Where do we go when we are in need of help? How can the gospel be shared with everyone?
I am learning more what it means to give everything to Him. I spoke at my grandparent's church yesterday and to close my visit with them, I referred to three main verses regarding: plans, trust and help. With these three topics in mind I shared how they have been applied in my life and so I shared this story:
This last Saturday, August 8, 2009 I visited with my great Uncle Puck. My grandparents and I took a taxi and it takes 2 1/2 hours to get to my uncle's house in Den Haag. As we started our journey to Den Haag, I choose to take out my ear phones and to stop listening to my ipod. I began to say a silent prayer asking the Lord that if the driver starts to talk to my grandparents that I would be available. I prayed that if there is an opportunity to share the gospel that it would present itself. There are many times when opportunities arise to further God's word and rather than being available we busy ourselves with little things (ie. my ipod). If we would just look further and offer that window of our time to the Lord so that if He wills to use us, we will be ready and prepared. How much more can God's word be heard and lives be saved?
At around 5:30pm my grandparents and I left my great Uncle's house to head back home in Kerkrade. As I stepped out of the apartment building and onto the street I was greeted by a blue eyed, blond haired gentlemen that was about in his early thirties. He had a checkered red & white colored shirt wearing blue jeans and had a jolly smile. As my grandparents and I got into the car my grandpa began to chat with this man and mentioned that I was from America. With this, the man looked in the mirror and asked how long I was going to be in town and what I was going to be doing. For some reason, before I had even spoken I knew that I didn't feel like mentioning that I was going to be working with an organization because then I knew I couldn't just leave out the purpose of what I would be doing. It was not that I was afraid to say what I was going to do, as much as it was that I wanted to be lazy. But instead of all this I said that I had one more week left where I would be in Munster, Germany to help with a Christian organization. I had said exactly what I planned not to say but after it was said and done I figured-eh! what ever. It was about five awkward minutes until the taxi driver then asked me "If you don't mind, have you studied theology? and you said that you were working with a Christian organization?". I then explained that I am still in school and that is one of the subjects that I will be focusing on. He said, "I was just asking because I used to believe but I don't anymore. " As the taxi driver began to explain to me how he used to believe translation was needed because he could not express his thoughts in English. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9
I have yet to learn how to fluently speak the Dutch language; so it was easier for him to express his thoughts to my grandparents. God is so good! Some of you may not know that my grandparents are missionaries here in Maastricht, Netherlands; my Opa is still the pastor at the church. So, I am grateful that they have a relationship with the Lord and thus continued the conversation pointing this man to God. I sat quietly and prayed for wisdom for me and my grandparents and that the taxi driver's heart will be open to hearing the Lord's call in his life. Again the ride home was 2 1/2 hours that we were able to share and answer any questions this man had.
"I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth" Psalm 121: 1-2
This man-the taxi driver, his name is Michel (pronounced like: Michelle). We were almost home when I shared a verse: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
I explained to him that our minds are so finite, and then he asked what the word meant so I said that we humanly can only understand things in life up to a certain point. Michel looked in the mirror and pointing his finger he said, "Well, if we don't know something we look it up and then you will know!". I explained further that there are things that we might never know. Our capacity to comprehend things is limited and this is what Proverbs is saying. I said, "I trust the Lord that He knows what is best for me in the situation of leading a team in Muster, Germany. My understanding is that I wanted to just go and be a helper but instead I am the On Site Directer- a larger role that I wasn't expecting; yet I know that His plans for me are indeed perfect. I don't always understand why the Lord does what He does in my life, but I can say with confidence that I have seen that when I trust Him I look back and then I know that it was for my good."
When we arrived and I got out of the car it was then that I relized that at the beginning of my day in the first taxi it was the driver Michel whom I had been praying for (Proverbs 16:9). When I could not share the word of God further in our conversation because of the language barrier, God provided my grandparents (Psalms 121:1-2). And now that a seed is planted we pray that the someone will come along side of Michel and water it (Proverbs 3: 5-6). My prayer is that we too can learn to allow God to use us in all situations: work, school, taxi...etc. May your light shine bright and illuminate in all the place you go throughout this coming week and beyond.
"And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"" Romans: 10: 15
"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" Proverbs 16: 24
As I head out this Wednesday to Munster please be praying:
I am learning more what it means to give everything to Him. I spoke at my grandparent's church yesterday and to close my visit with them, I referred to three main verses regarding: plans, trust and help. With these three topics in mind I shared how they have been applied in my life and so I shared this story:
This last Saturday, August 8, 2009 I visited with my great Uncle Puck. My grandparents and I took a taxi and it takes 2 1/2 hours to get to my uncle's house in Den Haag. As we started our journey to Den Haag, I choose to take out my ear phones and to stop listening to my ipod. I began to say a silent prayer asking the Lord that if the driver starts to talk to my grandparents that I would be available. I prayed that if there is an opportunity to share the gospel that it would present itself. There are many times when opportunities arise to further God's word and rather than being available we busy ourselves with little things (ie. my ipod). If we would just look further and offer that window of our time to the Lord so that if He wills to use us, we will be ready and prepared. How much more can God's word be heard and lives be saved?
At around 5:30pm my grandparents and I left my great Uncle's house to head back home in Kerkrade. As I stepped out of the apartment building and onto the street I was greeted by a blue eyed, blond haired gentlemen that was about in his early thirties. He had a checkered red & white colored shirt wearing blue jeans and had a jolly smile. As my grandparents and I got into the car my grandpa began to chat with this man and mentioned that I was from America. With this, the man looked in the mirror and asked how long I was going to be in town and what I was going to be doing. For some reason, before I had even spoken I knew that I didn't feel like mentioning that I was going to be working with an organization because then I knew I couldn't just leave out the purpose of what I would be doing. It was not that I was afraid to say what I was going to do, as much as it was that I wanted to be lazy. But instead of all this I said that I had one more week left where I would be in Munster, Germany to help with a Christian organization. I had said exactly what I planned not to say but after it was said and done I figured-eh! what ever. It was about five awkward minutes until the taxi driver then asked me "If you don't mind, have you studied theology? and you said that you were working with a Christian organization?". I then explained that I am still in school and that is one of the subjects that I will be focusing on. He said, "I was just asking because I used to believe but I don't anymore. " As the taxi driver began to explain to me how he used to believe translation was needed because he could not express his thoughts in English. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9
I have yet to learn how to fluently speak the Dutch language; so it was easier for him to express his thoughts to my grandparents. God is so good! Some of you may not know that my grandparents are missionaries here in Maastricht, Netherlands; my Opa is still the pastor at the church. So, I am grateful that they have a relationship with the Lord and thus continued the conversation pointing this man to God. I sat quietly and prayed for wisdom for me and my grandparents and that the taxi driver's heart will be open to hearing the Lord's call in his life. Again the ride home was 2 1/2 hours that we were able to share and answer any questions this man had.
"I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth" Psalm 121: 1-2
This man-the taxi driver, his name is Michel (pronounced like: Michelle). We were almost home when I shared a verse: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
I explained to him that our minds are so finite, and then he asked what the word meant so I said that we humanly can only understand things in life up to a certain point. Michel looked in the mirror and pointing his finger he said, "Well, if we don't know something we look it up and then you will know!". I explained further that there are things that we might never know. Our capacity to comprehend things is limited and this is what Proverbs is saying. I said, "I trust the Lord that He knows what is best for me in the situation of leading a team in Muster, Germany. My understanding is that I wanted to just go and be a helper but instead I am the On Site Directer- a larger role that I wasn't expecting; yet I know that His plans for me are indeed perfect. I don't always understand why the Lord does what He does in my life, but I can say with confidence that I have seen that when I trust Him I look back and then I know that it was for my good."
When we arrived and I got out of the car it was then that I relized that at the beginning of my day in the first taxi it was the driver Michel whom I had been praying for (Proverbs 16:9). When I could not share the word of God further in our conversation because of the language barrier, God provided my grandparents (Psalms 121:1-2). And now that a seed is planted we pray that the someone will come along side of Michel and water it (Proverbs 3: 5-6). My prayer is that we too can learn to allow God to use us in all situations: work, school, taxi...etc. May your light shine bright and illuminate in all the place you go throughout this coming week and beyond.
"And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"" Romans: 10: 15
"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" Proverbs 16: 24
As I head out this Wednesday to Munster please be praying:
- Safe travel
- Encouragement and relaxation for the missionaries as couples, individuals and as a family
- Weather will be good
- Due to a prior car incident I sometimes feel pain in my right shoulder and lately because of walking around and carrying a hand bag it has brought discomfort. I would like to help work games, crafts and so on without irritation.
- That I will have access to a computor to give updates
- Rest and energy...days will be long for the Children's team. The program is all day (not including breakfast, lunch, dinner and a small break in between) the hours of the program: 8am- 10pm if not longer.
- Michel the taxi driver
Serving A Mighty God!
Carley Meijer
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