Tuesday, June 5, 2007

the end of waiting...


Stephen already blogged this great scripture passage that our family has been claiming while we wait with expectation for our beginning in the land down under. But today we received great news and rejoice that the waiting is almost over... in the meantime I desire to finish this waiting in fullness. I remember going on a two hour hike fully pregnant... that night my labor started... 'always pain before the child is born' but then - the child. Zion (name means the dwelling place of God) was born on Pentecost Sunday (the day the church celebrates the Holy Spirit given), and he has brought more fullness to my life than I could have imagined. He's already been a key player in a Corps Plant in canada's poorest postal code... imagine what he can do now that he can talk! :-)

Here's to new beginnings and strong finishes.
Romans 8: 22-25All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

26-28Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

3 comments:

Simon Mapleback said...

Hi Danielle,

I was talking to James (http://whollyholy.blogspot.com) yesterday and we decided step up our prayers on getting you here to Australia - we were hoping to hear your visa's had come though by today in faith!!

We're really looking forward to your arrival with anticipation. God did re-affirm to me though that He was in control of the situation and it would happen in His time.

God bless, hope to see you soon in the great Southland of the Holy Spirit!!

With Holy Discontent said...

Both your and Stephen's arrival in Melbourne is greatly anticipated. I attending the Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS) meeting today, and it is not just those who hold strong to the Christian faith who are looking forward to the difference that you both will bring to TSA here.

"This is my life work: helping peoople understand and respond to this Message. My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all of heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit--not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength--that Christ will live in you (both) as you open the door ..."

Anonymous said...

Danielle - You and Stephen have blessed us so many times at ACC - Box Hill. So looking forward to having you here with us in our land. God will work it through in His time - I believe.

Thanks for those scripture verses - so good to know that when I can't pray, God still hears my prayers - weird but true!