Last week marked one year in Scotland! Praise be to Jesus!
I ended up getting really sick last week, so that’s why I didn’t write the usual post. But there are so many reasons to celebrate – one whole year of God guiding, providing, sustaining, upholding, pouring out grace upon grace. If I could sum up the past year with a verse, it would be Psalm 139:9-10… “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” This time last year I couldn’t even understand the accent of most of the local folks, but now I have people here in this community that I call friends. I have seen the Bride of Christ beautiful and bright in the midst of the 8th most deprived scheme in Scotland. I have gotten to speak of the glories of our Saviour with people who have never heard about Him before. And I have been greatly challenged and pruned and grown by the Great Gardener of my soul. I join in with the psalmist and declare that even here God’s hand guides me, even here God’s right hand holds me fast.
And it makes me smile to think that you all are a part of this mission, too. I have been thinking on this passage from 2 Corinthians this week: “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God” (9:11-12). It strikes me that a big part of Paul’s joy in the Corinthian’s giving was because it produced the beautiful fruit of thanksgiving to God. And likewise the joy of this ministry here in the schemes is not only that it is meeting a great need but also that it results in praise to the Lord. Because of your generous giving – whether financially or in the labour of prayer – you are entering into this ministry…not only in being part of meeting my needs and the needs of the saints here in Merkinch but also in bringing much glory and praise to the Lord. Yes, we overflow with many thanksgivings to God because of you. I’m not physically able to write each of you a letter every week, but I hope these posts are viewed as a letter of gratitude personally to each of you. And I hope you know that I am praying for you and am thanking God for each of you. We’re in this together.
Here’s to another year of following Jesus in Merkinch. May He be greatly praised!
Jesus makes the labour sweet,
Claire
P.S. Also, thank you to everyone who was praying for me as I spoke at the 20schemes weekender a couple weeks back. The Lord heard our prayers!
Claire in Scotland 