Month 3, we find ourselves in Oradea, Romania, at Caminul
Felix Villages. There are two villages, each made up of about 10 families. The children who
live here are no longer orphans, no longer mistreated or abandoned – here they
have a loving mom and dad and about 15 brothers and sisters to grow up with.
This month, we’ll be helping out with some construction
projects during the day and we’ll get to hang out with the families in the
evenings in their homes. I’m getting really excited to finally meet everyone,
starting tomorrow.
Yesterday, we went to a church that reminded us of home,
except that everything was in Romanian. It was such a blessing to sit by Gaby
who translated most of the service for us. It has been such a long time since I’ve
gotten to just sit in church and soak it all in without having to strain to
understand what was going on. As we entered into worship yesterday morning,
something hit me in a whole new way and I wanted to share it with you.
I’ve been meditating on Revelations 21:1-7 since the
beginning of the Race, thinking more about the end of the story – the happy
ending that God’s orchestrating everything towards. As the new Jerusalem
descends, it is declared, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will
live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and
be their God.”
Chew on this – God wants to dwell with men. With us. That’s
the happy ending He’s written.
So, in church yesterday, the worship leader starts talking
about the presence of God. He says that when we come to God’s house, why come
if you’re not expecting to meet with God in His house?
I’ve heard that one before.
Then he says that as we put on the garments of praise, we
become magnets for God’s presence. That’s how we get to meet with God in His
house. Wait, what?
I’ve heard it said that God inhabits the praises of His
people. A friend also recently shared a revelation he had – that it is through
thanksgiving that we’re able to enter through the gates of God’s holy temple,
and through praise that we enter into His courts, to be in His presence.
It started to hit me that the happy ending starts now. It
started when Jesus paid the price for our sins so that God’s dwelling place
could be with men here and now. And as we fill our moments, our days, our
worship services with praise, God dwells among us, He meets us and stays with
us. God’s kingdom… here on earth.
So, welcome to the Kingdom. I’ve retitled my blogsite
because this is a lot of what God’s been teaching me this year so far – showing me
what His kingdom is all about. I’m excited to see what else He’ll show me about His kingdom this year!
Welcome to the Kingdom
where all things are made new
(even the dead being brought to life)
where
orphans find homes where they are loved and wanted
where
God longs to dwell with men.
It’s already here.
