Rebecca Maisenbacher

There is always something about the holidays that causes me to pause and reflect with a heart of thankfulness, for all who have touched my life in some way. From youth to maturity, we scurry through life envisioning what each day will bring. Hoping to find success, we try our hand at making life choices. We research and study to attain knowledge, enter the work force and hopefully build a life that is pleasing and productive. Through it all in our latter years we are given the gift to reflect and see God’s handiwork in friends and family.

Relationships, some lovely and some difficult, are often used to guide us in our life choices. We not only leave a “residue” of ourselves with one another as we meet, but for many, God weaves a heavenly tapestry with His spiritual DNA that causes each person to connect as if you’ve known each other forever. As these “tapestry threads” continue to attach thru relationship and fellowship, His Body forms and a family or “tribe” is birthed.

When we accept God as our Father, we enter a kingdom that has no end. We are linked to Him and each other eternally. We carry His Spirit and that spiritual DNA connects us one to another building the kingdom here on earth. I never tire of the feeling I get when I meet a new person or family who comes to our community - I feel like I have known them forever.. Every person or child who steps through our door is loved and cherished by our Creator and carries endless potential.

With over fifteen geographical moves, I have been fortunate to meet many wonderful friends and acquaintances. I can truly count on one hand the number of people who have been less than civil. Each of you has left and indelibly sweet “residue” or impression upon my heart. Whether a smile, a kind word, fellowship, breaking bread, united in prayer, praise or worship - you are a world changer, building the kingdom by touching one person at a time.

King David’s life demonstrates God’s divine appointments and assignments in life that continually weave a glorious tapestry depicting the threads or connections made in life. As a young boy David was often in the field alone tending to his sheep, but as he grew in favor with God and man, he connected with the hurting and broken - the troubled as well as unsavory ones, and found himself among them in the Cave of Adullam hiding from Saul.

God sometimes allows his precious ones to visit “Midian” or the “Cave” for a season. Moses lived in Midian for 40 years after he exiled himself for taking the life of an Egyptian, Exodus 2:15. In this place, God allows His called ones - and everyone is called- to mess up and make all their mistakes while they, often unknowingly, are being prepared for launching, as they grow in wisdom, understanding and relationship with Him.

After trials, challenges and testing, they are released back into the world as His anointed conduits for change. This was the plan for Moses. This was also the plan for David and his men who found themselves hiding out together in a cave, learning to live together, trusting and supporting one another, 1 Samuel 22. I wonder if they knew while in that cave secretly hiding, while being trained and equipped, that they would one day make David their leader and historically become one of the greatest armies ever to walk the earth?

Just like David and Moses, God also has a plan for you! He has a plan for your children and your children’s children. God views His people generationally, including generational mantles of destiny with futures filled with hope. You may sometimes become discouraged that the years are passing without attaining all you have believed for, but the dreams and assignments God has placed within you will find their way into the hearts of future generations if not completely realized in your lifetime.

I encourage you to lay your aspirations at His feet, work toward the desires placed within your heart, celebrate His provision and guidance, and find comfort in His love and care. As you continue to build relationship with God, learning His ways, He will continually guide you as your personal Navigator as your story expands and your journey unfolds. He has a plan and future for you! You actually enter and walk out your future one day at a time. When He comes to you with a request or assignment - choose to accept - rather than delay and have Him pass His desire onto someone else. He is patient, but He also teaches us to live by His time clock. He is never in a hurry and He is never late. What is in your heart? What assignment has He presented to consider? He is waiting for you…

I personally am so thankful for you! I pray for you and family a blessed Christmas and may you now and in this coming new year experience His presence and glory over your home, Isaiah 4:5, as you reflect on the following promises His word gives to you.

Isaiah 58:11 - And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched placed, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

Psalm 32:8 - I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

John 16:13 - But when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

Psalm 37:23 - The steps of a man are established by the Lord; and He delights in his way.

Proverbs 16:9 - The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

In His Love - Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to you!