The flanks and ridges of our mountain are etched against a moody sky. Clusters of treetops seem to reach up to the billowy clouds, all framed by the window next to me. We have lived in this humble house on stilts for almost fifteen years, but I never tire of the views its situation affords. There is always more for your eyes to find, farther, wider, higher. And as the sapling trees have stretched past our roof, the birdlife has abounded. Brilliantly painted sunbirds visit the pinapple sage bushes outside our kitchen window, and doing the dishes becomes a joy when you have such sweet company. I watch them plunge their arched beaks deep into the red hearts of the flowers, my hands lost in the soap suds.
Another flamboyant visitor is the Touraco or Knysna Loerie, a shy bird that glides into view between the trees with a crimson flash of its flight feathers. A fun fact about the Loeries is that they are semi-zygodactylous, which means that their forth toe can be switched back and forth at will... A large boomslang also lives in the dense folliage, but we only become aware of it when it threatens newly hatched nestlings. The parents raise the alarm, and soon a whole mob of little birds are bravely and noisily defending the youngsters.
30 January
After a day and night of soft, persistent rain, the morning is a shimmering jewel. I try to write a bit, before the busyness of the day begins...
During week 4 of the "Slaying Giants"* bible study that we're currently working through, this quote by Elizabeth Elliot jumped out at me. "When obedience to God contradicts what I think will give me pleasure, I ask myself if I love Him." Elizabeth Elliot is remembered as one of the bravest women of our generation. Several years after her husband and a small team of missionaries risked their lives and were killed at the hand of the Huaorani warriors, the young widow returned to Ecuador with her daughter, to complete the mission to the Auca people that her husband had started. As a result of her courageous faith, she was instrumental in leading many of the Aucas to accept Jesus as their Saviour. (The complete story is told by her in the amazing book "Through Gates of Splendor".)
Courageous faith is a result of love and trust. If I truly love the Lord my God with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind, there is nothing He may ask of me that I would not want to do. Perfect love drives out all fear. And where there is perfect love, there is perfect trust. If I truly trust God, I would know beyond a shadow of doubt, that He would never ask anything of me, that is not for my good and His glory. Or for which he would not give me the strength and the courage I needed.
2 February
There is a man who appears in the books of Acts, who's courage truly had far reaching consequences. Meet Ananias, who only appears in chapter 9 of the book of Acts, and is then never mentioned again. Ananias means "the Lord's gracious gift" or "Yah is merciful". It is a wonderful play on words in Aramaic, for God is about to both show mercy to Saul and ask Ananias to live up to his name. The other person in this story needs no introduction. He is the apostle Paul himself, formerly known as Saul, the feared persecutor of the early church, or "The Way" as they called themselves. He was breathing "murderous threats" against the Lord's disciples and was on his way to Damascus to make sure that they were silenced. But then he meets Jesus... Blinded and speechless, he is led to Damascus, where he spends three days without food or drink, praying.
6 February
This is the point when God asks Ananias to go to Paul, to lay hands on him and restore his vision. Just think about that a bit. Why would God need a scared Ananias, when He could just speak the words and Paul would see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit? Well, you see, even in the greatest stories of God's salvation, there are people like you and me, content to serve the God we love quietly, without wanting to cause too many ripples in the ocean. Like Ananias, we flinch at the thought of having to go out there, to confront our fears and be brave, bold believers. But God has given us a Spirit of power, love and self discipline, not of timidity or fear. We were made in the image of the living God, and He is the One who enables, He emboldens, He gives courage. Ananias was chosen to go to Straight street where Paul was staying, not because he was bold or brave, but because he loved, trusted and wanted to please the God who called him, with all his heart, and that cancelled out the fear for his own life. Corrie ten Boom said: "It's not my ability, but my response to God's ability, that counts."
David said in Psalm 56, "But in the day that I'm afraid, I lay all my fears before you and trust in you with all my heart. What harm can man bring to me? With God on my side, I will not be afraid of what comes." (TPT).
We know that we are greatly loved by God, and that makes us belong and have hope. But in choosing to return that love, over what makes us feel comfortable or brings us pleasure, we say Yes! to our King, regardless of the price. I pray that you and I would love God courageously. That we would share our faith even if it's rejected, speak the truth in love, even if it's ridiculed, show mercy even if it is scorned, give hope even if it hurts, kindness even if it's answered with contempt. God does not need our help to accomplish His perfect will, but He asks it. From the beginning of time, He has longed for a reciprocal, loving relationship with His people, His bride. And in our loving and trusting response to Him, we become part of His magnificent story of grace.
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* "Slaying Giants ~ Finding Courage and Conquering Fear" by Darlene Schacht from timewarpwife.com
