Paul prayed for his Ephesian brethren this thoughtful prayer, 'That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width, and length and depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. To HIM be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.' (Ephesians 3:17-21)

As we grow older each year, our hearts should be rooted and grounded like a tree deeply into God's love. How long, deep, broad and high is His love? We then can see God at work, despite circumstances. Do we believe that; or does our faith rise and fall like the tide? When we are rooted and grounded in God's love, our hearts are constant because He is sovereign. Our sovereign and loving God has perfect plans for us regardless of favourable or adverse circumstances.

God wove His infinite purpose through hostile circumstances in a pastor from east Germany, behind the Iron Curtain, whom we met in/Switzerland.

During WW11, Kurt Lawatsch fought with the Nazi army under General Rommel in Libya. Field Marshall Montgomery commanded the Commonwealth forces that repulsed Nazi and Italian forces in the Libyan desert. The US captured Kurt, shipping him to America, and stationing him in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he learned English. He later was shipped to England: while simultaneously in Switzerland, Heine Germann was accidentally shot in the head at army exercises, necessitating long convalescence, in which he was converted to Jesus Christ.

Longing to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, Heine joined WEC HQ in England, where he trained for Indonesia. He was assigned to visit German prisoners, because of his fluent Swiss-German. In God's sovereign love and will, the Lord converted Kurt through Heine's ministry. Kurt eventually returned to East Germany, suffering appallingly when the Communist Russian troops overran East Germany. In contrast, West Germany was controlled by British and American troops, Heine and Kurt maintained close contact for 40 years.

When Kurt became a Pastor in East Germany, his 2 precious daughters were denied schooling. When he requested a building for worship, they gave him a dirty, smelly, filthy pigsty, which the believes cleansed and restored. Years later, he visited West Germany for 3 weeks, who granted a permit to visit Switzerland to attend this Bible conference. We tasted such sweet, other-worldly fellowship, because we were seated in heavenly place in Christ Jesus. During two weeks, we walked, talked, shared and prayed with this man of God, who never complained of unfavourable circumstances, being rooted and grounded in the love of our Lord Jesus. He had explored the dimensions of that love: breadth, length, depth and height. Have you?

We rejoiced to escort him across Lake Brienz to Interlaken to select German books for his wife and 2 daughters now in their thirties. I chose suitable books by Joni Erickson for them, still rebellious at their rejection from schooling. . Delighted, Kurt chose treasured books for his wife and self. We stopped at a wayside restaurant, buying a roll and soup, and sharing a table with 3 generations of cultured Middle East visitors. Instinctively, Kurt spoke of the Lord Jesus, supported by my husband. The wives' lack of English limited our discussion.

A German pastor from the Iron Curtain, led to Christ as a prisoner-of-war by a Swiss WEC missionary and an Australian doctor shared the precious gospel with Saudi Arabians: directed by a sovereign God.

Though each situation is not always dramatic, we should experience the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the sovereignty of God. Our God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think: for all in front, behind, above or below. .

We often visited the Alps of Switzerland. First, the tree areas, then the forest, then the Alps, the meadows, where cows graze before the snow season commences, when they ascend to the snowy mountains, reached along the narrowest roads, often with corkscrew-winding. The ten cms each side of the vehicles petrified me. I often leaned so that the bus would not go over the edge. We repeatedly requested the bus to halt, to take a photo, especially on approaching the summit.

When we personally enjoy the depth of God's love, we also understand He is able to ascend the mountains on our behalf, being able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us,

Often a diesel bus escorted us, while a funicular railway geared to the track; a diminutive steam train (like a zoo train) puffed its way to the summit. God's Holy Spirit in our lives is greater than any diesel or steam train in the Alps. Oh, the wonderful Alpine views; and the benumbing glimpses of the valleys. God's ability is greater than these unscaleable heights or immeasurable depths.

Paul's final word was to give all the glory to God in Christ Jesus, through all ages, world without end, Amen.