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Seek Ye First
Written by Tamara on November 27, 2009 in News
Many a journey has our family been on this past year. We have often (and continue to be) reminded of perseverance building strength – have you seen our muscles lately? Ha!
For those who have been keeping up to date with how we’ve been going since making our move from Australia to Canada, you would know that Caleb has not been in a happy place regarding his schooling situation. It has broken our hearts, yet also drawn us closer to God.
School in Australia
We have always felt a strong desire to educate our children in a Christian environment. This has very much been a prompting from the Lord.
In Australia, we were blessed with an incredible opportunity to have Caleb start his formal years of education at a Christian school. It was due to our full-time involvement in missions that prompted the school there to waive a huge proportion of the tuition costs. We could not have done it any other way. A HUGE blessing! Caleb thrived in the environment there, so naturally we wanted to see the same for when we got to Calgary.
Desiring Christian Education
We made enquiries with many of the Christian schools in Calgary before our departure. It was communicated 
back to us that there was simply no assistance available for those in full-time missions. For us, it also meant a “low-income” level. So, we gave it up…or rather got an attitude, complained a lot and felt sad and miserable. It felt in a big way that God was forgetting about us and our desires.
I (Tamara) spent many a nights crying at the thought of not being able to place our children in a Christian school. After all, it was so strong on our hearts that I knew it was of the Lord, yet why was it not to be? Well, so it seemed…..
Christian schooling is close to double the cost of the same back in Australia, so it felt even more from our reach.
We placed Caleb into our local community school (for Grade 2) at the beginning of the new school year, which is September here in Canada.
Within Caleb’s first week he was told off for mentioning that he went to Church and for asking his class (during a sharing time) “hands up if you go to church?” This upset us greatly. We prayed and asked for even more covering and protection over our dear son.
For the next few months Caleb would share daily with us his sadness over not being able to talk freely about God and what he believed in. Yet, he remained an incredible light to those around him. “Excuse me Miss P., Christmas is actually about Jesus” and telling us, ”It’s just so sad that they don’t believe in God.” He was sowing into that school, however he was also struggling with the lack of freedom it brought.
Bill and I started to get a VERY strong sense that something HAD to change. We knew it was our God-given responsibility to protect Caleb as much as we could from the sadness and struggles he was facing with not being able to share what was so strong on his heart. He had only just turned 7 so it was a LOT for a little person to be faced with.
The Door was Opened
Within a week God had secured a place for Caleb at a Christian school here in Calgary!! It has all happened so quickly, yet has felt like forever all at the
same time. It’s a Kindergarten – Grade 12 school.
I cannot recall at this point in time what made us re-contact one of the schools here. From that one afternoon, we have found nothing but favour. It’s like ALL the doors suddenly opened. We have a HUGE testimony in that the school is able to bless us with the same type of assistance we received in Australia.
Caleb got assessed this morning (another miracle there, as we had asked for this at his other school, but were told that it wasn’t needed – he missed more than half of Grade 1 due to our move and different timing of the school calendar). He is doing so well from an academic point of view. He would have only just finished Grade 1 this week if we were back in Australia, yet with some most areas he is sitting at a Grade 2.5 and 3 level. We consider that to be God’s protection on him and his learning.
New Beginning
Our boy will start at his new school on Monday (Nov. 30th). Another miracle (oh yes, there are lots) is that there was only one spot left in the Grade 2 class and he is filling it! Do you think God was holding that place for him?
During the week of processing this new school with Caleb, we asked him to sit with us and spend some time before God to ask if he should attend it. We became speechless. Caleb told us that God was crying. We of course asked him “why?” He went on to tell us…”God is crying because he is sooo happy that I want to go to a Jesus speaking school.” And naturally I started to cry at that point too.
Tamara’s Gets a Song
2 days after receiving confirmation of Caleb’s enrolment, God told me off. He does that right? I was having a ‘quiet time’ when a song I used to sing in primary school came to my mind and thus I started to sing it….This time however, I soaked in the words and got a fresh revelation of what the song was all about.
Seek Ye first the kingdom of God,
And His righteousness,
And all these things, shall be added onto you,
Alleu, alleuia
Ask and it shall be given unto you,
Seek and ye shall find.
Knock and the door shall be opened onto you.
Alleu, Alleuia
(Those were the verses that REALLY spoke to me from the song)
I had a feeling of STUPID, STUPID me!! Why did Bill and I stop seeking God for Christian education for Caleb? Yes, we had received a “no go” on any type of tuition assistance from the schools we had contacted in Calgary while still in Australia, but why did we stop seeking Him? God was telling me…”Seek me Tamara, ask for what you REALLY want. Keep knocking.”
The song, “Seek Ye First” is based on a portion of Matthew chapter 6. Little did I know that the words I felt next were the latter part of that same chapter…
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
A wonderful answer to prayer, a miracle of provision, one very happy boy, a fresh revelation to seek Him more and a God-given opportunity to immerse our child/ren into a Christian education. Thank you Lord!!
And you know what? The older grade levels get sent on YWAM trips to Belize in South America. Yes, we are VERY excited about that!!
November 27th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
That’s so fantastic!! I’m thrilled for you guys, and especially for sweet little Caleb!
And, just a side-note, it was a 10 day mission trip to Belize right after high school that turned my heart on to missions. I spent the next 4 years in YWAM!
November 28th, 2009 at 2:18 am
That is SO amazing. I’m so glad that he gets to go to a ‘Jesus speaking school’.
November 28th, 2009 at 2:26 am
For me this was a real kick in the but about trusting God and pursuing the things that He places on our heart.
I had a strong sense to pursue this particular school, but in the busyness of settling into Calgary, dealing with health issues and starting new ministry I didn’t. If we had then maybe Caleb would not have to be making this transition in the middle of the school year.
I need to remember that as hard as things look, God’s ways are always better and He will make the path.
November 28th, 2009 at 3:12 am
very cool to see God’s provision for you guys! and to see Caleb’s faith growing at the same time! we love you guys!
November 28th, 2009 at 3:16 am
What a nice answer to prayer! I’m very happy for you and especially for Caleb. Can’t wait to meet the little guy!
November 28th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Remember that nothing is ever wasted. I know Caleb has gone through a lot over the past few months, but you never know who his sweet heart has touched during that time. Maybe kids went home and talked to their parents, which stirred new (or revived old) conversations. Maybe his teacher did a lot of thinking, regardless of her initial reactions to him. It takes a lot for a kid to stick to his guns, especially when he has been told off by an adult- there is no way that all of that went fruitless.
Not to mention the things God was able to teach and remind you and Tamara (and us, your readers) through it. So you can’t change the past, but you can thank God for His provision and see that even when we mess up- He is still in control and He is still going to use all things for His good. Caleb will surely treasure his new environment after being face to face with the fact that not everyone has such a place to learn and worship. I know it has been a difficult time for all involved, but I think that it has changed you all in very positive ways.
I have to say, hearing about Caleb’s courage and his actions during this time has spoken so much about what an amazing little guy he is, and what a wonderful job you guys are doing raising the kids God trusted you with. It’s obvious that Jesus isn’t just someone mentioned at the dinner table, but that He is the center of your lives and your parenting style. That’s AMAZING. I’m so happy for you guys and the blessings you are receiving right now. It’s a real encouragement to me.
November 28th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Our God is truly amazing, God has used dear Caleb as young as he is for a specific reason in that school, the words Caleb has spoken will never be wasted, God is in control of all things. I could not be happier for you all and how much of a burden has now lifted from you both as parents. Our children are made for what they have to experience in their lives and when you look back you will see that God has protected and worked in Caleb through all that garbage and he has also worked in you guys through all this also. Thank you Lord for your wonderful provision for this awesome family whose obedience to your calling on their life is phenomenal. Love you Hutchison family. Meryl