2012 December 24 (Monday) : Family Values 001

The best thing about family is they accept you as you are.  Now I fully understand that we live in a fallen world and that there are literally millions of people who can give me millions of examples of their family not accepting them as they are.  I feel the Lord is telling me “THAT’’S THE PROBLEM!”  One of the incredible things about Jesus Christ is that He does accept us as we are, but loves us too much to leave us as we are. 

The Bible describes us as His bride and He paid the ultimate price for His bride and will be coming back to reclaim us in His timing.  This could be this afternoon, tomorrow morning, days, months, or years from now, BUT COULD BE TODAY, for no one knows the hour except the Lord Himself. We had a wonderful time at the breakfast table today, discussing this very thing.  My princess and I have reached a new level in our relationship and my mind goes back to the blessings in my own life of Prince David and Prince Ross showing me the layers that the Lord peels back in our lives.  How we pick up offense where Jesus would not.  How we can make amends and reach those deeper levels in our relationships.  I start the day off with another Spanish lesson. I get my iPod synced with this wonderful system.  Truly another answer to prayer, another miracle.   We spend the day visiting family in Creston Iowa and I see real life in America. 

The vestiges of the Wild West itself, in the eyes of the older generation.  The good old fashioned family values that inspires epics like “True Grit” and “Lonesome Dove.”  Wonderful.  My princess excitedly shows her ring to everyone and I am welcomed into the family as family.  Wow.  What a privilege to be picked up by the Lord and deposited in the middle of my wildest dream, to find favor with the Lord Himself, Prov 18:22.  I see again what is important in this life, to leave a heritage for my children’s children. The Lord shows me the future, investment opportunities.  I note the feeling of fear is coming back, but it soon disappears after I confess this to the Lord.  He has my back and I have been honorable with this princess, I have done everything I can for her on this trip and I will continue to do so.  My mind flits around possibilities, about what comes first, what to do next, but the Lord assures me that it was not I who brought me to America in the first place, but Him and He has a plan for me in America, so all I need do is take the next step and the next.  It is, after all, how a journey of a million miles starts. We attend a Methodist service in the evening.  I feel the feeling of religion, not relationship, but I now understand that all I need do is maintain my own relationship with the Lord, for He alone is the judge and all I need do is live life as Jesus would.  “Tell the Gospel and if necessary, use words.” 

The church is a monumental structure and my first thoughts are “Norman architecture.  Beautiful.”  I see a foundation stone with the year 1903 upon it.  Older than the Victoria Falls Hotel.  Wow.  Old hymns, some not as perfect as I am used to, for our praise and worship leader is a perfectionist when it comes to the things of the Lord, and I so appreciate her for that.  Princess Adele, thank you from the bottom of my heart for EVERYTHING.  I think it is only the Lord Himself who can ever tell you how much I appreciate you for all you have shown me, taught me, inspired in me.  Ever since the first time I remember seeing you looking at a ball and claw bathtub in an old house in Avondale, Harare, all those years ago.  Wow.

We go and visit Princess Kim’s cousin, Princess Missy and her six children.  Wow.  Awesome.  So many people to get to know.  So many dreams, hopes.  Wonderful. How awesome family values are.