This is my Father’s World!

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Blog written by Mike Verkaik:

In all my trips to Lesotho I have never experienced the country in the summer time. My exposure to the green grass on the hillsides and campus of Beautiful Gate has only come through snapshots and videos, because generally my trips have been during the winter months. In less than two weeks, that will change as eighteen of us will travel to Lesotho on Oceans Ministries’ Stepping into the River visionary trip. I look forward to dwelling with the Basotho people whom we serve through our partner ministries, but also to seeing the fields of green and wild flowers as we ascend into the mountains to the village of Semongkong. It will be an ride full of our Creator’s beauty.

 

Last week God un-expectantly began to once again prepare my heart for this trip as I assisted my son, with his homework. He was required to read a chapter from Engaging God’s World, written by Cornelius Plantinga Jr. As my son read these words my mind began reflecting on Lesotho and the upcoming trip we are taking.

 

Plantinga writes, “God made a paradise, and we can still find signs of it. Christians can still sing, “This is my Father’s World” and do it with gusto.

 

This is my Father’s world, and to my listen ears All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres…

 

It’s a good hymn, but it gives us only half the picture – only paradise, and not paradise lost. As matters stand, creation still declares the glory of God, but it also declares the tragedy of fallenness, of chaos … it still sings and rings, but it also groans. As Paul says, “the whole creation has been groaning” for release from its “bondage to decay” (Romans 8:21-22)”

 

As I reflected on the words my son read, thoughts went to our upcoming trip and the experiences of past visits to this small-impoverished country. Our Father is creating something incredibly beautiful in Lesotho. The Stepping into the River trip was birthed there through the realization that when we, “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed” (Psalm 82:3), our good Father begins to flow His river of life out of the brokenness. Paradise and paradise lost meet together there, as the river of God flows, bringing healing and restoration as He awakens His people.

 

We have seen His beauty and orchestration in Lesotho time and again. The Spirit flows out of our partner ministries as we dwell and experience life with the Basotho people. It is something we cannot duplicate, but with our fervent prayers we do anticipate as we seek Him and wait to see the fruit that He bears as we respond by stepping into the rushing waters that flow.

 

This is the first of four trips Oceans Ministries will lead to Lesotho this year. If you would like to receive some information on participating, please email Tim tim.spykstra@oceansministries.org or Mike at mike.verkaik@oceansministries.org. Our last scheduled trip for this year is the weeks of August 1 – August 14. There are still a few openings left if our Father is laying this on your heart.

The Path to Spiritual Wealth – Obedience

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If you had millions of dollars generated by several successful businesses could you walk away from it to follow the Father’s heart? That’s exactly what Charles Mully did over 27 years ago. This boy who was once abandoned and grew up on the streets of Kenya has an unlikely stratospheric rise out of poverty into a position of wealth and power. In the midst of a season of abundant material blessings he hears God’s voice calling him to sell everything and invest in the lives of orphaned children across the land. Against the better judgment of family, friends, and even the church community he obeys the voice of God risking his family’s security as well as his own life.

 

As Patty and I watched the movie Mully we were bombarded by a host of extreme emotions as well as the question could we do what he and his family did? I don’t want to give the full story away but it reminded me of the miraculous story of Moses leading the Israelites to the Promised Land.

 

As I contemplated Charles Mully’s life journey the word obedience kept coming to mind. Obedience is costly. Obedience to the call of God produces spiritual wealth, and this spiritual wealth satisfies the soul more deeply than any amount of worldly wealth. What are some of the spiritual riches that come from Biblical Obedience?

 

  1. Communion – The greatest riches of all is intimate communion with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (John 14:23).
  2. Comforter & Counselor- When you are doing the will of God He fills you with the comfort and wise counsel of His Spirit (John 14:15,26).
  3. Contentment – Obedience leads to the fullness of a content spirit where you have all you need in the Father’s love (Phil. 4:11-13).
  4. Courage – When you walk in obedience you are given a courageous spirit to do what the world calls crazy (Josh. 1:9).
  5. Commendation – A life style of obedience will lead to the King saying: Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.                   (Matthew 25:34-36).

 

The movie Mully both challenged and encouraged me. It probed the depths of my soul. It reminded me of the importance of listening to the voice of my Father and responding in obedience. In a world that bombards our minds with the lie that worldly wealth and power is the only true satisfier of the soul it was good to get a glimpse into the life of Mully. His walk of obedience filled his soul with the fullness of God. His “yes” spilled over to countless orphans who have been rescued by a display of tangible love-which is truly the love of God in Christ Jesus.

The 3rd Heaven! Living in Victory!

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This Christmas my daughter Anna gave her sister Sarah a book called The Happy Intercessor by Beni Johnson. In case you don’t know I love books, so while I only intended to check out the chapter headings I ended up reading the entire book. I found the book to be a great read and if you at all feel a call as an intercessor this book is especially apropos.

 

As I read the book I was reminded of the heavenly realms that exist. This is not always talked about in our circles but definitely backed up by scripture.

 

  1. The First Heaven – The physical realm, which is where we exist (Rev. 21:1).
  2. The Second Heaven – The spiritual realm with angels and demons and includes spiritual battles which we are often unaware of (Rev. 14:6 and Daniel 10:13).
  3. The Third Heaven –Where followers of Christ experience eternal life and where the Glory of God dwells (2 Cor. 12:2,4).

 

The book highlights the indescribable gift we anxiously await-it is truly beyond words what we will experience as beloved children of the King to live and dwell in the Third Heaven. Ephesians 2:6 declares this life changing truth:

 

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the

Heavenly realms in Christ Jesus …

 

The “Heavenly Realm” or the 3rd Heaven is where Jesus reigns with the Father far above all rule and authority, power and dominion…(Eph. 1:21). In Christ we are positioned in a powerful place far above the demonic strongholds of our enemy.

 

What would happen in 2018 if as Children of the King we lived into this reality? What would happen if believers boldly prayed from this place of victory? These were questions I asked myself as I read the book and thoughts I recorded.

 

May these TRUTHS encourage you as they did me!

 

  1. I can daily live in a place of extravagant and secure love from the Triune God.
  2. I have access to all the resources and gifts of grace from heaven.
  3. I can live in complete confidence in the Sovereign Reign of Jesus working out everything for good and the Father’s glory, Everything!!!
  4. I don’t have to fear anything in the future for I’m already living by the Spirit in my eternal home. I know my inheritance will be glorious.
  5. I can be part of a miraculous move of God where “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea,” (Hab. 2:14).
  6. I can live fearlessly because I daily see my Father’s face, which is the greatest of all gifts.

 

What if in 2018 we realized and lived from the Third Heaven? I claim this VICTORY! May you claim this VICTORY TOO!!

 

Christmas on Colfax

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I asked my daughter Sarah to share some reflections with you from a Christmas party we had recently on Colfax street.

“The word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

 

This Word is among us. Because of Jesus we get to experience light, hope, life, and love. Jesus says to each of us….Come, come and sit with me. Sit around a table; a table set for you my children. This table is set in the presence of your enemies, in the midst of your hurt, brokenness, pain, loss, chaos, your storm. The table is set and it is glorious table.

 

Over the last several months I’ve had the unique opportunity to enter into relationship with many who live off Colfax. Recently I witnessed The Word becoming flesh and dwelling in of all places a motel storage room. With some scrubbing this room was transformed into a beautiful Christmas gathering amongst friends. A delicious meal was shared with those who call motel rooms home and a few volunteers who weekly step into this world.

 

After putting the finishing touches on each table I walked around to welcome the guests- many who I recognized from knocking on their doors. Wilma* joyfully greeted me with a great big hug. She told me that she was feeling much better and couldn’t wait to eat the turkey and ham, which was about to be served. I turned around and saw Mary* who asked me how my final tests and exams went. She grabbed my hands, looked me right in the eye and said, “Sarah, the Lord is asking you to be present with Him here today.” She talked briefly about her day and said she was grateful to be celebrating Christmas and eating together tonight.

 

As I made my way to my seat there was a sense of acceptance, grace, and love in the room. We ate around the table. We shared around the table. Some shared about desiring permanent housing, finding a job or a better job, about family dysfunctions, and losses in their lives. I was struck by how many shared how grateful they were for being here tonight, for food, for life, for family, and then all of a sudden Mary broke out singing, Lord I Lift Your Name on High!

 

At our table of eight I shared how grad school had left me empty, how I desired to rest, felt I needed a breakthrough and time to sit with Jesus, to return to my childlike faith. At this moment Mary had another song. Most of us weren’t familiar with this gospel spiritual, nonetheless it was beautiful and revealed powerful truths! Mary smiled at me as she sang from the heart. As dessert was served and leftovers divvied up Mark,* an older gentlemen called me over to sit down next to him. He said, “young woman you have a call on your life, we all have a call on our life, but time is short. Sit with your Abba Father. Study His word. His word is alive and the powers of darkness cannot prevail. Hide His word in your heart.”

 

After a busy season of tests and papers, I needed to hear Mary’s singing and Mark’s words of encouragement. Here I was thinking that I was ministering to those I’ve met on Tuesday nights. But here I was receiving! Receiving His Word. This Word that is relevant for us as we pause and remember Jesus, the One who became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word is alive. Jesus calls us daily to His table. He prepares it for us. Do we come and enter in?

 

Jesus sets a table that will fill our cups to overflowing and give each of us the ability to take our next breath. He says….Come my child, come and spend time with Me around this table. This is the Lord’s Table, I am your Father, I am your Savior, and the Word of Life. Come and enter in.`

*names changed

Finding Love Among Abba’s Family

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“Beautiful Gate has become my family.” Beautiful Gate welcomes volunteers and staff from all over the world and Lerato was a new volunteer at this well- known care facility. His journey to this safe haven is a special one.

 

At a young age Lerato’s father passed away however a caring mother raised him and his younger brother. As a boy he daily walked past Beautiful Gate on the way to school and for one reason or another he started to ask God for the opportunity to work there someday. In high school his mother became ill, and Lerato became the caregiver for his mother and brother. One day after school he came home to find out that his mother had passed away leaving Lerato and his younger brother orphaned.

 

For a while this teenage boy was employed at the local Chinese clothing factory but Lerato continued to feel a strong pull to help with the abandoned babies at Beautiful Gate. Following the prompting of the Spirit he applied to be a short term volunteer and was accepted and here we were together enjoying a bountiful Basotho feast. He told me how the staff and other volunteers have helped disciple him and how caring for the babies had opened his heart to the Father’s faithful love for him.

 

Spending time with Lerato truly blessed me. Soaking in the warm Africa sunshine at the grounds of Beautiful Gate I shared a bit of my story and gave him a copy of “Journey to the Father’s Heart.” Fast forward to another trip to Lesotho. This time when I ran into Lerato at Beautiful Gate he came up to me with the book in hand and all the study questions filled out! We had a great conversation about the love of Abba Father from Roman 8:15. Lerato went on to share his desire to become a missionary to his own people.

 

I believe Lerato’s story of the Father’s hand in his life are a testimony worth sharing. I praise God for Beautiful Gate and the powerful tool it is! To think that Lerato daily walked by a few buildings and felt drawn by God’s Spirit to help out there one day is an amazing story. I love to hear how the community of believers at Beautiful Gate opened up their arms to this orphaned young man and invited him to be a part of Abba’s Family. I also love how the Holy Spirit stirred within Lerato’s heart a desire to be a missionary to spiritual and physical orphans in Lesotho.

 

By loving the least of these- lives are transformed for the glory of God the Father, (Matthew 25:31-46.) In the Sesotho language Lerato is translated “love.” Lerato has experienced the love of Christ despite being orphaned and now desires to share the love of Christ to others.

 

It is the passion of Oceans Ministries to share the love of the Father with spiritual and physical orphans around the world. That is why the board wholeheartedly decided to invest in Lerato and his calling to missions. In this New Year, Oceans will be a part of supporting Lerato in the discipleship-training program of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Cape Town, South Africa.

 

God used heartache and loss in Lerato’s life. He will be there for your heartaches and losses or perhaps you are the one to be there for others. God used a building that housed abandoned babies in Lerato’s life. May God minister to you in unexpected ways or perhaps you are the one to assist someone in need. God used His people and helpless little ones in Lerato’s life. May God reveal Himself to you in ways you would have never imagined or perhaps you are the one to speak truth into a coworker, friend, or family member.

 

This Christmas don’t miss the opportunity to receive and give love Abba’s love!