Great Is Thy Faithfulness

It is so sweet to me that the Lord chose the first full week in our new home to be Holy Week. What a clear reminder to keep our eyes fixed on the Main Thing and to remind us that a house and all the pretty things that fill it are just that: things.

As I have reflected on Holy Week, the Lord has brought the faithfulness of Jesus to my mind several times. I often listen to Sinclair Ferguson's sermons online and searched through the archives this week to prepare my mind and heart for Easter. With Jesus in the Upper Room is a great one and explains Jesus' last meal with His disciples and tells of His unconditional love for them... until the very end of his life (John 13:1). The final hours of Jesus' life are so tragic, but so symbolic of His sinless, faithful life. I am amazed at His steadfastness until the bitter end. 

Jesus makes His triumphal entry into the city on Palm Sunday, eats the Last Supper with His disciples on Maundy Thursday, is crucified on Good Friday, and is resurrected to life on Easter Sunday. An empty tomb. The promise of all promises fulfilled. Our hope and eternity secured. It's a marvelous thing. The whole story of the Bible points to this scene. Old Testament believers prophesied of this moment and longed for this Savior, Jesus, who died and rose again.

This is the Savior, who on Thursday evening, the day before He knew He was going to die, "earnestly desired" to share the Passover meal with His disciples. He had eagerly anticipated eating with them to celebrate the great things God had done for His people. 

Jesus foretold His death and betrayal and was awaiting unjust suffering at the time of this meal. But He was JOYFUL to be with his friends nonetheless. At the table, Jesus has a unique consciousness that the betrayer is present at the supper (Luke 22:21). He had washed the very feet of Judas Iscariot, His friend, and then Judas left the room to betray him.

Jesus then foretells Peter's betrayal. What is happening here? Can you imagine your closest friends turning their back on you EVER much less all within the same hour?? But Jesus, in His perfect holiness, did not get angry with them or beg them to be loyal. He extended grace to each of them. And then He went to the Garden to pray. He was in such agony anticipating His death that He was sweating blood. And even still, He remained in close communion with His Father and prayed.

Betrayed by His disciples, forsaken by His Father, treated as a criminal, crucified by the men He came to save. Yet faithful still.   

Each of these things are powerful in their own right, but when you look at them in light of Jesus' final hours on Earth, it is simply astounding. Jesus knew what Good Friday held for Him and He chose to remain faithful, joyful, prayerful until He surrendered His spirit and proclaimed, "It is finished." (John 19:30)

We will never be able to comprehend what Jesus experienced in those last days and hours of His life. But we CAN follow His example. And, by His grace, we can remain faithful, joyful, and prayerful imitators of Christ no matter what awaits us in this life. 

Happy Easter!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

:::

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Homeowners!

We closed on our home Tuesday, April 8th and could not be more excited or more grateful!! After (nearly) 3 years in a one bedroom apartment, we are thrilled to now be in our very own HOME! While we will not miss living in such tight quarters or hearing everyone and everything around us; I am thankful for our time at CIU, the memories we made, and for the countless ways it grew us as a couple. 

Over the last few years, God has answered many specific prayers about our future. We prayed that He would show us where Ryan could serve in student ministry full time. God was faithful to answer. We prayed that He would provide a way (in every sense of the word) for Ryan to finish his degree and attend seminary. God was faithful to answer. We prayed that He would guide us specifically to the house and community He wanted us to live in. He opened and closed many doors over the last couple of years... but was faithful to answer. 

When we got the green light to start looking, we knew in our minds exactly what we were searching for. We fell in love with this house instantly and prayed that God would be very clear to show us if this was the one for us. We put our best offer in on March 2. We decided we would walk away if they were not able to accept it. As God would have it, on 2:22 p.m. that day, we were signing papers to finalize the deal for this house. Ryan and I looked at the time on my phone and then at each other- stunned. I cannot make this stuff up. The Lord is so kind and once again, so faithful to answer our prayers.

This house is *perfect* for us-- it is more than what we need and everything that we wanted. It gives us space to host our family, friends and students, room to (Lord willing) one day grow our family, a back patio for Ryan to grill, sidewalks for me to run, a fenced backyard for Finley, and will be used as the gift it is- to minister to other people. I look forward to the many memories we will make in this home and for the things God will do while we are here. I pray we will use every square inch for the praise of His glory. 

This was my sweet, sweet view on the first Saturday morning in our house :) My verses for Saturday from my chronological reading plan had me in 1 Samuel 12 and I thought verse 24 was so perfectly fitting: "Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you."

((Hebrews 3:4))

For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.