Today is the first day of March and I'm thankful for some sunny, yet pretty cold days here in Brussels. Lately, I've also been grateful for the completion of my home improvement project. Back in November, I had shared a bit about the renovations in this post. The walls were completed still before Thanksgiving, and subsequently, I started buying and assembling IKEA furniture in my guest room/home office. It took a while to get all the needed parts, and for the wardrobe, I needed some help from an experienced person, but now it looks very nice, as you can see in the pictures below.
Last week, I also enjoyed a visit of my good friend Carla from Brazil. We had met at Newbold College when we were both studying there back in 1997. Ever since, I already had the opportunity to visit her twice in Brazil, but it was the first time that her and her family could come over to visit me. It was a blessing to have them, and I'm grateful that this friendship has lasted for so long. On Sunday, we took a wonderful trip to Bruges. Although it was cold, we enjoyed the picturesque scenery alongside the little canal flowing through the city.
Tomorrow, I'm off to another trip to Germany, both for work and for leisure. I look forward to speaking at a school again, and then to spending an extended weekend in the Black Forest.
As I'm enjoying my "new" home, I've also been pondering about the heavenly home that Jesus is preparing for us while we are awaiting His return. As much as we can appreciate our earthly surroundings, it's nothing in comparison to the celestial mansions that are waiting for us on the earth made new!
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1-2
May the Lord help us not to focus so much on what we have here on earth, but rather to fix our mind to a much better place that He is preparing for us in the Heavenly Mansions!
 |
| My new wardrobe |
 |
| My new home office furniture |
 |
| With my friend Carla, her daughter, and Janice in Bruges |
 |
| Views from our boat trip |
