God's Appointed Place

Did you ever have one of those Sundays when the sermon hits home so beautifully you can only say AWESOME GOD!!!????

Pastor Roger @ HPC Swaziland did one of those today.

Side note: Roger and his wife Mary are a beautiful African couple (Roger is Swazi and Mary was born in Kenya) who were married

about 18 months ago and have been serving faithfully as ministers in the church . . . until this Sunday.

Today was their last day @ HPC. This week they will be leaving their home in Swaziland to be missionaries in Rustenburg, South Africa. This is so AMAZING!!!! Raising your own funding in America is one thing (don't get me wrong it is hard), but raising it in Swaziland when most of the people you know are in need . . . .this is a HUGE step of faith!

And for them to just be stepping out and to understand and trust God so fully is just what I needed to strengthen my faith. Here is my recap of the sermon but unfortunately it won't do it justice (but it will help me process it more).

"Your provision comes when we are at God's appointed place."

Right there you say okay, that's nice.

(I sat there and thought, I'm in Africa, certain that this is the place God has appointed for me for right now. But I don't really see His provision like I think it should be. I thought if I blogged and FaceBooked my need that funds would pour in and God would provide and confirm that I was where He wanted me to be. Notice the box "I" have God in.)

Now you look at 1 Kings 17: 1-9. Elijah had just told King Ahab that there would be no rain for the next few years unless he gives the word. And then God sent Elijah away, to an "appointed place". And God said He would provide . . . water from the brook and ravens would bring him food.

(Sidenote: Ravens are scavengers and probably don't smell so good.) Not quite how I would think God's provision should look for His prophet or for me. But they brought food and there was water. Okay, I can stretch my box that I put God in. It would take some adjustment but Elijah could get use to this.

Now, reflecting on my life: I leave the "comforts" of the states to come live in Swaziland, halfway around the world, away from family and friends I've known, sell most all my belongings and give up some familiar things, to work in a country that is culturally different, they drive on the left side of the road, talk a foreign language, no TV,and no Mexican food!

But God provides; new friends, new awareness, healthier diet, roommates and a high exchange rate (makes the US dollar go farther).

I can see how Elijah can handle the provision God provides. It isn't the Marriot hotel or even the Holiday Inn but it becomes home.

Then the brook dries up!!! What's up with that God?

For me the brook would probably be my finances; no roommates scheduled to come for at least 6 months and the exchange rate dropping to the lowest rates since I arrived. What now God?

God sends Elijah to another appointed place, to the home of a widow. Now, widows and orphans are who we are to provide for. How would it look for a man of God to go ask a widow for help???? What will people think????

But Elijah was obedient and became the answer for both his provision and the provision the widow and her son needed. God is no where near the box I thought He should be. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, He should just rain down the goods but instead He weaves an amazing tapestry of changing the blessed into the blessing for another and vice versa!!!! So cool!!! And later the widow's son dies and Elijah brings him back to life. And if Elijah had not gone where God had appointed, the widow and her son and probably Elijah would be dead and definitely wouldn't have been so richly blessed. (Roger pointed out not going where God appoints, will just not work, you won't bring blessing on yourself or anyone else, look at Jonah. . . he got thrown overboard and swallowed by a fish!) Are you pondering what I'm pondering?

First, am I being obedient to where God has appointed me? I thankfully have no doubt in that area. Maybe that is where you are though. You know down deep God is calling you to go or be or do something and you are just afraid to step out because you don't see the provision. "His provision isn't there until you are in your appointed place." The ravens won't come with the food until you are at the brook. And maybe like me, you are at the brook and now that dries up, what now? It just means the provision is changing and odds are it will be totally out of our expectations of how it will unfold. But if we are obedient in our new "appointed place" we will be woven into a tapestry of going beyond being blessed by God to becoming an amazing, unexpected blessing for someone else. God you are sooooo cool!!! I am humbled and amazed and encouraged to continue to walk in faith. As I told someone recently, "What fun is it to walk in faith if you have a cushion to fall back on." I am His and if He sends me ravens or sends me to the orphans I work with to provide, may I be obedient!!!

Roger and Mary you are blessed by God and are going to be amazing missionaries and such a blessing to others!!!! Hamba kahle!!! "Hahm-bah gah-sleigh" (Go well!!!)

If you would like to help with this couples monthly support, email (sandra@childrenscup.org) or FB me and I will get you the information
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