Dear Friends and Relatives,
I went hiking the other day with a visiting youth group. The destination was a waterfall that promised to be spectacular because of all the snow we’ve gotten. The two-mile path up to the waterfall crisscrossed a creek many times and soaked my shoes when I slipped on the rocks. The path ran through prickly shrubs and uneven ground. It pretty much all looked the same. So intent on watching our footing, it was easy to get off the trail and find ourselves at spots more difficult than necessary. I’m sure some questioned where exactly we were going and was it worth it? The waterfall really was beautiful cascading down the side of the mountain and where the moisture blew it formed these amazing icicles from the ground up.
I find daily life to be a lot like this trek into the waterfall. The tendency is great to focus on the walk, the temporal, the immediate concerns, the rocky places, the day to day sameness, and to feel a dullness creep over me. Where is this leading exactly, and is it worth it? Is anything going on of particular interest or significance? Is this really leading anywhere? That is my red flag to adjust my focus. It is necessary to look where you are walking (down) to maintain your footing but always with an eye on the goal, what’s ahead, the bigger picture of what is going on in the unseen world. Not so much what I’m doing, which seems pitifully small most of the time, my stumbling over rocks (as it were), but what God is doing and what lies ahead.
Matthew 22:23 says “The Kingdom of God is advancing forcefully.” Really? Even when it doesn’t look like it? So I ask God what He is up to among Navajos here in this community, and I find some encouragements. In quiet and undramatic ways God is working and His Kingdom is advancing. He is taking territory. Here are some examples:
T came one day to talk. He had lost his job and questioned God’s love. All his attempts to find work yielded nothing and now it was likely he’d lose his vehicle. He was very depressed. Several months later he returned full of joy. Because he had gotten a job? No, and there still was a real possibility his truck would be repossessed. But the difference in his outlook was that he was learning that He could trust God, no matter what. “Your prayers are working”, he told us.
A came. He and his wife were once excited about the Lord but have been lured away by the good things in this life. Now they are in trouble and he was broken and very ready to surrender himself to the Lord once again. His wife isn’t at that place yet and he fears for his marriage. But, he was back in relationship with the Lord.
AB came. Married to a man deeply into the peyote cult, she has remained true to the Lord.
Then there is B, also married to an unbeliever and raising three children virtually alone. She suffers greatly but is hanging onto the faithfulness of God.
N, a secret believer, recently stood up in church and professed to have trusted Christ a year ago.
R told us that he had lost his way but was now finding his way back to a walk with the Lord.
With much to discourage in our world today, God is working. His Kingdom is advancing. The enemy is being defeated. Is there something ahead that makes the trek worth it? Definitely, yes! And will it be worth it? Again, a resounding YES!
It is such an encouragement knowing there are people like you who care for us. “He will keep us strong to the end.” (I Cor. 1:8) through your prayers and we are very grateful. Thanks to each of you.
Greg and Kathy