Give your best and be prepared to be surprised

A few weeks ago we went to Switzerland to fellowship – and play some football. I got to play with the Benelux amateur team – a group of young, enthousiastic kids and two adults. We (the adults) said – “Give your best” – and that is what these kids did. We didn’t win a single game (I don’t think we even scored). But we had fun and we were good for each other. To keep your eye on your goal is important – helping one another, giving your best, being kind to others along the way.

I was recently reading in Luke of when Jesus meets Peter. Peter didn’t expect anything to happen when Jesus told him to let the nets out. After all, he – Peter – was the professional. But Jesus makes it possible, when Peter thinks it is not possible. It reminded me that we try all sorts of ‘methods’ to reach people with the gospel. But it is the presence of Jesus that changes things. And we have no promise that people will listen. We are simply to be faithful in fishing. Give your best.

We had fun and we gave our best in Switserland. And I want to keep doing that each day. Tomorrow we will be welcoming Harding’s Chorus and singing at a special concert. We will give our best and be prepared to be surprised (is it possible to prepare for surprise?).

You can find pictures of our weekend on facebook (Football weekend thayngen) and here. After the concert I will have pictures up on Facebook and our picture site. Keep an eye out.

WoW, Willemien and Wonder

This past month has been busy with such a mix of different tasks. That is the reality of what we do here. I seldom know how to respond to the question: So what does a typical week look like? I am not sure I know what a ‘typical’ week is. But whatever we run into, we deal with, while we continue planning ahead.

So this past month we planned for our WoW course. ‘Wijzer op Weg’ or ‘Wiser along the Way’ is a course that I designed to teach people some simple tools to help read the Bible. It is just three evenings with some practical tips. We planned and prepared, got everything set up after having gotten the word out in the local newspaper and through distributing … and no one showed up. That can happen. It is frustrating, I must admit. It was Sean who encouraged us to simply put out some more cards and invite people again. So we will, and we will see what comes of that.

In the meantime, we were dealing almost daily with our dear sister, Willemien. She is 91 and now has a geriatric nurse coming every day to make sure she takes her medicine correctly as she has begun to move slowly into dementia. The only problem is that she can hardly hear, so no one is able to get in the apartment (she doesn’t hear the bell or the telephone). Add to that that she is stubborn and doesn’t always want people in her apartment, and things get interesting.

But I am thankful that we can be there for her. I am reminded of God’s care for us. We think that we are doing well, doing what we should, listening, but we are not always. Have we forgotten His name, His face? I have had some serious, clear talks with Willemien, letting her know that we are there for her, no matter what. I am thankful that God has brought us together to care for one another. What a real blessing that is.

And then I get a call from someone who has received one of the cards for the WoW course. He is interested, but wants to be sure that he will not be wasting my time, since he is a confirmed atheist and there is no way that I would be ‘winning souls’ (as he puts it). I thank him for his candor and let him know that I have no problem as long as he understands that I always desire people to come to Christ, knowing the power of God. We have met together for the first lesson and are planned to meet this coming Monday for the next.

I love seeing how my Father does things. It is definitely not the way that I think things should go, or the way that I plan things, but He is always there with His strength and guidance. That is wonderful (full of wonder)! Have a wonderful day!