18th December, 2010

BEV HOLMES-BROWN

How amazing is our God. And how good and perfect are His gifts to us.

I remember holding my daughter, my firstborn, in her early days and weeping over the incredible reality that she existed. That this huge (10lb, 4oz) wriggling lump that I had carried around actually DID turn out to be a baby. I was blown away, awestruck and spent many an early morning feed time weeping, worshipping and thanking God for this miracle.

PICTURE: © Peter Zelei "For a season we were able to see the heart and purposes of God by being as God, His representatives, to this helpless and vulnerable child. Like God we delighted in every achievement and smile; we enjoyed every milestone and every activity that we were blessed to be involved in; we were protectors, providers, teachers, nurturers and comforters."

My husband and I realised, in that first year, that she worshipped and adored us. Her eyes followed us around the room and she delighted in drawing our attention through gurgles and smiles and cute renditions of words. We were the centre of her world.

One day, the incredible honour and responsibility that God had given, dawned. For a season we were able to see the heart and purposes of God by being as God, His representatives, to this helpless and vulnerable child. Like God we delighted in every achievement and smile; we enjoyed every milestone and every activity that we were blessed to be involved in; we were protectors, providers, teachers, nurturers and comforters.

And then we realised, that our primary role as parents was to take the worship and adoration so freely and completely given to us and direct it towards the True God, the Ultimate Source of all good things.

God loves and trusts us so much that the character and heart of the next generation is in our hands. It is the most incredible example of God’s faith in the ability of mankind that He would make us the architects of our own future.

This faith was demonstrated so keenly by the fact that God placed His only begotten Son into the lives of Joseph and Mary.

The late Kay Garbutt, wrote a lovely book called Yeshua the Bridegroom. She paints a beautiful picture of betrothal and consequently the household that Jesus was born into.

This young couple were betrothed, which means that Joseph and his father would have visited Mary’s home and family so that he could propose. When Mary accepted Joseph would have paid the customary ‘bride price’ and given gifts that he had made or that represented who he was. They would have drunk wine from the betrothal cup (also called the cup of sanctification), and he would have presented her with the ‘Ketubah,’ the Jewish marriage contract that outlined expectations of the marriage and bound the couple together to the extent that only a certificate of divorce could nullify it.

As he left their house Joseph would have said, “I go to prepare a place for you and when I have done so I will return and take you to be with me.” Then he would have returned home with his father to begin to building a place for them both to live. He would also have added a wedding chamber where they would spend the first seven days of their marriage together.

Joseph’s father, according to custom would be the one that deigned whether or not this home was ready for him to bring his bride to or not. Meanwhile Mary would have worn a veil to signify she was ‘set apart’ as Joseph’s bride or betrothed while she waited for Joseph to return and prepared herself for marriage.

How incredible are the strategies of God that He would become as vulnerable as a tiny baby, entrusting Himself into a Godly yet human household while He grew in wisdom and stature to become our Bridegroom. The price He paid for us, His Bride, was His life and the gifts He gave set us apart as His betrothed while He went off to prepare a place for us before returning again to claim us.

I look at my children and amazed at the destiny and potential; despite my failings and flaws they are His ambassadors and I can see the Him leading them to a future that is in His hands.

I am blessed to be a witness to the work of God and touched that He would allow me to be a part of it.

Bev Holmes-Brown began Link-Zone in 2001 with the purpose of encouraging frontline Christian groups. In the last nine years Link-Zone has focussed on praying for governments, communities and ministries. ‘We are currently transitioning,’ Bev says, ‘believing the Lord wants us to begin to tell people’s stories. There are so many people living amazing and victorious lives for God against the odds, we want to hear from them, to understand their hearts and glean the treasures that God has laid up in their hearts for our own breakthroughs. Of course we will continue to feature our favourite columnists and will not give up on praying but we believe this is a season where God wants us to identify and clarify the frontlines that need our support. It’s exciting to venture into whatever He lays upon our heart. ~ www.Link-Zone.net.

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