Taste and See

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."

Psalm 34:8

The Lord is so good!!!  Over the last week, I have tasted and saw His goodness.  I have seen the heart of God as it radiates out of His people.  I have seen ways in which the fatherless are being cared for and it...is...so...GOOD!!! 

Last week Saturday, I went to the Grand Rapids airport and welcomed home a family that just picked up their new son from Ethiopia.  As they walked down the terminal, tears ran down my face.  Their journey is so real to me.  It didn't matter that the child was not from Beautiful Gate.  I didn't matter that I had never physically met this child before.  What did matter, was that a child has a family to love and care for them.  The family's journey is all about the truth and grace of God.  They are boldly stepping out and surrendering their abilities and plans to God, so that He can use them to do His KINGDOM work.  They have tasted and seen the goodness of our Lord.

Last week Sunday, I attended a church in Grand Rapids, to celebrate the baptism of a former daughter of Beautiful Gate.  She is now a daughter of a family that is caring, loving and guiding her through life.  She has parents, siblings and many other family members who are daily giving God control, so that they can all do His KINGDOM work.  They have tasted and seen the goodness of our Lord.

Yesterday at my home church, a charge was given to the congregation.  We are celebrating 50 years of God's faithfulness.  The congregation was challenged to raise $50,000 to donate to 2 of the ministries they support, one of them being Beautiful Gate.  God has blessed Haven and they are striving to do His KINGDOM work.  They have tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord.

This week is a special week at Holland Christian High School.  For their "HOME"coming, they are not going to just to the normal home coming routine of spirit days, football games and a dance.  The student body is raising money through the activities of the week, to furnish the Maroon House at Beautiful Gate.  This house is currently being built by funds that were raised through the Holland Christian family and will serve as a dormitory for short term mission teams.  Today I went to sit in on chapel and hear Mike Verkaik, a teacher at HC, share his personal journey with Beautiful Gate.  God planted a seed in him, that is taking root and spreading to through the HC campus.  They are striving to be bold and do God's KINGDOM work.  They have tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord.

People of God, stop, hit the pause button of life and take refuge in God, for He is GOOD!!  His love will NEVER end.  His journey for you is prepared.  Don't just fly through it.  Take time to taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

The next few weeks for me will be full of opportunities to share God's goodness through His story of grace at Beautiful Gate.  Please pray for health, for God's words and for the people He wants to be at the presentations.

Wednesday September 25 - Holland Christian High School Chapel, Holland MI

Tuesday October 1 to October 3 - Multiple Presentations in Sarasota, FL

Thursday October 3 to October 9 - Multiple Presenations in Gainesville, FL

Wednesday October 16 - Drenthe CRC, Zeeland MI