Couples Bible Study.

Since the Coronavirus lockdown here in The Netherlands, the first or second week of March 2020, we did not have our Couples Bible study gathering.
Only the small group in our local area is meeting online every other week.

So around the fourth week of April 2020, we had our meeting again but this time online.
It was nice to see everyone again, but of course, to meet in person is nicer.

We started first with a sharing of each couple.
Just to see how everyone is.
It was good to hear and see that everyone is ok.

We all had the same thing.
We are all ok and all are trying to make the best out of this situation.
But you can hear and see that we all think that it is taking long enough now.
We all would like to go back to a “normal” life.

But who knows, how “normal” things will be after this Corona crisis.
For sure things will not be the same again.
We only can wait and see what time will bring, but there will be changes.
For sure.

I also hope that the lockdown will not be lifted too quickly.
Better to be safe than sorry.
As you can see now in some Asian countries where it looks like there is a second wave starting.

Honor Your Father.

The verses that we talked about during our Bible Study were;

Exodus 20:12 (NIV)
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

And
Ephesians 6:1-4 (NIV)
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

In sharing these verses, some things were very personal.
It was also a mix of joy and emotions.
But if you listen to the stories, they almost sounded the same.
In most of the sharing, the (biological) father was the topic.

It was a very nice time of sharing.
Even when it was online and not in person.
And I think everyone got to know each other better.

That day and the next day, all of us got a small handwritten note in the mailbox.
It was a nice surprise in this (difficult) time.
Each couple got a note with a bible verse that really fitted to that person/couple.

It was a small token from one of the couples as a gesture to let everyone know that we still care for each other.
A small gesture but it felt good.

The note/verse that my wife Tess and I received was from Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

This fitted to the sharing that we did in our bible study.
For me, it was a verse that talked to me.
Not only related to the sharing but also to other things in life.
When we go through difficult times, we are not going through this alone.
The Lord (Our Father) is there with us.
“Supporting” and helping us.

We need to honor our biological and spiritual Father.

God Is Good.

The day after the bible study, our vacuum suddenly stopped working.
After many many years of service, it just gave up without any sign that this was gone happen.

At first, you are looking like what is happening.
Is the plug properly in the power socket?
Maybe the On/Off switch it not pressed properly?
But as soon as I came near the vacuum, I already could smell something.
A bit of a burned electronic smell.

That smell normally means that it is really over.
No use in trying to open it and maybe trying to see if it is fixable.

I suggested to my wife, maybe to do a shout in the several FB messenger groups of the church.
Just in the ones close to where we are living.
Just to see if there is maybe someone that has a spare, working vacuum.

My wife first had some doubts about this, but I thought to just give it a try.
You never know.

Only 3 to 4 people responded that they didn’t have any.
So, inside, I already gave up on it.
Maybe we need to start looking online in the shop to see what there is.
And maybe also check the online second-hand marketplace(s).

On Sunday, after this had happened, I got a call from a Couples Bible Study member.
He just wanted to check with me if we already solved our search for a vacuum.
” No, we did not find anything yet”, I told him.
He told me that maybe he found a solution but he would know more later.
“Ok?”
A bit surprised but I just mention it to my wife.

We were doing some small work in the garden, so we forgot further about it.
Until the beginning of the evening.

We were just relaxing a bit until I got a phone call.
The one who was asking/checking about our vacuum was asking if we were home.
Our doorbell is not working right, so he just called to check.

“Yes, we are home.” I told him.
He asked me to open the door, because he was standing there.
Again surprised.

When I opened the door, he and one more men from our local bible study group, were standing there with a wrapped present and started to sing Happy Birthday.
On his mobile phone there was a group chat/video with almost all the members of the two bible study groups.

Once inside the house, they handed the (big) box to my wife.
(It was her birthday 3 weeks earlier, but because of the Corona crisis we did not celebrated it yet.)

It was a new vacuum, as a gift from all the group members.

God is good.
He touched the hearts of those people and they got together to give her this present.

For us, we had no idea how we could get a new vacuum in this crisis situation.
But the Lord heard our prayers.

That’s why it is also important/good to be part of a small (care) group.
In times of need, we are all there to help and support each other.
So, if you can, be part of a small group or bible study group.
You can learn from each other and others are there in time of need, for help and support.

Rethinking your view – addition.

In my previous post, Rethinking your view, at the end of that post, I had mentioned some bible verses.
Some Pastors from Saddleback church called them “My Faith Confession”
And this week someone gave me one more verse that I would like to add myself.

It’s the verse I mentioned above.
It’s Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

It is a reminder, for when things are difficult.

Closing.

Learned a lot that week.
Never forget to honor Your Father.
It’s important for your spiritual growth, to be part of a small group.
Thank God, in your prayers.
Share your thoughts and your questions with Him.
He will answer you in His perfect timing.

Take care and stay safe.
God Bless