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Note: All scriptures are referenced from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible unless stipulated otherwise.
As some of you know we have recently moved from the suburbs to the country with the main haul occurring on Tuesday July 4, which we affectionately named "Freedom Day". It was somewhat of a gruelling process that required much effort in time, strength, endurance, tenacity, diligence, patience, and a healthy dose of self control. There was lots to learn and well over a thousand kilometers clocked up on the odometer with the multiple trips included during the two week period of moving. When God widely opens one door with a surrounding multitude closed firmly shut it is very noticeable and unmistakable where He is directing us thereby increasing faith and trust, ultimately leading to great peace. Proverbs 16:9 readily comes to mind and is reinforced with Jeremiah 10:23. Also, it was quite interesting to read Psalm 37:23 "The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey" (Berean Standard Bible). After accidentally bumping our heads a few times and sustaining various minor injuries such as blood blisters and regular blisters, cuts, scrapes, bruises, sore muscles and aching feet, the word delight is far from my thoughts, but reassuring to know God was always there overseeing everything and lovingly providing protection. Without God there is nothing for me in this life as it is for every one of us who delights in our Master Creator and His Son, our Saviour. The apostle Peter's profound words from John 6:66-69 once again resonate clearly.
Attending our first Sabbath service since the move we saw a beautiful rainbow not long after leaving home as gentle rain fell intermittently along the way. The beauty of the countryside was not lost on me while the incredible joy and peace felt at being able to have a full 24 hour period free from any labour was such a true delight. There was also a deeper sense of being awestruck by God's plan for humanity with a renewed vigour while on our journey towards the place where we meet each week. What an absolute priviledge it is to be able to be with others of like-mind every seventh day. From now on this will be the new normal for us on our three hour round trip every Sabbath as it provides plenty of time to talk to God while admiring the work of His hands in the creation looking at birds, sheep, horses, cattle, and the gently rolling green hills including anything else such as gorgeous rainbows and the expansive sky. Love the wide open spaces where the air is fresh and clean as it gives me a deeper appreciation for God's love for us. And if all that is not enough, then there are sermons online to listen to along the way — we are each literally given everything so generously from our Father to succeed in our personal journey of transformation along the way to God's Promised Land.
Now to get to the heart of this piece of writing — during the week or so prior to attending our first Sabbath service there was a recurring theme that steadily gained my attention during time in prayer and meditation which involved God preparing a place for us in His Kingdom after our resurrection (John 14:1-4, 1 Corinthians 15). As the service opened with hymns sung in praise and worship imagine my surprise when we got to sing "God Speaks To Us" from page 102 in our hymnal — link provided here: https://youtu.be/whby-JM6NdU repeating and reinforcing this theme yet again! This is such a timely and deeply moving encouragement from our wonderful Father to lift the spirits of a weary traveller. The word weary is a good description of how we feel after so much going backwards and forwards before transitioning into a slower pace of life. Each time I hear or think of this word weary it reminds me of a man known as "Weary" Dunlop. Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop, Australian of exemplary and extraordinary character lived a full life of giving to others while being generous with his many God given talents and abilities. You may like to learn something more about him and there is a wealth of information about his life: http://www.wearydunlopfoundation.com.au/interactives/secondary/page-8
Sir Dunlop was an incredible inspiration to many despite the challenges and hardships he endured often placing himself in danger in order to help others. Once settled here in country South Australia this will be a small project of mine to read his biography from one of my favourite places — the library. Am eager to check out the local Eudunda Library and this gives me good opportunity. Am already planning my first book read out on the front porch with Kitty Rolph by my side after his 2 week recommended minimum period being confined indoors in order to "stay put", and this has all the hallmarks of an exciting read. As interesting as it may be I know it will pale in comparison to that of reading our Bible. Being Christ-like is certainly our daily challenge and there is nobody better to emulate than our Saviour Jesus Christ. Still, there are certain people who are exceptional and therefore stand out to us as we learn from their journey in this fleeting vapour of life, and I hope to motivate or inspire you to read about this man known as "Weary" Dunlop if you have never heard of him before.
We know without any shred of doubt that God has prepared this temporary physical place to live in at this particular time in our journey to His Kingdom. The manner it all came about so quickly and effortlessly definitely felt like being rescued from the "walls closing in on us". The way all the specific details unfolded almost leaves me speechless yet it decidedly gives more faith-filled awe for desiring to be humbly obedient. God reminds us He can do anything while we should do our part in putting Him first (Matthew 6:33) as our top priority according to the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3). He takes care of our physical needs and how much more our spiritual needs. We also know that God is now preparing a place for us in the future after our physical lives end and we have this incredible blessing to look forward to as it is written in John 14:1-4 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” These are the very words of Jesus Christ, how beautiful they are for His saints, those written in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:12).
Therefore, even when we become so weary and experience exhaustion in this physical life, we must not grow weary in doing good as it says according to scripture in Galatians 6:9-10. Since making this move we have had people extend a good old fashioned welcome as they do in the country tradition where everybody knows everybody; we have also had a random unannounced visitor the other day who travelled all the way from Loxton to ask if she could take some photos of where we live while reminiscing about the time her great-grandfather (Mr. Schubert) lived in this same house, and she brought up the famous name Thiele giving some historical facts about pioneering yesteryear. That was the morning our shower literally broke off in my hand spraying a watery mess everywhere. For that reason of not being able to have a shower, and the fact that our cat must not get out in this interim phase, I did not invite her in but would have liked to very much. Also we were getting ready to make yet another dash to our old place to pack remnants left behind and to start the big clean up. We had one more day of finishing up at Greenwith before we could slow down from our strict schedule, so the timing was really not ideal at our end therefore the lady was invited back but she said it was too far to come again.
Searching the scriptures when words fail us through physical limitations and constraints, there is found Psalm 145:1-21 A Song of God’s Majesty and Love, A Praise of David which beautifully sums up the inner core of our hearts…"I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. I will meditate on the glorious splendour of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. The Lord preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh shall bless His holy name forever and ever".