Fullness of life

 

Greg Morse:
"What an even stranger and more awful sight to see a man, who claims to be remade in the image of Christ, pass his brief existence as little more than a sermon-hearer, note-taker, small group-attender. He too lives with little passion, little mission, little seriousness — just religious habits tucked neatly within a saltless life. How can we explain this?"

I think (me now), that part of the answer is that we miss the fullness of what God offers.

Psalm 59:15-17
"They wander about for food and howl if not satisfied.
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love;
For you are my fortress,
My refuge in times of trouble.
O my Strength, I sing praise to you;
You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God."

If we assume our satisfaction lays in other things: food, entertainment, money, holiday, retirement, human approval, whatever else, we will find it a hollow cymbal compared to true satisfaction that is only to be found in God. From that truly being satisfied by God, flows passion that bursts forth for all to see. Are you howling or living?

Lost?

 

A regular image we find in the Bible, is that of a shepherd. There are quite a few places where earthly leaders are described as shepherds, and harshly criticized. But where earthly shepherds fail, our God succeeds as the Good Shepherd. One of these descriptions is found in Ezekiel 34.

Verse 10: I will rescue my flock from their mouths...
Verse 11: I will search for my sheep and look after them.
Verse 12: As a shepherd looks after His scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them...
Verse 13: I will bring them out... I will pasture them...
Verse 14: I will tend them in a good pasture...
Verse 15: I will tend my sheep and have them lie down
Verse 16: I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak...I will shepherd the flock with justice.

Just meditate on these verses, allowing God to sink them into the broken places. He has us save, we are not alone.

A covenant

 

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices.
(Ezekiel 36:25-31)

This is a longer piece than I would normally quote, but it is one contract, one covenant, so it belongs together. God is coming with such an amazing offer, not at all anything that He is gaining from.

- He wants to clean our messiness, our past, our sin. Clean us up. White as snow.
- He wants to give us a new heart, take away the hard, selfish one and replace it with a heart that can feel love and give love. A heart that can live passionately.
- He want to replace our spirit with one that is not all about what I can get but with a spirit that is sensitive about what the right way is to take.
- He will make us alive, fully.
- He gives us a family to belong to.
- He provides our needs.
- No more disgrace.

All He asks in return is that we live to His glory, turning away from our evil ways. We serve a good God.

One year: Netherlands

 It's probably time to show some signs of life again. Because yes, we are very much alive! On the 18th of August, we celebrated our first year together in the Netherlands. I can barely believe it. Most of it, I spent running after papers, phoning people I don't know (if you had any idea how much I detest speaking dutch on the phone) and keeping appointments for some more papers. We are almost there, I keep saying. 

Carl has finished his first year working for a boss again, and quite enjoys it.

The kids finished a last year of home schooling (yes, it is possible in the Netherlands- if you love paperwork) and have now all left for school. I just realized as non-native dutch speaker, I am holding them back. And we found schools where Christ is still the foundation.

 Simon in group 5

 Tim in group 6 

Rashelle off to high school- she has done 6 months of language school.

Isabel has been going since March.

So, we just had our first summer in Europe. Just for clarification, the average temperature was 17,7 degrees Celsius. So, we are not talking beach weather, mostly. They did mention that June was the record hottest month, like ever, but to be honest, I can not remember any of that heat. Anyway, the rest of the Netherlands rushed out to other European countries, not knowing how long it will be possible for. SO, the Paalmans bogged down, and decided to do a home holiday. We invested in a special card, so we could visit different museums, and we had ourselves some fun. I will now overwhelm you with pictures, and try not to explain too much of the historical setting.  

A art exhibition made out of LEGO

In the engine of a Boeing, well the exhaust I guess.

Lunch on the beach (we are no where near the beach, but in the Netherlands everything can be reached in 1 hour)

Tim as in the Middle Ages.

At home

On the way to a family feast

A museum on the history of Dutch society

Boys and their cars, eye-roll

Trying to build a earthquake proof structure

Working together in the world of balance

Definitely a favourite: the military museum

They had a ball

The Netherlands is a water-country

The history of sailboats/ships.

Back to their cars- where is Max?

Who found Wally (the off looking boy trapped in the Middle Ages)?

Back to the LEGO

So, what do you think? Did they have fun.

It has been a difficult season for so many people, so many wonderful men and women going to be with the Lord. We are trying to be wise with our time, and not selfish. Make memories that have meaning. We are thankful for our time here, most of all because we can spend some time with family:

  Carl and his sister's birthday

Knowing it is not important where we are, but who we are. Being Salt and Light, right here, right now. Yes, Lord. And Thank You.

(PS. feel invited!!!!!) 

 

 

Siblings

 Siblings really are a gift from God. When the whole world disappear, they will still be there. 

Meeting God in His Temple

 

Psalm 65:4
"Blessed are those you choose
And bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of you house,
Of your holy temple."

In these days we do not have a temple anymore, we have become the temple. But I was trying to think what David meant when he wrote about the 'good things we are filled with' that he would have found at the temple.
Here are just some that I think he could have meant, maybe you could add some:

God's presence
His righteousness and holiness
His justice
You could go to the temple, and walk away with a clean conscience.
The peace of God when you've offered your sacrifice and laid it all at His feet
Joy as David praised God
The companionship and belonging of being one of Abraham's children.

And these are some of the good things we are blessed with when we move into God's presence AND when we come together as His body.

Into the Living Waters

 

Ezekiel 31:7
"It was majestic in beauty,
With its spreading boughs,

For its roots went down
To abundant waters."

That is often the conclusion. If our roots are deep, and close to abundant water, we grow into a big strong stable tree.

These roots grow through difficult times, and through reaching out to the Living Water. So, the spiritual picture is that when in difficult times we reach out to God, place our trust in Him, we grow in stability and also fruitfulness.

A big strong tree can withstand huge storms and provide abundantly to all who need a place of comfort. I pray that we will become these big trees.