Proclaimerspeak

[I gave this public testimony at church last Sunday and have edited it for our reading audience].

I've been sitting on a story too long. But recently I was reading the two bible passages Eden and I chose to have spoken over our wedding. The connections revealed there compel me to speak/write today.

Midway through last year Peter Reynolds invited us to move up to South Auckland early 2013 to proceed faster with my counseling studies and practical internship. I won't go into all the details of what such a change meant for us except to say that even change chosen for the opportunity of growth has it's painful side. It means letting go of the comfort and security of the known in exchange for the unknown. And change usually seems to mean disappointing someone. Something Eden and I both struggle with.

Anyway by the close of 2012, after months of waiting in prayer, we'd decided to take up Peter's offer. Some things were falling into place but others were still very much a mystery. God was asking us not to worry about these but to trust Him with the outcomes regardless. Easier said than done :)

Before leaving the quiet rural spot where we lived the romantic in my wife wanted us to sleep outside one night on the lawn under the stars as they are much more visible there than here. I gave in on Boxing day night but sudden heavy rain just a few hours in aborted the mission. Apparently that didn't count for Eden so on New Years Eve I decided to man up and make a real occasion of it for her.

We welcomed in the New Year with chocolate under a clear starry sky. Perfect! Except that afterwards I couldn't sleep because now that it was 2013 the unknowns about the fast-approaching shift had more bite. Enough that doubts about whether God really was with us in the move started churning up my gut. Thankfully I eventually remembered to ask God for His counsel instead of listening to myself. After making that prayer I was able to sleep.

Couple hours later I awoke suddenly but didn't bother looking out from under the covers because there was really heavy dew and mosquitos around. I was going to nod off again when I felt compelled in spirit to look out and up, like there was something I needed to see. I pushed the covers back surprised to see the most unusual skyscape. Thick cloud of one type encircled the entire horizon. It pushed in more on the sides leaving a huge oval shape directly above me. This was filled up by strange swirled stringlines of cloud. I gazed at it a long time in wonder because the likeness to a thumbprint was undeniable. Like God had reached down to leave His personal mark over my world. Unbelieveable...except that Scripture declares in

PSALM 19 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the skys proclaim His handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge...”

Myself (Eden too, because I sure did wake her up to witness it and share my joy), I'm convinced my loving Saviour took the time to comfort my struggling heart with truth made observable. Truth that He was all over my 2013 before the sun even rose on the first day. With this perspective my fears shrank and I slept in peace under the thumbprint of my wonderful Counselor, prince of peace, mighty God, the everlasting Father. Somehow Jesus can be all these at the same time.

Which brings me to our second wedding scripture. Once again I'll just insert the first verse not the whole caboodle...

ISAIAH 62 “For the churches sake I will not keep silent, and for the churches sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch...”

What/who is our righteousness and salvation except Jesus Christ Himself? And He's the only one able to light the way ahead like a burning torch!

Halfway through 2013, I'm standing here to proclaim that He's blessed my family by providing beyond our hopes. All we really had to do was turn up! Follow Him :) Among other things He's provided flexible part-time work for me with a great boss, enough counseling clients that I'm 2/3 of the way through my internship hours and we've found living here easier and more enjoyable than expected. And a lot of that is thanks to His people in our new church fellowship.

In return can I encourage you to 1) remember to not panic whenever you feel like God's left you in the dark. Admit your struggles and cry out unashamedly to Him for help. He will light the way ahead in His own good time as you obey His call to follow Him. 2) let's take the opportunity to proclaim to each other our stories of God's faithfulness to us. Let's not be shy but purposeful in doing this.

Thanks for reading. Glory to God for what He's done, does and will yet do.