Sunday 17 August 2008 at 10:48 pm
I have a neighbor who I've only met briefly on a few occasions and she seemed very distant. I wanted to get to know her, but hadn't seen an opportunity. Tonight she came to my door at 10pm and asked me to pray for her. She said, "I don't know you, but my kids talk about you and I know you give them spiritual guidance, so I was wondering if you would pray for me." For the next hour we sat and talked and cried and prayed together.
She apologized for "bothering" me - not knowing that moments like this are the reason I live here!
Sunday 17 August 2008 at 10:35 pm
This afternoon three teenagers stepped out and followed Jesus in baptism in front of friends from the community and their church family.
The girls shared before they were baptized:
"Since I became a Christian the Spirit has been changing from the inside. I'm a different person. I know this miracle that God has done in me, he can do in my family also. I have hope."
"I was baptized before because that was what my family believed, but now I want to be baptized because I have become a Christian."
"Now that I accepted Christ I'm a different person. It's not because I go to church or because I'm with Miss Amy all the time; it's because God is changing me inside. I don't want to do the things I did before. Now I know that I will go to Heaven when I die, but it's not just that - He's with me now. No matter what happens in life, it's ok because He's with me, helping me."
Friday 08 August 2008 at 10:55 pm
Not many people really care to listen these days. I read an article on the subject the other day and could relate too well to both being brushed off and being the one not listening well. It's something I'm trying to work on.
A couple of friends have approached me recently to ask how something was going and then sat and really listened. They didn't come to offer advice or make suggestions. They simply asked questions and listened and then said they would pray. That showed me their care probably more than anything else they could have done.
Thursday 07 August 2008 at 09:04 am
My sunglasses from India broke this morning.
I think it's time to go back.
Tuesday 05 August 2008 at 9:55 pm
Yesterday was the first Kids Club of the new school year. Yes, it's early! The school districts were changed this year and now 5 of our 7 buildings are assigned to a year round elementary school. That means those kids missed the week-long morning Kids Clubs in July. They were excited to be back!
We also had a full house at Youth Night. I'm really enjoying the new format with a group lesson and then breaking into small groups for discussion time. And I'm especially thankful for the team the Lord has brought together to lead that time!