Just a few days ago I was radically privileged to sit with a multi-generational pioneering missionary to China. This dear saint is 88 years old and as sharp as whip! Mrs. Baker was born to missionary parents in Yunang Province of China in the 20's. They escaped when she was under 10 years old because of the national upheaval...she later married the son of well known missionary to China, H.A. Baker. Her story is long, amazing and totally a testimony to God's generation blessing that rests on families.
For me, it is a great privilege to sit with this woman of God and hear her stories of life from childhood to present. Her and her husband married and returned to China as full time missionaries where they pioneered Bible Colleges and formed a foundation for the Chinese underground church, before they were kicked out at the dawn of communist rule in China. She is brimming with wisdom, love for Jesus and love for people. At 88 she has such a zeal for life and for the things of God. What an inspiration.
I could go on and on about how wonderful it has been to be acquainted with her and her one daughter.
The reason that I am posting this is because it is related to a book that I am reading at present, called Relentless Generational Blessings, by Arthur Burke. In the book (which you must read!!) he details our God as a generational God and how there are blessings that have been laid up for us all from all of our righteous family members past that we have never known. It was as a result of Mr. Burke's expounding on scripture surrounding the generational blessing that I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to go to see Mrs. Baker a second time on this last trip to Port Townsend and ask her if she would bless me.
For me, I have no known ancestors that were full time missionaries, or Spirit filled ministers. (I am so thankful that my grandfather was open enough to become ordained in the Anglican Church of Canada - and I know that is heritage that I am very thankful for.) In this past year there have been times where I have felt like my endurance was growing weak and that God was testing my heart to see how committed to Him and His call that I was....and this seemed opportune and divinely appointed....that right at the time when God was speaking to me about the blessings of generations that can be imparted I have the time with this mighty woman of God who pioneered in the nations and has a mighty heritage....God's blessings simply continue and compound!! Talk about the kind of investments we must be making above all else - investments of the heavenly kind to leave a wake of blessing for our kids and generations to come...!
So....to the point - I asked and she immediately grabbed my hand and began praying for me. There was no lightning or thunder, but the sweet presence of God descended in that time and I was overcome by the GREATNESS of God and by His inheritance which transcends natural blood lines, but culminates in the all powerful and superseding blood of Jesus Christ. In that blood and by His power I received the blessing to move forward as a pioneer and builder of His kingdom in the nations, not without heritage of those who have gone before and feeling alone in the battle, but with the tangible blessing of God that will never leave and will continue to be enriched by God's presence and word as He receives honour and praise through my life! WITH A HERITAGE OF FAITH only in Jesus Christ....that is endless and relentless!
My life will never be the same....by God's great power at work in me!
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