PERSPECTIVE October 2016

Perspective-the state of one’s ideas, the facts known in having a meaningful interrelationship, or the faculty of seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship.  Blessed to have the opportunity to visit a volcanic crater with our long-time friends Mike & Sally last week, we stood far above the crater watching it gurgle, bubble, belch gases, and produce swirling clouds.  We thought we were impressed by the size, the view, the danger, the creation of God, but then suddenly someone in the crowd excitedly shouted, “There’s a man down there!”  As we strained to make out the miniscule dot, the vulcanologist at work, we realized with a powerfully new perspective the enormity of the crater, the spectacular view, the danger to the man who made his way around the rim, and the marvel of creation with an entirely new appreciation.  We later saw an aerial view that displayed a towering volcano with an even more enormous crater filled with a beautiful turquoise lake that was located behind us unbeknownst to us.
What a great analogy of how we have limited perspective of life’s events, sometimes expanded by new information or deeper spiritual revelations, but rarely do we see the “big picture” that God sees.  Another reminder is how often we experience satisfaction with “small living” when just beyond us God has for us so much more than we can ask or imagine.  Let’s challenge ourselves to seek more intimacy with our Father Creator and to exercise a deeper faith in Him to follow His plans created for us before the foundation of the world.  Thank you for all of your prayers and support for us!  Please join us in praying for students and teachers as we enter second semester.  We pray that your heart may be enlightened to know the hope, the riches, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.

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