Follow us on this journey as we walk in obedience to the Lord's calling on our lives. Of all the places on earth to be called to serve, we never would have suspected He would ask us to go to Siberia. Over the last year and a half, He has made it clear that is exactly where He is asking us to go. We want to have beautiful feet to the Russian people (Rom. 10:15). Please pray for us!
Another aspect of the journey of a lifetime is always, "what has happened so far." We seldom can see or know what is really going on in the middle of the journey, but we can always trust the Lord no matter what is going on. I've been reading through the book of Ezra lately, and there is so much there in relation to a journey...it's amazing, the Lord's timing!
So far, we have heard the Lord speak to each of our hearts about this place that had been in our hearts for years. He began to bring things to the surface for each of us in His way...through His word, through teachings, through worship songs, through other believers. One of the first things I noticed in the book of Ezra, is that as the Lord leads, He always makes a way. In chapter one, Ezra records the historical return of the remnant to Israel from the Babylonian captivity. Those who had it on their heart to go, went. Those who didn't, sent them.
In the succeeding chapters, we learn that one king supports the work, local enemies try to halt the work, and they manage to convince another king to try to halt the work. Ultimately, we discover (again) that God's word is true:
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. --Proverbs 21:1
If God wants something to happen, it will, no matter how difficult or impossible it may seem! We just need to walk in faith, trusting Him. So far, He has not let us down...nor will He ever.
Keith and I and others having been praying for the Lord to "Go" before us... He is faithful to answer prayer (John 14:13). As we pour our hearts out to Him, He will give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4). My devotion today was so sweet! My hopes and fears, doubt and assurance of salvation all on one page. I praise the Lord for the saints that have gone before me, who have sought the Lord and shared with me the comfort they have been comforted with (2 Cor 1:4).
Please keep our family in your prayers as the Lord goes before...
When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them. (John 10:4)
This is intensely difficult work for Him and us--it is difficult for us to go, but equally difficult for Him to cause us pain. Yet it must be done. It would not be in our best interest to always remain in one happy and comfortable location. Therefore He moves us forward. The shepherd leaves the fold so the sheep will move on to the vitalizing mountain slopes. In the same way laborers must be driven out into the harvest, or else the golden grain would spoil.
But take heart! It could never be better to stay once he determines otherwise; if the loving hand of our Lord moves us forward, it must be best. Forward, in His name, to green pastures, quiet waters, and mountian heights! (See Ps. 23:2.) "He goes on ahead of [us]." So whatever awaits us is encountered first by Him, and the eye of faith can always discern His majestic presence out in front. When His presence cannot be seen, it is dangerous to move ahead. Comfort your heart with the fact that the Savior has Himself experienced all the trials He asks you to endure; He would not ask you to pass through them unless He was sure that the paths were not to difficult or strenuous for you.
This is the blessed life--not anxious to see far down the road nor overly concerned about the next step, not eager to choose the path nor weighted down with the heavy responsibilities of the future, but quietly following the Shephered, one steep at a time.
Dark is the sky! and veiled the unknown morrow! Dark is life's way, for night is not yet o'er; The longed-for glimpse I may not meanwhile borrow; But, this I know and trust, HE GOES BEFORE.
Dangers are near! and fears my mind are shaking; Heart seems to dread what life may hold in store; But I am His--He knows the way I'm taking, More blessed even still--HE GOES BEFORE.
Doubts cast their weird, unwelcome shadows o're me, Doubts that life's best--life's choicest things are o'er; What but His word can strengthen, can restore me, In this blest fact; that still HE GOES BEFORE.
HE GOES BEFORE! Be this my consolation! He goes before! On this my heart would dwell! He goes before! This guarantees salvation! HE GOES BEFORE! And therefor all is well J. Danson Smith
The oriental shepherd ahead of his sheep. He was always in front. Any attack upon the sheep had to take him into account first. Now God is out in front. He is in our tomorrows, and it is tomorrow that fills people with fear. Yet God is already there. All the tomorrows of our life have to pass through Him before they can get to us. F. B. Meyer
Taken from Streams in the Desert, January 14, by L. B. Cowman (Updated by Jim Reimann).
I started to write this thinking that I would post some of the things that have happened "so far" on this journey. Then I realized I had also been thinking in some other terms of "so far" as of late.
Here's a map of Russia:
Never before have we been "so far" from our home, here in the middle of America. When we reach Moscow, we will tie our record of when we went to Israel in 2009. As soon as we board the plane for Novosibirsk, we'll be heading further than we've ever been from home.
When we arrive in Novosibirsk, we will be "so far" from home, that when our bodies will think it's lunch time (about 11:00am for me!), it will actually be midnight! Thirteen time zones separate us!
When we board the train heading further into Siberia to Irkutsk, we will be "so far" from the US Embassy (our security blanket as Americans abroad), that if there were trouble, it would be a five-day journey by train to reach the embassy!
Despite all this, we fully realize that the Lord has never before called us "so far" beyond ourselves. He sees beyond the cultural differences of a place "so far" from normal to us...and knows His purposes for this trip. I guess the main purpose is becoming pretty clear to me now: to share His great love and grace, which I know is "so far" beyond my comprehension, with people we've never met.
So why are we willing to go "so far" in obedience to a call we can't hear with our ears, by a God we can't see with our eyes? We know He has spoken these things to us, and because, like David, we recognize how gracious the Lord has been to us. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." --Psalm 103:12
The Lord was very clear as we began to understand this calling, saying, "Just take things one day at a time. Do what I have set before you today." Well, as hard as that is when there are big things on the horizon, we've been trying to do that. Some steps have been taken, and we are now vested in this adventure:
Plane tickets to get us from Moscow to Novosibirsk have been purchased
Funds have been sent and now visa invitations have arrived from Russia!
There are still many things to do, many things to learn, much money needed, and not nearly enough time to be able to get it all done. It will have to be the Lord, but we know He is faithful!
