BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW
29th Apr 2015
I enjoy the word “Behold”, it has the feeling of gazing and seeing beyond the obvious, with understanding and wonder. God spoke this word into my heart after recently having broken my leg*. It’s been a challenging time, but He is fulfilling this word in many different ways. (Revelation 21:5)
I have had to receive help and care from Charles at a level I have never previously experienced, even after giving birth, and I cannot remember feeling so helpless and dependant. He has given himself to serving me and the interaction between us has made for a greater appreciation, love and tenderness.
In any long term relationship, we can take each other for granted, not really knowing what the other carries in terms of daily routine - until it can’t be done! In a similar way we can get into routines in our spiritual life and lose intimacy and excitement. It is good to have time to simply “be” rather that “do” and the result for me is a new “beholding of Jesus” as I’ve had extra time to read, listen and feed my spirit.
It is amazing that our Father God should delight to speak to us, to enjoy our company and to share His heart with us. But to experience this intimacy we need to be still long enough to rest in His presence and be with Him. He is making this area “new” and I’m enjoying the insights and challenges.
During a recent Easter Passover Meal, I understood that the first cup to be drunk was not only to remember the bondage of Egypt, but to recognise any “tolerance of bondage” that needed to be broken in our own lives - I did this. I believe He is answering this prayer. I see how easily our relationships become mundane and predictable, when the quality of life we are called is to be vibrant, exciting, abundant, challenging and of a totally dependant nature.
So I am rejoicing in “the all things new” coming forth, and I am truly thankful for these days of rest and revelation.
Look at your own life and see if there are areas that need renewing, and go to the life-giver who is waiting to do “new things” for you.
* By way of explanation...
We were all set to celebrate our Golden Wedding which fell on Wednesday 8th April, with short holiday break. However, on Monday 6th as we were about to go to the Isles of Scilly for a special holiday on Tresco, while I was manoeuvring the car in order to park it, I drove into Joyce and broke her leg! So our special day was spent with Joyce in the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro undergoing an operation to fix the leg, by inserting a titanium plate, and me visiting in the gaps. We are now back home, Joyce is making a good recovery, but there is no full weight bearing for 6 weeks, so we are grounded for the moment.
We are choosing to make this enforced rest a plus and not a minus. More time spent together, me learning to serve Joyce in a new way, and developing many culinary skills as well.
We will take our Scillies break later in the year. In the meanwhile we live rejoicing in our loving and faithful God.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
