9 minute read
A Faithful Dwelling Place
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” (Psalm 90:1-2, NASB)
Psalm 90 was the psalm my dad would read on New Year's Eve—about 11:30 p.m. Not long before all the fireworks over the Netherlands would break loose, our family of six would sit down and listen to my dad read this prayer of Moses. When he was done reading, we would all pray, giving thanks for the previous year and asking the Lord's blessing on the new one, now only minutes away.
It was always a sobering way to look back on a year that had flown by way too fast, and to realize that our Heavenly Father had been and would continue to be our mighty stronghold - no matter what this new year, just around the corner, would bring us. The psalm is a strong reminder of where we stand as tiny human beings in front of the Almighty God. Time is nothing in God's universe and our days, short numbered as they are, need to focus on seeking and following the Lord.
Reading this psalm was a family tradition, started by my grandfather who was a strong believer. My husband, Jeff, and I have continued this tradition in our own family.
When I was young, I didn't realize how much of a blessing it was to have this Christian heritage. My parents came from strong Christian families, all from the northeastern part of the Netherlands, and were teenagers during World War 2, and each had a brother in the Dutch Resistance, an organization not only sabotaging German efforts in the Netherlands but also assisting allied forces who were trying to gain a foothold in our country.
It was a dangerous time and one day soldiers suddenly showed up at my grandparents' house. They interrogated my mom's entire family, and one soldier put a gun to my mother's head and barked out, "I'll kill you if you don't tell me where your brother is.”
This is how my mom recalled that experience (she was 16 at the time): "I did not feel fear. All I thought was 'if you shoot me now, I will go to Jesus.” She already knew that her life belonged to the Lord, she was not afraid to die, and she experienced his peace.
My mom then noticed that the soldier’s uniform had ants crawling over it, right by his shoulder. She reached out and wiped away the ants. This startled the soldier and he asked,
"What are you doing?”
"You have some ants here, I just wiped them away." This somehow confused the soldier, he put his gun away and the soldiers left the house. The Lord had protected them and would continue to protect them as my grandparents decided a few hours later that it was no longer safe to stay in their house. My grandfather took out his Bible, read Psalm 91, prayed, and then the family split up. Each went into hiding in nearby villages and farms, taking on new names and identities.
My now 94-year-old mom continues to tell her story and is a witness of God's love, faithfulness and goodness—to whomever she meets on the street, in the stores, at the doctor's office. She never leaves the house without Bibles and ministry materials in the basket of her walker. She says that she is thankful that she went through this difficult period because it solidified her faith for the rest of her life.
My parents did not have an easy life. Besides the terrible memories of the war, my dad struggled with many health issues. When he was 49, he needed triple bypass surgery—one of the first patients in the Netherlands to undergo this major surgery. The doctor didn't give him much of a chance to survive, and he was sent home without any physical therapy or instructions for his care. However, the Lord had different plans. My dad slowly regained strength and energy and outlived many other bypass patients—as well as the doctor who had not expected him to survive.
I'm writing these stories as a witness of how the Lord has worked miracles in my own family, and I am writing of the Lord’s faithfulness so evident in other times of sickness, especially with my dad. My memories of him involve lots of surgeries, hospitalizations and health issues. He passed away in 2005 due to Alzheimer's disease. However, my parent's faith never wavered. They always trusted the Lord for the outcome, no matter how difficult the circumstances. They sought the Lord and knew that he carried them through whatever might come their way. And they knew that ultimately their (and our) lives were in his hands.
It's this legacy that I am very thankful for! It's nothing that I have done. It’s a gift from the Lord that he built into my life.
Growing up, going to church was nothing we discussed, it was part of who we were and what we did on Sunday. It was something my parents made a priority because of their personal love for the Lord. This I can honestly mention as a blessing, but it also became more of a tradition for me than an extension of my faith. I would have said that I was a Christian, even though I didn’t have that personal relationship with the Lord. Going through the motions in a situation like this was very easy...
When I was in my late twenties, I started considering taking a year off work to go to Bible school. A friend and I had been talking for a while about doing this. We were both single and this looked like a good time to study the Bible in an international setting. My friend was able to get a year of unpaid leave. My employer told me I had to choose: stay put or quit my job.
I felt the Lord's peace about quitting my job and so I gave up my security, as one of my former bosses put it. Some people didn't think it was wise to take this step, but I gave the company my two-month notice. One month before I was supposed to stop working, the company went bankrupt. My security turned out not to be so secure after all. The Lord confirmed my decision in a not-so-subtle way.
My friend and I were familiar with the Torchbearer Bible School in Austria and so we signed up to go there. The Lord had different plans for us. The school had reached its limits of applicants, and we were advised to pick another location. We decided to go to Sweden instead, and so we ended up in Holsbybrunn, located in the southern part of Sweden.
I had no idea that a Jeff Dusek had quit his job the previous year in Wheaton, Illinois, and had taken a step of faith to become a full-time missionary, ending up as the basketball coach at my Bible School in faraway Sweden. After my year as a student, I joined the staff at the Bible school as the secretary, Jeff and I started dating and my plans for one year of Bible School in Sweden turned into seven years. Years ago in the Netherlands, I had taken two years of Swedish classes in the Netherlands, not knowing I would ever end up in Sweden as a secretary. Coincidence? I don't think so. The Lord knew all along the road ahead of me.
The teaching at the Bible School was instrumental in my spiritual growth. I remember the teachings on the temple and the Holy of Holies. No one could approach God but only the high priest. Only through him was forgiveness of sins possible. How wonderful that we can approach the throne of God just as we are and whenever we want—because our Lord Jesus died for our sins and gave us direct access to God the Father. And Jesus rose from the dead so that we no longer live under condemnation of sin. I have a new identity. These truths opened my eyes and the Lord worked one night in my heart and brought me back to him. By God's grace he worked out my path in a miraculous way and I'm so grateful for his work in my life.
After our arrival in the U.S. in 2003, Jeff and I joined the Chicago Eagles as full-time missionaries. The Chicago Eagles uses the game of soccer as a tool to share the good news of the gospel. The Eagles ministry runs youth soccer camps in the summer in the Chicagoland area as well as in Madison (WI). They also offer a training program for college-aged players, who come during the summer to coach the soccer camps and receive training in sports ministry. These days the Chicago Eagles also offers youth teams that train and play year-round.
Over the years the Lord has continued to work in my heart to draw me closer to him. Through the teaching of College Church as well as Bible studies, books (I've really enjoyed author David Gregory) and the ministry of Moody Radio, I've grown in my relationship with the Lord.
We've had our share of health issues in our family and are still dealing with some. It's not always easy. Physical issues often determine so much of our day-to-day life, but we want to keep our eyes on the Lord and trust him for the outcome.
Sometimes I take walks at night in our neighborhood. As I look up at the sky with its beautiful moon and so many stars, I can really enjoy a special time with the Lord. Just imagine, the Creator of heaven and earth knows all these stars by name. And he knows my thoughts and those of every person on this earth, and the hairs on my head. None of us can fathom how great he is, and this great God loves us and promises to never leave us nor forsake us. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords who loves us at a deep, personal level.
My parents lived through the second world war when Hitler was trying to establish his reign on the entire earth, but he didn’t succeed. Today we see increasing persecution of followers of Christ, but we know from Scripture that this is nothing new and we need to be prepared for what is to come, and put on the armor of God, knowing that our God is in control. Nothing changes his plans. He knows the outcome.
Isaiah 26:3, 4 is a wonderful reminder of where our mind should be and how the Lord can give us his perfect peace in difficult times. As believers, may the Lord be our dwelling place, our rock, our comfort in the days ahead. He was and is faithful, throughout all generations!
Isaiah 26:3,4 NIV
