I were remotely considering.  That was our security. However, as we continued to prayed and seek Him, He has called and pulled us further into the water, and given us a deeper level of trust in Him.

As I continue to work with Oceans Ministries God is opening new doors for discipleship with our partner organizations of Beautiful Gate, Bountiful Hope, the Christian Revival Church and the Semonkong care center in Lesotho. I am also excited to develop similar relationships in the United States as well, especially western Michigan.

Father Into Your Hands We Give Our Lives

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The words below are written by Lori Kroll who along with her husband Keith organized this trip with graduating high school seniors from Zeeland East High School in Michigan to Lesotho Africa. The trip is in memory of their dear son Zach who went to be with Jesus way to soon. Zach loved serving with his family in Lesotho and this trip is a fitting way to honor his memory. As a team our theme for our time here is from the words of Jesus on the Cross: Father into your hands we give our lives.

 Meditate on these beautiful words below from a mom who had to let go of her son and handed him over into the arms of her faithful Father whom she has had to trust.

On Saturday, our team journeyed to Semonkong, Lesotho to see the world’s longest freestanding waterfall. As we started our ascent up the mountain, I knew that the long, sometimes challenging hike would be worth it in the end. We would be able to enjoy God’s amazing creation along the way and at the end of the hike we could sit and take in the beauty of the waterfall. Well, I was right . . . the waterfall did not disappoint.

As I sat there taking in the beauty of the falls, I reflected on our day’s journey. The road to Semonkong was winding and uphill most of the way. As we drove around the corner at one point in the journey, we had to avoid a pile of fallen rocks on the road. Women were washing their clothes in the river or in pools of water on the side of the mountain. Cows were grazing by the river as their shepherd boy watched nearby. Many people were pushing wheelbarrows to a source of water so that they could fill their containers. Off in the distance there was a waterfall frozen in place as it cascaded down the mountain. At times, the clouds covered the sun and cast a shadow on the side of the mountain.

Isn’t this much like our journey in life? Just because our life gets bumpy and there are hurts and pains that get in the way, it doesn’t mean we are off course. Level paths do not lead us to the mountaintop. Actually, the right road is going to have highs and lows, smooth spots and obstacles, all which make the journey both broken and beautiful at the same time. God can turn our toughest hardships into our greatest purpose.

Earlier in the day, my Bible app alerted me to the verse of the day, “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; the leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Water is an important commodity and a source of life. As we graze by the streams of living water, our Shepherd lovingly watches over us. One a regular basis, we need to push our empty souls to the true source of life for a much needed refill of His grace, mercy and love. At times, it may feel as if our source of life is frozen and distant and not available for us to draw from, but it is then that we need to wait and be still for God’s timing. And when the dark clouds of despair cast shadows on our souls, may we cling to God’s promise that our troubles our only temporary and that the warmth of His love will shine again in our hearts.

Let us be like trees planted by the water. Trusting in our faithful God to supply exactly what we need in good and bad times so that we may never fail to bear fruit. I pray that you may enjoy God’s amazing goodness and find life’s journey worth it on the way to our eternal home. And, as our Abba Father promises . . . heaven, the home he created especially for us, will not disappoint!

Father into your hands we give our lives!

3 Way to Grow in Intimacy – Part 3 – Living Obediently

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“Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”

 

I can still hear my Great Grandma Zwart singing the chorus to this old hymn. Little did she know she was planting a powerful truth in my impressionable heart on how to grow in spiritual intimacy with my heavenly Father. Just the other day the chorus came to mind as I was struggling with fear about taking another step of faith I sensed the Father asking me to take.

 

The last two weeks I shared the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4, reminding us that intimacy begins with Listening to the voice of the One True Father God and next we need to make every effort to keep Looking at His unfailing love for us in His Son Jesus. But if you truly want to flourish in intimacy the 3rd step is vital, Living Obediently.

 

Hear the words of the Shema once again:

 

“Hear O Israel the LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.”

 

That last phrase means to love your Abba Father with everything you got, which would be the Hebrew way of responding by living an obedient life.

 

I can tell you from experience that my greatest growth in intimacy has come when I have jumped off a spiritual cliff in obedience expecting the Father to catch me. He wants all of you, not just a part. He desires to be the one in complete control of every aspect of your life. When we hold any part of our life back we risk experiencing the overwhelming love and faithfulness of our Good God. He keeps calling out for us to jump into His arms, but believe me every time that first step scares me to death, but over the years He has never dropped me once. And every act of obedience has brought me to life changing experiences of His love that I would have missed if I stayed at the edge of the cliff.

 

Take a few minutes and sing these verses with me of the hymn Trust & Obey:

 

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey!

 

But we never can prove the delights of His love until all on the altar we lay, for the favor He shows and the joy He bestows are for them who will trust and obey.

 

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet, or we’ll walk by His side in the way, What He says we will do, where He sends we will go never fear, only trust and obey.

 

What is the Father saying to you today about Living Obediently? What is He calling you to lay on the alter or asking you to let go of? Where is He asking you to follow Him and jump? Today Trust & Obey and get ready to fall into the everlasting arms of your loving Father who will never fail those who Trust & Obey!

 

 

3 Ways to Grow in Intimacy – Part 2 – Looking

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Patty and I recently celebrated 30 years of marriage and have been reflecting on the journey together. As 21 year olds we were rather naïve about what was ahead but by God’s great grace He has carried us through the challenges along the way. One specific way that has helped us stay focused in in our marriage has been a wedding picture mounted on the wall in our bedroom-this picture has traveled with us to several states and daily greets us. It is a visual reminder of June 26, 1987, where we made a covenant before God, family, and friends that this commitment was to last until “death do us part.” The picture incites in me a variety of emotions, to “wow we were so young,” to “Patty was stunning and still is, and I had hair and it wasn’t gray.”

 

Last week I shared the first step to intimacy with the Father is to daily HEAR or LISTEN to His voice of love speaking to you as in the Shema (Dt. 6:4):

 

“Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is One….

The next part continues:

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

 

As I look at my wedding picture it brings me back to the covenant of marriage Patty and I made and awakens my love and affection for her. The same thing happens when I take time to LOOK at God and the “pictures” of His overwhelming love for me it awakens my love for Him. Here are some key visuals to take note of:

 

  • Acts of His Love seen in Redemptive History – As I read His “Love Letter” from Genesis to Revelation I envision His passionate love rescuing His sinful people. Read the book of Hosea for another great example of this.
  • Daily reading the Gospels – Everyday I read a portion of the Gospels and as I listen and look to what Jesus has to say I remind myself this is a picture of what God and His transforming love is like.
  • Looking at Jesus during times of Communion and Baptism – Recently I got to see Jesus with a group of students in Africa where towards the end of our trip we spiritually ate and drank the love of Jesus. As we reflected back on the cross and His love poured out for us many in the room were brought to tears as His Spirit invaded hearts. Both Baptism and Communion are signs and seals of the Father’s love given to us in visual forms to help our faith to become sight.
  • Worshiping in Spirit and Truth – Also during my last trip to Africa while worshiping with the family of God, I was overcome with a vision of the Resurrected Jesus standing next to me-what incredible encouragement and healing love that brought. Worship takes us from the natural into the heavenly realm and opens our spiritual eyes to see His glory.
  • Serving the Least – If you want to grow in intimacy with God just start serving the least of these. Read Matthew 25:31-46 and practice it-you will be overwhelmed by the visual of Jesus in orphans, widows, homeless, prisoners, the needy and sick.

 

I challenge you to use these five points to help you see the Love of your God and incite a passionate love that will bring you deeper into an intimate encounter with Him.