Seeking to live

This morning I was reading Amos 5 and three verses jumped out at me. "Seek Me so that you may live" "Seek God so that you may live" "Seek good and not evil so that you may live" What wonderful verses! I read the blog of a Japense Baptist minister that lives in Fukusima near the plant that is causing Nuclear waste to spill out. He and his congregation are seeking so that they may live, and they are challenging other Japanese people who don't know the Lord to seek so they may truly live. http://f1church.com/ (link to his Blog, it will come up in Japanese, but hit English in the middle of the page and it will translate)

Universalism

David Platt

Pondering

Well while doing this dishes I was pondering God and His greatness. I always seem to do this over the dishes, which is interesting because I hate dishes. However, I was and I was praying over something that may happen tonight. To me it's very exciting, last week when it happened a had a small party with myself and God, we danced, ate dinner, sang, you know God celebration stuff. I've been praying about it throughout the week, patiently awaiting its arrival. Now, it's almost here, and I'm a little nervous. What in the heck is going to happen you ask? I'll tell you, a stranger might come to our bible study! There we were reading John, and in the middle of chapter 5 I hear "excuse me." I didn't think it was for me, so I kept reading. However, out of the corner of my eye I saw a girl walking toward me. I looked up, and she asked if this was exclusive. It had never happened before, so in the midst of my amazement I just looked at her, but quickly snapped out of it and said of course not anyone is welcome. She smiled and said she would be back this week because she was on her way to meet someone at the moment. I was so excited, I could hardly teach the rest of the bible study. So, I got on facebook, added her and then sent her a little wall message inviting her to the bible study. Oh I was so excited, I guess most of the people only saw me being shocked, but I was excited. I guess it really shocked me because it's something you pray for and when it happens you realize you didn't really think it was going to happen. So, there I was pondering God's greatness and my lack of faith over disgusting dishes.

Humbling a Soft Heart

I have been attending a missions conference out in Millersville. I have gone for 3 years, and I continue to love it more. I guess it's because I learn a lot, and meet wonderful missionary people. It's great to hear their testimonies about the cultures they are living in, struggles, success etc. This weekend I had to opportunity to meet a family that has resided in Russia for the last 3 years. I have been blessed by their stories, and it makes me even more excited to get onto the mission field full time! I was really humbled by the oldest child they have in their family last night. She's only 12, but she got in front of people who were about the same age as her and shared her testimony. Nervousness was clearly present, but in the midst of that nervousness she said a statement that reminded me why I believe everyone I come in contact with is a teacher. She said, "I feel blessed to be in Russia and be a missionary." She went on to tell stories about her friends that she's made and the sewing class she's in. I really stopped listening for a while, I just couldn't get past what she said. There was no well my parents brought  us to Russia, my parents job in Russia, but she made it clear they were there. She described how she has to share with her friend because she can't come right out and tell them the gospel. I really checked out there. Sitting in my own little world, remembering that no matter where we are in life God will use us as He pleases. I'm always amazed by His glory. One day, if the Lord wills me into full time missions, I pray I'm half the witness that she is. 

5 ways to make your kids hate church

As I'm sitting waiting for one of the exit exams I was browsing the blogs that I happen to follow. I found this, and I thought it was interesting. It's from a blog called Challies, and he got it somewhere else, so I just didn't want to take credit for it. I thought it was interesting because a lot of preachers lately have hit on these five points, thought you might want to check them out.
http://theresurgence.com/2011/03/26/5-ways-to-make-your-kids-hate-church

Bright Life

Well, I figured I would take the time to write a little bit about the mission trip that I went on recently with a wonderful group of people "Yes Mam!" (if you weren't on the trip you won't get that, sorry). Well we went to Princeton, Kentucky to a place called Bright Life Farms. Here it's a place where people with mental handy-caps can live in a family environment and pretty much live on their own. While there we painted an entire house, it was a job and a half (pictures will be at the bottom). We also washed the 15 passenger vans so they could get their new decals on the sides of them, to show who they were. This was one activity we did with the residents of the farm. We also did a craft, played bingo and had a bonfireish night. Bingo was hilarious, they loved it. And the night we were supposed to do the bonfire it was super windy, so we just did hot dogs on the stove and smores in the microwave! Yeah crafty BSU people! It was a really wonderful experience. One of the most humbling things while we were there is that they wanted to love on us so much. Their hearts were geared to serving us, but we were the ones on a "mission trip." I think it's interesting how God reveals himself in times like that, it never ceases to amaze me. I also enjoyed getting to know people better. We had some new people come with us on the trip, and it was wonderful. I learned about their lives and really got to see their "crazy" side. Quiet people are always the most interesting :) But all in all it was wonderful, I was thoroughly blessed and would love to go back sometime!
Spring break is unfortunately over, and I think I'm back to the business of school. I love spring break but hate it all the same. It's this little week of breathing room in the semester, but it also throws me off the school groove. However, Mass Com law slapped me right off the spring break train on Monday, and I have been trying to recover ever since. Well I guess that's really all I have, just wanted to give a little update. Hope you are watching some basketball here in March Madness, there are some wonderful upsets! And a public reminder, don't flush your phone down the toilet, it's bad for its health!

Glory in Forgiveness

In the midst of the great weather this just made me remember!