Happy New Year to all! May 2013 be a phenomenal year for you and your family!
A new year always brings with it some reflection. Looking back at this past year had it's fair share of joy and pain but one truth came out of it all-God is Sovereign and in control of everything. The things that I thought were bad turned out to be some of the greatest lessons and gems collected on my journey.
We came to New Zealand with so many plans and goals and we saw each of them just crushed in front of us. Many are the plans of a man's heart but the Lord's will prevails. And that was exactly what happened. Even though God sent us here, didn't mean that it was going to be a bed of roses. The easy part was getting here, the hard part, staying the course after all the testing.
Now testing comes in all forms and as my husband so wisely put it, a test to become a doctor is more difficult than a test to become a driver. We tried to fight it at first thinking that we were entitled to the blessings and smooth sailing from God because, after all, He sent us! Eish! Our faith was tested to the core. I'm going to give an example of what I'm talking about when I say God is Sovereign & in control of everything. Just keep in mind all we had left behind in South Africa-family & friends, jobs, house, cars, etc. South Africa was our comfort zone.
Neil couldn't get a job for months, the first month we could handle, the second month, we continued to ask & knock, by the third month it was not funny at all & we saw our faith being tested. By the fourth month we were asking God, what is going on. By the fifth month we just gave up, we just said to God we don't know what to say or do any more & just gave it all to Him in exhausted surrender. Then Neil got a job, go figure, that's God for you. We were so 'reservedly' excited because it was a 6 month contract job & not what we had prayed for. I complained to God, I said God, if a child asks for bread will you give her a stone? That was so disrespectful of me & I had to say sorry to God. This is the point where God taught me to be grateful & thankful. God was so gracious in that he allowed Neil to earn in 3 months what he would have earned in 6 months, talk about restoration.
There are a few examples of testing but I will tell you more in the next few blogs. Suffice to stay, I'm still standing, but by the grace of God.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally brothers, be strong in The Lord and in the power of His might.
Till next time!
God bless you!
Love Heather
