The Weekend

I'm back in Texas after my time in Alabama and just thought I'd share a quick update on my weekend. I am tired, but it was a nice time of getting to catch up with wonderful friends and supporters from my college church. I also enjoyed getting to share a little of my heart with them as I shared an encouraging story of the Lord working in Asia!

Friday night was my presentation ... and amazingly I wasn't very nervous at all! (Thank You, Lord!) I enjoyed the dessert social that evening, and chatting with the people sitting by me at the table. :)

On Saturday we had ... a women's breakfast, a beautiful wedding and reception, and a missions banquet at the church, at 6 that evening. Some of us joked whenever we ran into each other at the various events throughout the day that we were pretty much eating all day ... and it really wasn't all that much of an exaggeration. :-)

Sunday I shared in the children's and youth Sunday school classes. Then, after church, a few of us ladies went to Applebees. You can see pictures here, including a bonus "just for fun" picture from a visit to the Mississippi welcome center on the way back to my hometown! :o)

On the flight back today, I was seated next to a young guy about my age who's in the air force. In fact, he is stationed in my hometown area. My heart was really burdened for him as I could sense that he needed Jesus. I prayed that the Lord would open up an opportunity for me to share with him. I wasn't sure what form that could take though ... he had opened up to me quit a bit about his life, but hadn't really asked me much about mine. But then he asked where I work, and the Lord gave me an opportunity! I shared with him the same story I had shared at my college church, about the people in North India who used to have many superstitutions but now know Jesus. Through that story I was able to share the Gospel - that I could never be good enough to get to heaven, but that Jesus paid the price for me. That He is changing lives as people turn from their ways and turn to HIM, trusting in what He did on the Cross.

It is hard to share with someone and have a burden for them, but know that, more than likely, you will never see them again in this life. Yet I know I can trust him to the Lord's hands, and that He is able to bring Christians into his daily sphere, to speak into His life. Praise the Lord!

Would you join with me in praying for him to know Jesus?

His Ways Are Not Our Ways

This week, as I look forward to and "prepare" for being part of my college church's missions conference, I have to say that's one thing I've really been powerfully reminded of. Isaiah 55 talks about how His ways are higher than ours ... infinitely so!

I put "prepare" in quotations because along the way there have been various circumstances beyond my control ... such as not knowing certain details yet ... yet I see how the Lord is powerfully using that in my life to remind me of His sufficiency. To remind me that if He is going to use me and what He is doing through Gospel for Asia to touch hearts, it must be ALL Him. He must flow through me, for my words are empty! It is His words that will touch hearts. Praise the Lord for that! I am finding myself brought to the end of myself, pleading with Him to rid me of me and simply take over and speak His heart through me.

And I think that is the best place to be. For then He can truly work! I would, of course, appreciate your prayers as I go into this weekend ... especially for the event at 7:30 this Friday night as that is when I am to give a 10-minute presentation. :)

More than anything, I want to bring Jesus glory through this time ... to bring a smile to His dear face. And, too, to let Him use me to encourage and minister back to these precious people in my college area who have invested in me through their support and prayers. :)

Cookout, Sunshine and Good Times with Friends

You could not have asked for a more beautiful day outside. Great weather for a cookout! Today my Bible fellowship group from church had a big cookout in a nearby apartment complex. Good times! I enjoyed visiting with friends, walking around, and taking pictures. Then I went walking at the nature preserve ... a little over 4 miles. :o)

I am so grateful for friends. And for this beautiful weather. And for this nice, three-day weekend. The thing that gives me greatest reason for thanks is Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. Because He lives and is my risen Savior, life has meaning. :)

Last night my friend Michele and I went to an Easter play put on by a small local church. Watching some of the scenes, I was reminded again in an amazing way of Jesus' love. He loves all of us so much ... so much that He gave His life to save us. If you know Jesus, I know you share in this wonderful hope. I pray that you will soon know Jesus if you don't yet! (I am happy to answer any questions you have ... also you can read about Him in His Word, the Bible. The book of John is a good place to start. :o)

Trip to the Coast!

So my sister Becky and I took a trip down to the Gulf Coast to see my parents. It was a good trip! We took my niece and two nephews, too, and were gone about a week.

Some highlights of our trip:

-- Going to this fun children's museum right across from the beach

-- Driving an hour away to see my aunt and uncle who live out in the country

-- Eating at a really good Mexican restaurant that recently opened right down the road from where we grew up

-- Having our cousin over for an early birthday celebration for my dad

-- Playing with the kids at the park

-- Walking over to see the new neighborhood not far from my parents' house

I Love the Snow

It's snowing outside! Can you tell I'm excited? :-D It's been so few times in my life that I've really seen snow, so I get pretty thrilled about it!! One of my earliest recollections of ever seeing snow was as a kid, and we all were so excited that we got out there with my cousin and made a snowman ... although there was grass and dirt mixed in with our snowman (not enough snow!!!) we were still pretty proud of it. :o)

I'm so happy about the snow!!! Hope you all are enjoying it, too.

A Full, Good Saturday

It has been a full, good day.

This morning I went downtown to Adopt a Block. It was my first time getting to go down there, and I enjoyed chatting with people in my group as we picked up trash in the neighborhood, and meeting these two really great women who live in that area. Again I was struck by the joy in the Lord of people who don't have all that much, as far as earthly things. It's an incredible thing ... and something I love to see manifested in people's lives! I also got the opportunity to pray for another woman, Audrey, whom we met while picking up trash on this one lot.

I got in a really nice walk at the nature preserve late this afternoon. The weather was so nice, and it felt great! I saw a beautiful hawk and enjoyed being out there around sunset. Good times. As I was walking down one path and saw a dove flutter by, I thought about how gracious God is to us, to leave the animals here for us to enjoy! I mean, after the Fall, he could have just taken away all those things that are so special about His creation. Yet He showed such mercy and love for us, in leaving them here for us to enjoy.

Another highlight of today was going to my Saturday night Bible study and fellowshipping with friends there. I am so thankful for that group! And for my Sunday morning Bible fellowship group, too! I thank the Lord so much for leading me to this church. :-)

It's been a really great day.