Spoiler alert: Jesus Straightened my Teeth!

Somewhere around the age of 12, I visited the dentist where they sealed my doom. I needed braces. An appointment was made with the orthodontist. I waited in anguish. And prayed. I'd heard stories of getting braces and the pain involved. I'd also heard of the expense and I felt for my parents. My prayers sounded something like this. "Jesus, I don't understand why I need to have a dentist fix my teeth. You're the Great Physician. You could do it yourself. Please straighten my teeth." I did a fair bit of begging. The kind my kids do to me today and it drives me batty.

The day on the calendar got closer and my Mom took me off to see the dreaded man in the white apron. First the X-rays were taken. Here's where the surprise came. The orthodontist pulled up the X-ray sent through from my dentist a couple months prior and compared the two. My teeth had straightened so considerably in those few months (or weeks, can't remember) that he decided I no longer needed the braces. I walked out of that office one happy girl!

Moral of the story:  Nag. Nag. Nag. (When it comes to prayer)
Jesus is still in the healing business.
Jesus loves to give good gifts to his children.
Jesus is our Great Physician.

"You have not because you have not."

How many of God's gifts go unopened because we don't ask?!

"And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:9-13)

I believe we're supposed to take Jesus at his word. To believe in his love and his goodness enough to ask for the impossible and the lovely and good and perfect that seems so far out of our reach but so close and easy for Him.

Thank you Jesus for the miracles you so freely gave and continue to give. Thank you for your Holy Spirit whom you died to give us so that we never have to be separated from you, your presence, your love and your power. 

Back In The Game

Thank you Jesus for six weeks with my family in Maryland over Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was a precious and beautiful gift. I cherish every moment!

It was difficult saying goodbye's to all of my family in America; not knowing when we'll see them again and knowing so much of their and our lives go by without each other. In the week of our return back to New Zealand Andrew and I watched The Hobbit together. There were a number of things that stood out and touched me.

The show starts with a simple, selfish little hobbit; Bilbo Baggins. Gandolf however, has decided this little fellow is the perfect one for the job he has in mind. He invites the hobbit on a dangerous adventure. The rest of the crew is made up of warriors and heroes who have accomplished impossible feats. Some of the others doubt Biblo is made of the right stuff, Bilbo has doubts himself at times. Gandolf never wavers in his confidence and love for Bilbo, he knows without a shadow of a doubt Bilbo is the one for the job and he can and will accomplish it. The journey twists and turns and together the tribe overcome impossible odds.

After being separated from the group and almost deserting Bilbo comes back and finds a few of his fellow comrades talking about him. He then enters into the dialogue with simple and beautiful words that pierced me. “I do, I miss my home. I miss my chair, my garden, my fireplace... That's where I belong. ..That's why I'm here. You don't have one. It was taken from you. And I'll help you win it back if I can.”

In a way, this is every Christian's story. If we know the love of God and have found home in his embrace we can never be really content elsewhere. Here on earth, we don't get a permanent home but we get to help people to find home, to belong, to take back what the enemy has stolen from them – an identity, a belonging, a home.

I've had the privilege of enjoying a wonderful family here on earth. I know what it feels like to be perfectly at ease, to be loved, accepted, cherished and celebrated. I know what it feels like to be surrounded by brothers and sisters who love me and whom I adore. I don't need to impress or perform, I can just be. I don't need to say the right thing or figure out what's appropriate or appreciated. It's home, it's family. You can do no wrong.

I do. I miss my home. I miss my family. I miss that taste of heaven I was given at Christmas time. But that's why I'm here. I'm on the adventure Abba's invited me on because so many people have never tasted of real family or genuine love and belonging. I have. I've tasted in my biological family of the love Jesus says believers are to be known by. We can't give what we haven't first received. We first have to receive God's love and grace and experience his inexpressible uncontainable inexhaustible love. Family is a rare, marvellous and sadly scarce concept in 2019.

The Hobbit inspired me to see some of the bigger picture of what God is doing. I've written at the top of my planner: Win back “home” for others! Introduce people to the LOVE of family. You are the one for the job!

To be honest I wasn't impressed with Bilbo at the start of the show. But I can sure relate to him! I love that Gandalf had more confidence and assurance in Bilbo than his actions or words merited. It reminds me of how God sees us. Only He knows what He's made us capable of and if we listen to his words and accept His invitations the possibilities are limitless.

I don't know why God asked a funny little person like me to up and leave all I hold dear to be married to an incredible husband from New Zealand and live so far away from so many that my heart loves for who knows how long. Sometimes it makes more sense to me to live over there and sow into the many and valuable relationships there that are already in existence. Of course, now that I've lived here for more than eight years my heart would ache no matter where we set up tent. But I do know that if I channel the missing and the love into praying for those who've never tasted it; to those lonely, suffering and alone. Then certainly they're put to much better use than feeling sorry for myself. And knowing a touch of the God I serve He can take these meagre prayers and He can do more than I could ask, think or imagine to accomplish His good and perfect purposes.

Bilbo was in the company of ruffians and warriors. They knew how to fight and how to fend for themselves but they'd lost touch with home, family and how to live in times of peace. They'd been wandering for so long they forgot how to be cared for. Bilbo had this one simple thing to offer. He wasn't a fighter. He wasn't bloodthirsty. But he knew how to belong. How to depend on others. He knew how to stand by those he grew to love. This bonded all of them to him.

Lord Jesus, you made us for home. You made us to belong. To be a part of a big beautiful marvellous family. You created us to give and receive your love and to taste of that love in our relationships with one another. It's an incredible plan Jesus. Recreate your love here in us your people. Invite more people in. Surround those alone and in the dark with the warmth and light of your presence and your people. May we taste and see your goodness.