He does not need us

Over the last few months, I have struggled to know what to write. In part, because I fell out of the habit, but also because so much has happened that I have struggled to keep up. I have also struggled to write because I have wondered if it is worth adding to the noise. Despite all of this, I do still feel like I should be writing. It’s a good habit and people seem to find it helpful. With that being said, here is a bit of what we’ve been busy with since my last newsletter went out.

It is safe to say that we had a truly mad March and a slightly mad April.

When we got on a plane in August 2018, we had no way of knowing that it would be nearly eight years before we went back for a visit. For two weeks, we got to spend time with family, enjoy easy access to tacos, and see dear friends whom we haven’t seen for too long.

It was a truly blessed time and a proper family reunion made even better by the fact that I was able to celebrate my birthday there.

Five days after we returned from the States, we picked up the keys to our new home. This is the first home we have bought as a family, and it would not have been possible were it not for Christian generosity. It was encouraging being able to explain to our mortgage broker and solicitor, as they found themselves amazed at how people could be so generous.

People were not only financially generous, but generous with their time. Second to laying down one’s life is responding to a request for help moving house.

A big change for us this year is that Tracy is now the Director of Operations with AT31. Because of this change, we were extremely blessed to be able to attend the directors’ retreat. The team had a productive time together, brainstorming and praying about projects for the coming year. While I was there, I took advantage of the opportunity to explore and to catch up on some reading.

It was also encouraging to spend time with the team as I was an AT3 apprentice and have known the director for around twenty years at this point2.

In and among all of this, I have been working at reflecting more and paying attention to what is going on around me. Last year, I finally managed to read John Flavel’s excellent book, The Mystery of Providence.

One of the lessons that I learned from that book is that we benefit the most from providence when we slow down to consider it and then recognise that it is entirely undeserved. As we get settled into our new home and back into our family routines, I am using my journal to help me do this.

And now let us consider and marvel that ever this great and blessed God should be so much concerned, as you have heard He is in all His providences, about such vile, despicable worms as we are! He does not need us, but is perfectly blessed and happy in Himself without us.3 We can add nothing to Him: ‘Can a man be profitable unto God?’ (Job 22.2). No, the holiest of men add nothing to Him; yet, see how great account He makes of us. For does not His eternal electing love show the dear account He made of us (Eph. 1.4,5)? How ancient, how free, and how astonishing is this act of grace! This is that design which all providences are in pursuit of, and will not rest till they have executed.4