Generally I think life is challenging at the moment. I will not say that life is hard, though it sometimes feel that way, but challenging is a better description because I can see that God again and again gives the strength to continue and at times it's even encouraging and fun.
Some of you may know that in my earlier posts (approximately 3- 4 years ago) I always had three projects for the coming year, which was to write a book, built a new church and make a movie.
However, the project to built a new church has actually become a real project as we last autumn started up a new church in Esbjerg. When I say we it is my two brothers (Jan and Ole), Ole’s brother in law (Lars) and myself together with ours families. The goal of the church so far has primarily been for us to learn to take responsibility for what takes place in the church and to teach the word of God. I feel that we are progressing in this area and we are now starting to see how we each fit into the different ministries and can move to start developing the church in the direction where we hope to see more people join and especially see non-christians be converted. Personally I see my main role as teacher, but I also know that even though this is what I like to do, I need to get a better understanding of the other ministries in the church and develop some of my people skills.
It is very exciting and hard work but also joyful to see how we each slowly grow in the roles we have.
On the family side it has been great to see how Joshua is growing up and becoming an intelligent little boy. It sometimes amazed me how quick he is to copy, and figure out things, i.e. I got an Ipad for Christmas and within minutes (literally) he has found out how to turn the thing on, unlock it and start a game of angry birds. If he keep up like this, I won't be looking forward to helping him with his homework, "Daddy, how do you solve this differential equation", I of course assume he'll want to be an engineer like his dad.
As Ally has told we are expecting a litte one in June which has been diagnosed with "hypoplastic left heart syndrome", I like saying that because people don't understand what it means and I guess to some extent I don't either. Though after the initial shock and having read about it on different sites, the hope that it will be possible to recover the main functions of the heart, has started to dawn. It is a very serious condition but, we are thankful for the fact that we live in a civilization where it now is possible to operate on the heart, and even though there is still a 60% risk of something going wrong there still is a 40% hope that he/she will make it. Had we live 20 years ago the operation was unknown and 95% of all children with this condition died. I still don't understand how the last 5% survive, because if the heart doesn't pump the blood around the body there is no-way of surviving for very long, but I guess miracles do happen.
Sometimes I too hope for a miracle to happen, especially after having gone through the first part of Matthew in our teaching at church, where we see Jesus performing one miracle after another, couldn’t God just heal this problem and make my life easier. Yes, I believe that God can heal it if he chooses to, but do I have any right to claim this just to make my life easier? Sometimes we think that life is all about me and that Gods only purpose in my life is to make everything go smooth. Yes, he can give me a hard time now and again but it should only be for a short time. Is this right? No, I don’t believe so. In Matthew 10:24-25 it says “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters.” Did Jesus have an easy life? Was everything joy and peace when Jesus walked with his disciples? If you stop and really think about it I think you will come to the conclusion that it couldn’t have been easy for Jesus. For God, not just a god but God the almighty, to give up the glory of heaven and to walk around sinful people on earth, not just any people but the Israelites, the people he had chosen and loved, and see their rebellion against him again and again, until they finally crucified him on a cross…it that an easy life? I don’t think I could have done that. So do I have any rights to claim anything better than that? Can I complain when things doesn’t go my way? Can I get mad at God when he want me to look after a baby with only half a heart, which may have difficulties in school, which may need special attention? I’m ashamed to say, that maybe I did get mad, but it has taught me to see life in a different perspective. Life is not about me. Why was Jesus willing to live on earth? Hebrew 12:1-4 says it perfectly “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
What is the joy that Jesus was looking forward to? I think it is the day when he will see us in heaven and we will fall in front of his thrown and PRAISE him as God.
May our life be driven by the same hope: the joy of seeing our families, our friends, our neighbors, there next to us praising God.
Sorry, I got a bit carried away there.
As I started with I think life is challenging, but God is a great God and he continues to give us strength for each day.
