Now that's family!

I have used this space before to talk about family. It's one of my favourite topics. Shirley and I both grew up in large families, although we did not always know our extended family. But once we became Christians, we found out what family really means. I remember the first time I read Jesus' words in Mark 10:29-30 about leaving family for Jesus. I was already experiencing this truth in my Christian life and it would only be emphasised even more through the years. 

God loves family. He created it. It is His design. And it is amazing. So when we have opportunity to experience family, we enjoy it completely. And the last months have been full of family moments. 

On March 15 our Raab family added a daughter-in-law as Sean married Jill Verhaeghe just outside of Brussels. Both Sean and Jill work and live in Brussels. Jill joined us on a trip to Prague in January as we got to know her better. Now we look forward to getting to know her and being there as family for her and Sean. On May 26 we will hold a reception for the church members and friends in the area so that the broader family can get to know Jill as well - and vice-versa. We have been so thankful for the help that our brothers and sisters have been. 

At the end of March we spent a day with church family from all over the Netherlands and Belgium singing, learning new songs and getting to know one another. This was the 5th time a Song Workshop was organised and we had about 25 participants. The church in Rotselaar hosted us for the first time and we saw several first-time participants. 
We are so thankful for brothers and sister who so desire to spend time together and to spend that time singing to the Lord, our Father. Since I was leading the workshop, there are not many pictures, but we had a great and upbuilding time. We were able to record some songs that were new for some. And we learned some new hymns that I hope more in the church will be able to learn as well. 

At the beginning of April we said goodbye to our sweet sister in Christ, Willemien. She was 96 and has been patiently waiting to go Home for years. Her spirit of sharing, of patience in the Lord, of strength in His promises has always been an encouragement to me. Our life will be very different with her gone and we will miss her. But we so look forward to the time we will sing with her again around the throne. 
We were thankful that her passing was also a time of coming together, sharing as family, remembering how good it is to be children of God. He designed family for these very purposes. 

Take time this week - on Sunday and the days in between the weekend - to experience and remember how good it is to be part of His family.