As a result of billions of tax dollars, hard work, and an astounding number of mathematical calculations; God has given Mankind grace to place satellites into orbit around the Earth. One of them, the International Space Station, carries passengers, cameras, and a wide array of scientific measuring instruments. My scientist daughter made a comment recently to the effect that only someone who has not seen the hundreds of photographs of Earth from the Space Station could continue to argue that Earth is flat rather than somewhat spherical. Why are those photographs so convincing ? They are because they are taken from such a high place. The higher place grants a perspective that allows us to observe the curvature of the Earth’s surface from all different angles. From the Space Station one can observe a volcano on the surface of the Earth without any danger to the observer. From the Space Station one can observe the locations of islands and see the ships transporting goods and people from place to place. From the higher place one has a different perspective of the hurricanes and cyclones that ravage the surface dwellers below.
The Scriptures and our life experiences agree. God’s ways are higher than our ways. He has a much higher perspective. He sees all of the details of our lives from a much higher and clearer perspective. He cautions us: Do NOT put your trust in what you understand. We are urged to trust in Him. He speaks to us as we follow Him. My sheep hear my voice, Jesus says. If I am not hearing Him then I am forced to question whether I am really following as one of His sheep.
We are told that God’s Word never returns to Him void. It always accomplishes the purpose for which it was given. This poses a curious danger for us. When we hear His Word we usually think we know His purpose for that Word. But, remember again He is speaking from a much higher perspective. We might be right about His purpose or He might have a very different purpose in mind.
If you have been following this blog for a while, you will have noticed two things. One is we have been searching for a small farm/ranch where we can have horses and riding facilities and room to welcome you when you come to visit. The second is the number of blog entries has dropped to near zero. As I have shared, the search process has been extremely frustrating. Around our house the question has oft been ‘What is God doing?’ ; or, ‘Did we hear God?’
This morning as I was enjoying my first cup of coffee and playing a mind numbing computer card game, Holy Spirit invited me to pause and look at this process from a higher perspective. It is true we are still searching. The current best possibility is owned by a bank that foreclosed on it. Banks negotiate quite differently than individuals. We are learning new skills and patience. In addition, the property will need many improvements after it is purchased. While we know we can afford the purchase price, God has not yet shown us any source for the funds to make all the needed improvements. Lots of prayer is appreciated. But Holy Spirit was inviting me to see this painful process from His perspective not just my own.
He showed me how this process has refined my ideas about how I interact with God. Like many of us who survived the deceptive theology of ‘name it and claim it’; Holy Spirit showed me that I still had the residual effect. I was thinking that because I heard God I could predict and perhaps control how and when He would fulfill His Word. He quietly reminded me He is God and I am not God.
He showed me how this process has brought our household together. We all listen to each other much more deeply and with much greater understanding than we did before the search began.
He showed me how each of us at times has lost his/her own perspective. For me it was clear when I retreated into the computer and lost touch with communicating with people like you. For some of us it was in allowing our stresses to alter our sleep patterns or eating habits. Each of us internalized lots of stress in the midst of the uncertainty. But gradually we have come through the valley and now are learning to give our stresses and anxieties to Father.
He showed me how each of the places that we have unsuccessfully tried to buy was in one way or another flawed with issues He could see but we could not.
He reminded me once again that there are very few things He asks us to be diligent to do. One of those is to be diligent to enter into His rest. We only enter there when we believe what He believes: Everything that needed to be done was completed by the second chapter of Genesis. We can rest and relax and walk in the things He had already prepared for us to walk through with Him.
His, thus Yours,
Stuart
His-Family 
Greetings brother…
Just preparing a message and was looking up “patience.” Strong’s 5281…cheerful (or hopeful) endurance. Ha…not without the Holy Spirit I said!
Blessings!!! Tom
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From my experience…
Having a portion of the vision within grasp, but not the means to effectuate the vision’s fullness as “I see it” indicates a few things concerning willingness to embrace the fullness beyond the vision that was given.
I think it is accurate to say what God sees is always bigger and more purposed than our limited perspective allows.
Some thoughts you likely have already entertained:
Timing is the obvious. The Vision, though God-given, likely has a time sequence attached that will allow other, perhaps unseen, aspects of the vision to take place. Metaphoric: I see the wrapped package under the tree and even envision what’s inside and how I will use it. Yet, I must wait until given the go-ahead to open the gift.
God did not part the sea until the children of Israel arrived at the shore.
And/or I have a good view of the big picture, but not the details that will bring the big picture to bear. And maybe I am so focused on the implementation details that I am stuck on moving forward. Metaphoric: hesitating on buying the house because I am at odds with interior color choices and if there is a paint contractor around to put paint on the walls.
And/or (related) I am overlooking implementation details God prefers, details that in the course of implementation will build a community that, along with God, will be a surer foundation than “see what I made..” I believe God always prefers “see what we made.” (I found this true in establishing Gree Oak Ranch. The same people we were helping overcome chronic life issues often had the skills and knowledge to do whatever needed doing at the time. Allowing these folks to contribute to the “making” and “sustaining” seemed to create a shared “ownership” while also encouraging a renewal of self-worth. In sum, the problems often became part of the solutions.
And/or perhaps the present visionaries will add their names to the Hebrews 11 honor role of the obedient who did what they could in pursuit of vision and promise, but did not see full implementation during their lifetimes.
So, my friend and brother, press on. The vision is already underway much the same as a football game in progress. You are on the field with a task to do in pursuit of a team victory. You love the game and you are good at your position. However, there is a sideline coach who sees the full game, not just the present series of downs. The coach is aware of the skills and talents of the players sitting on the bench as well as the skills and talents of the eleven players now on the field.
In our case, the coach has a stellar record in these situations and knows precisely who, when, and how to implement his entire game strategy. All players are subject to call and recall according to the coach’s purposes.
Love you, Stuart. Press on under the direction f our Coach.
CJF
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Real life with the Lord! No matter how much we grow in Him, we still need Him to shine the light on every step we take, not knowing what is around the bend, but trusting Who is there. Thank you precious friend for being the humble servant of the King! Sure do love you!!!
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Thanks for sharing this Stuart. We, too, are in a similar place with Ukarimu Ministries…and it feels like it is taking far too long. We have found ourselves wondering at times if we have missed God somewhere. I appreciate the reminder that He is seeing things from a much higher perspective than we could ever have and He is seeing it all and knows it all, including the final outcome. Ours is to trust Him, keep our ears close to His heart, & take those steps of faith He asks us to do. We appreciate you, Stuart & your heart to follow our Father closely and to share insights you have gleaned along the way.
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Thanks Chari. I have followed your Saga also with interest. From time to time I have shared your newsletters with friends in the hope they would hear the Lord speaking to them to actively support the construction efforts there. Alas, it seems many believers think that for their own lives they must put the things of God ahead of the physical needs of food and housing. But, when it comes to the financial support of ministry they are much more inclined to support ones which take care of people’s physical needs than they are to support ones that disciple making among the people who will influence the next three generations to lead nations out of poverty. It seems far more dramatic to support the care of physical/social orphans than to lead and nurture spiritual orphans to walk in the works of our Spiritual Father. We love you and continue to pray for a release of abundance for support of the team you and Chip are training to walk in the Kingdom. sbm
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