Our Awesome God
from
Sally
on
August 24, 2008
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Several years ago, while we were still living in Kansas City, I felt a desire growing in my heart. It was pretty simple and straight forward......a desire to live by the water. I must say that I couldn't understand it! Here we were, living in Kansas City in the middle of the U.S. You couldn't be much further from the water!
I wondered if it was something going back to my childhood. I grew up in Galveston, Texas - an island. The Gulf of Mexico was about a mile from my home.
I tried to forget about this desire, ignore it, think it would go away.......but it got stronger. I really didn't know what to do about it, except to pray and give it back to the Lord. As I did this, I became increasingly convinced that it was of Him, but I just didn't understand it.
If you are reading this you will know that we now live in Cape Town, South Africa - an ocean city. When we moved here and began looking/searching/praying for where we would live, I kept thinking of that desire that had been in my heart. It could be that God was preparing me for our move to Cape Town, but I wondered if there was more to it. The end result is that we have ended up in a neighborhood that's on the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula.......looking out at the ocean about a mile away. It's still hard for me to believe how specifically the Lord prepared my heart for the change that was to come in our lives.
One of my delights is looking out at our ever-changing view of the water and mountains.......and thinking about how what I'm seeing reflects different aspects of God and His character. Beautiful, peaceful, calm, stormy, awesome colors, majestic, ever-changing yet solid and firm, cloudy, sunny, rainy, windy. Every time I look out the window, I feel like my soul is touched and blessed. God always ministers special things to my heart.
If my heart is troubled, if I'm concerned for our safety and security, if I'm tired, if I'm discouraged, if I'm missing friends and family........being by the water and thinking of how it reflects my Father constantly speaks to me.
I would have never known I needed this - or what it would mean to me in this season, but God did! He prepared my heart by the desire He put there.....and He carried me through all the changes to where we are now. He also, very literally, fulfilled that desire He put in my heart. I am in awe! What a great God He is. He knows and understands us better than we know ourselves!
"A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul." Prov. 13:19
I wondered if it was something going back to my childhood. I grew up in Galveston, Texas - an island. The Gulf of Mexico was about a mile from my home.
I tried to forget about this desire, ignore it, think it would go away.......but it got stronger. I really didn't know what to do about it, except to pray and give it back to the Lord. As I did this, I became increasingly convinced that it was of Him, but I just didn't understand it.
If you are reading this you will know that we now live in Cape Town, South Africa - an ocean city. When we moved here and began looking/searching/praying for where we would live, I kept thinking of that desire that had been in my heart. It could be that God was preparing me for our move to Cape Town, but I wondered if there was more to it. The end result is that we have ended up in a neighborhood that's on the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula.......looking out at the ocean about a mile away. It's still hard for me to believe how specifically the Lord prepared my heart for the change that was to come in our lives.
One of my delights is looking out at our ever-changing view of the water and mountains.......and thinking about how what I'm seeing reflects different aspects of God and His character. Beautiful, peaceful, calm, stormy, awesome colors, majestic, ever-changing yet solid and firm, cloudy, sunny, rainy, windy. Every time I look out the window, I feel like my soul is touched and blessed. God always ministers special things to my heart.
If my heart is troubled, if I'm concerned for our safety and security, if I'm tired, if I'm discouraged, if I'm missing friends and family........being by the water and thinking of how it reflects my Father constantly speaks to me.
I would have never known I needed this - or what it would mean to me in this season, but God did! He prepared my heart by the desire He put there.....and He carried me through all the changes to where we are now. He also, very literally, fulfilled that desire He put in my heart. I am in awe! What a great God He is. He knows and understands us better than we know ourselves!
"A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul." Prov. 13:19
2 Comments
All I can say is Wow!
I shall add though, that we have some things in common. I was born and grew up on the island of Barbados, which I mentioned in a previous comment. I absolutely love the seaside, where I spent most of my years and I used to tell people that I am a fish.
Seeing you sitting on the rock with the water around you reminds me of the same thing I used to do. The rocks on the cliff overlooking the ocean and beaches used to be one of my sanctuaries. I spent lots of time on the beaches as well, communing with the Lord.
I would look at the lovely houses on the cliff side overlooking the ocean and tell the Lord I want one just like it.
This is a few years since that time and I am now in New York since september 11th this year at my mother, pennyless, and have no idea how long I will be here or where the Lord will lead me next.
Technically I do not have a green card, and the immigration only gave me six months, so who knows what God will do. I am used to the Lord doing whatever, where ever, however, when ever in my life.
I am His servant.
His sovereign will be done in our lives.
Love and peace
Elizabeth.
Greetings Mrs. McClung,
I just finished reading "Living on the Devil's Doorstep" and had to write to share how it blessed me. My husband and I (along with 4 small children) are planting a church in Portland Oregon and I received great encouragment from your story and perseverance. With the birth of my 4th baby this summer I put the book down only half read and probably wouldn't have remembered to pick it up except a "fluke" sighting of your names on Facebook through a friend. It was announcing a meeting in Toronto you were speaking at. I'd just finished the Kabul section of the book and the church's pastor was one of your disciples. So I knew God was encouraging me to pick the book back up because what are the chances... and he had a lot for me. I'm sure you've seen this countless times, but your ministry and faith has given me new strength to press on. Bless you in your work and enjoy your water view.
Briana Branchflower