Great and Hidden Things: Home Sweet Home

Ever since we arrived in Scotland, 3 weeks ago, I have been quite homesick. It’s strange because I really do like the city, the people, the church, and life here; but at times I have found myself depressed, thinking and crying aloud “I just want to go home.” To say the least this has not been the easiest of transitions for me. I miss Rochester, my friends, family, and church family back home. (However I’m not missing all the snow that is still falling;)

BUT this week has been a bit of a turning point for me. I still miss “home” but God has been so faithful and is really helping me to see Glasgow as my “home” for the next year, and I have felt much more settled this week. Apart from God’s grace and faithfulness a few practical things that have helped this week are:

Moving into our flat! Check back next week for a video tour of our flat
Going grocery shopping and cooking our first meal in our new home
Setting up our baby room
Getting registered with a doctor. Huge answer to prayer we are covered by the NHS and do not have to pay for any health care including baby costs!
Getting some defined roles and specifics as to what are jobs will be here and diving into that.
Lastly our church family at Harvest Glasgow. On Sunday we had an outdoor baptism service after church and I remember just looking around at everyone and feeling this sense of home. In that moment, I believe God was showing me the beauty of the church and was telling me to allow myself to be a part of this family, get to know these people, and grow with them. I felt so encouraged in that moment and excited to see what God is going to do during our time here.

Lesson of the Week

This week I have been thinking a lot about my prayer life and how I have become so complacent with prayer. I was encouraged by a friend to continue praying BIG prayers and I was reminded of the last time I started asking God for BIG things. That is when he revealed his plan for us to come to Scotland. I want to become more dependent on God and I know the only way to do that is to seek him in prayer and allow him to change me and do BIG things in my life. I don’t want to leave here in a year thinking that was a fun year. I want to leave knowing that this was the year God changed my life, brought me to a greater place of dependence on Him, and used me to build his kingdom. I was also challenged in church on Sunday about my beliefs on prayer. As Pastor Scott said when we pray we activate the arm of omnipotence. If I truly believe that somehow my prayers move the hand of the Almighty then my prayer life should look different.

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

Prayer Requests

Praise God that we are registered with the NHS and do not have to worry about paying hospital bills for any baby costs. We previously thought we were going to have to pay out of pocket for all maternity check ups and the delivery.
Continue to pray for our bank situation as the bank mailed our debit cards to the US. Pray that we will have full access to our money this week.
Pray BIG! Pray that we would become more dependent on God through prayer, that God would change us, and that God will use us in ways we can’t even imagine.