Archives for December 18, 2012

On Sunday, I preached twice on the preciousness of Jesus Christ—“precious blood” and “precious offices”—for the Burgessville, Ontario Heritage Reformed Congregation, and administered the Lord’s Supper in the morning. Four new communicants attended. That evening, I had a wonderful meeting with 25 young adults, who are studying The Pilgrim’s Progress. Their spiritual astuteness and maturity were most encouraging.

Oxford Reformed Christian School

The following morning I gave a chapel message on following God fully (Num. 14:24) to 220 K–12 students at the Oxford Reformed Christian School in Oxford County, Ontario. We then went to the Woodstock, Ontario hospital to visit the father of one of our Grand Rapids church members who recently suffered a stroke. He poured out his soul to us about how the Lord converted him two years ago. It was good to be there.

We also had a great time with our hosts, Andre and Shelly Timmerman (Shelly is one of my newly married nieces), and a wonderful meal of fellowship with Jason and Heather Beeke and their children (Jason is my nephew). I also had an opportunity to evangelize a dear couple and to pastor another couple who recently loss their first-born child. This was a special weekend indeed— the worship and service of God and the fellowship of the saints are such a delight!

My Relatives, with Victoria in Pink on the Front Row

Last Saturday, my wife and I drove with our daughter Lydia to Ontario. That evening we gathered with a few dozen of our Beeke relatives—including our precious 5-year-old Victoria. Despite the condition of her legs, we were amazed at how fast and energetically she was walking, albeit with a limp. It was a great joy not only to see her, but also to hear from her parents, Jen and Gerald, how the Lord is sanctifying her affliction to her. Of the many stories we heard, here are the three most memorable comments I recall her saying to her mother:

Gerald and Jen DeHaan Family

1) Reflecting on a Buddhist boy who was in the Toronto hospital with her, Victoria said, “Mommy, I would rather have all my owies and God than have no owies and no God.”

2) Once she said reflectively, “All these owies are OK, Mommy. Jesus had owies much worse than mine, and He did nothing wrong but I have sinned my whole life.”

3) “Will my legs be shiney all the time?” she once asked her mother. “What do you mean, Tori?” Jen replied. She said, “I mean, will my legs be shiney for Jesus?”