I was in Napa, California for the past two weeks, dropping off my youngest daughter Reena. Reena started working in the hospital as a social worker. Overall it was a good experience with some excitement, nervousness, and also happy moments. One of the happy moments was meeting with Rev. Marylee Sheffer and her family. Her family, along with church members, were gracious hosts and showed us wonderful hospitality. We were truly blessed to find a family that could help and support us, especially my daughter Reena, while she is in Napa.
However, our journey did not start with happy memories. Our first rental property was a fraud and we lost money. We were disappointed and it was also hard to find a place to rent. As we continued to pray and ask God to open the door, God provided a secure renting place. While waiting to get possession of the apartment and my daughter was working, I was alone with our dog Stella. It turned out to be a great time to reflect on what God had called me to do and also catch up on my reading. I consider that as a good sabbatical time.
Most of you know I love nature and like to be in nature to enjoy God’s creation. What a better place than the Napa Valley. It is so gorgeous. You can see beautiful mountains and vineyards. Some of the mountains that are greener are dried, but you can see trees at the bottom of the mountains. You can see different beautiful flowers, plants, and trees everywhere. We were so surprised by the hedges of Rosemary by their house. I know a person living in Chicago who is trying to revive his rosemary plant by taking it in the house in the winter and taking it out of the house when the weather gets better. While walking Stella in the neighborhood, we met so many nice and loving neighbors. One of them cut some of the Dinnerplate Dahlia and gave it to us. That was the first flower bouquet for my daughter Reena’s apartment as a loving and welcoming token gift from Napa. Wonderful memories of meeting new friends and having a good time with some delicious food.
In a time like this when I was alone, I was reflecting on David. While attending his father’s sheep, doing what his father asked him to do faithfully, with a humble heart, and most importantly: spending time with God. Writing new songs as he observed the beauty of God’s creation in the start lights, sunrise or sunset and worshiping God with music. This is where God prepared him to be a future king of Israel. That’s why David was mentioned in the Bible twice:
A man after God’s own heart.
That reminds me of the poetry,
When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man,
And skill a man
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch His methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses,
And which every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out-
God knows what He’s about.
– John Oswald Sanders
Last Sunday we reflected on David and why God chose him, and this Sunday we are going to see how God prepares His servants, watch His methods, watch His ways!
Joy Christy, Binny Christian and 17 others