Marlene writes, Spring has always been my favorite season.
I’m sure that has something to do with growing up in Upstate New York and the
long, cold, dark winters and, maybe, because I was born in the Spring. It represents
new life to me. Fresh green grass, blossoming trees, and flowers peeking their
tentative heads up out of the still cool earth. It represents hope. The long
winter is soon to be behind us and the hope for warmth and sunshine renews our
minds and reminds us that things are changing. Many times I have found myself,
as well as other missionaries’ hearts, longing for “Spring”. We may have been
in a “dark” season, one that felt long and sometimes cold. Feelings of “no-one
understands, no-one really cares, or, maybe I just need to quit”. We’ve
probably all felt some of this at one time or another in our lives. As a
counselor I, of course, become concerned if someone’s “winter” lasts too long.
That’s another blog (and if you’re feeling that. Please feel free to contact me
J ). I’m talking about
the, “I need something new to happen in me”! That’s what I love about my God!
Spring always follows Winter! It might look different every year and depending
on where we live, but Spring always comes.
The flowers do bloom again
and the grass turns green and the buds pop out. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 has always
been a favorite of mine. It reminds us that nothing is permanent! The sun will
shine again! That was never more real to me than the last 3 years and the many
losses my family experienced. To lose my parents and two siblings in 22 months
made for some dark days! Some days I felt like the sunshine of my soul could
not possibly ever shine again. But, slowly but surely, it did. Like little
blossoms, I saw glimpses of Spring in my soul. And, as I write this, we’re
waiting to hear from our daughter who is getting very close to bringing a new
life into the world. New life follows death. Spring follows Winter. Day follows
night. And, even after the very worst of storms, the sun does shine again. Do
you need a “Spring”? A fresh touch from God? He tells us in Isaiah 43:19,
“Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know
it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”! Wow, step
out of Winter and into Spring. Leave the darkness and open your eyes to the
light! Can’t you just feel the sun on your face as He does something new? If
you have to walk away from your surroundings for a bit to find the sun, walk
on! Seek Him in a time of Sabbath Rest and ask Him, then allow Him, to do a new
thing! Revelation 21:5 “Behold, I make ALL things new…these words are true and
faithful”! He is waiting to Renew YOU. To make you new! Leave Winter behind and
get your Spring on!
We have traveled this Spring to Kenya, Africa during March 7
-21. Many of you prayed for us as we made this journey and your prayers helped
us to bring some “Spring” to our great team of missio
naries serving Christ in
Nairobi, Nakuru and Tenwek. We met individually with each missionary unit and
had wonderful times of encouragement and prayer together. One of the highlights
on March 13 was having a corporate prayer meeting and devotional time. At the
conclusion of our service, the missionaries blessed Ned by celebrating his
birthday there in Kenya. This makes the fourth continent that Ned has
celebrated his birthday on. Who would have ever thought a kid from the Hocking Hills
of SE Ohio would be serving the Lord around the world. Thank you to each and
every one of you who make our ministry possible. God reminds us regularly
through your faithfulness in giving and praying that He is our provider, our
portion, our strong tower and He is that for you as well.
May the Lord Bless you greatly as you Spring ahead in
serving Him.
Ned and Marlene McGrady
World Gospel Mission Box 948 Marion, IN 46952 765-671-7240
www.wgm.org/mcgrady for info on our ministry
