merry CHRISTmas....with love from "604" :)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
merry CHRISTmas
happy december, all!
what a remarkable year this has been...i really cannot believe it's about to come to a close. while i think i have confessed it seemed to drag on earlier in the year, in retrospect it really seems to have flown by. sunday, i had a chance to share with my new church family at the Light about God's faithfulness to me over the past year and recounting all His goodness was a good refresher for me. He has faithfully answered all the selfish and foolish questions i've asked about the wisdom of His will and set me in the midst of family in this city so far from the family i've always known. i've been equipped in new kinds of ministry and been introduced to a world of church i had never before known so intimately...or by which been so deeply burdened. i've had the chance to learn from the wisdom of other servants in ministry much more seasoned than i and passionately committed to Kingdom work.
while i am suffering from extreme Christmas break fever at the moment, the last two weeks have been so full of joy as i have sought to be positive and intentional in my time at the office. i'm astounded by God's faithfulness that reaches even to the little things of life...He is so very good and gracious with me.
we were putting together some praises for our embrace newsletter today- let me share a few with you!
Praise for the 80+ events already planned and scheduled for 2009
Praise for Theresa’s quick and full recovery and return to work
Praise for newly engaged BBA churches
Praise for pastors networking together for future ministry collaboration
these are just a few things for which to thank the LORD as we look to a brand new year. i can't wait to see what all He holds in store for us.
i leave on thursday afternoon (2 days!) for Arkansas. i'm so looking forward to seeing some sweet familiar faces and sharing a little more with my prayer warriors at first baptist, rogers. you all have been such a source of strength and encouragement for me and i pray you know the impact of your support. see you very soon.
merry Christmas, all...may you experience the joy, presence and power of Christ in a brand new way this Christmas. much love. :)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
isn't God good?
so yesterday was one of those days that make me smile for no identifiable reason. :) i decided over the weekend to choose joy and positivity in my work, in the mundane as well as the exciting and it paid off as we sat down together to sort through our reporting system and a year's worth of tracking yesterday. the reporting process here is definitely the mundane side of what we do, but a large part nonetheless. my day ended in Acts 28 and i found myself seeing great application for the American church as well as a deep conviction over the impassionate, complacent nature in me that seeks to rise up in the day to day things. i'm excited to be in this great city as God continues to bring things to my attention about what the church is called to look like and how we are called to love and serve in the city.
on another note, God has been showing off in some other great things as well....my co-worker theresa who was out due to breast cancer for the last month is already back in the office and looking great! she had surgery back in late October and then one very hard week of radiation and has returned to us with what seems to be a clean bill of health. she'll have a couple follow-up appointments over the next few days so keep her in your prayers!
little kaia-lyn, dawn's niece is still hanging in there. she has lost the few ounces she gained, but i think they're still feeling pretty positive about her condition and continued development. she is a fighter and has a host of prayer warriors on her side.
one of our ethnic pastors, Samuel Cho, is starting a house church with Bhutan refugees here in the city and has seen some GREAT response. they recently hosted a Thanksgiving meal with a time of worship and singing, clothing giveaway and instruction on how to adapt to American culture (specifically the cold weather since they are not accustomed to it!). i called Pastor Cho yesterday to see how things went and he said about 100 people came! great, wonderful things are happening in that community with refugees from both Bhutan and Nepal all through the obedience and love of a Korean pastor. pray for him and his wife as they are older and battling some cold-weather sickness and fatigue. he is busily developing church leadership, so pray also for that discipleship process that God will bless the work of his hands.
we have a host of college mission teams coming through baltimore in March and while we're very excited to have them come serve, there is a lot of work and planning to be done before they arrive. pray for our churches to plan ahead and think of how they can best utilize these teams. we're looking at approximately 200-250 college age kids invading our city with the love of Jesus and a passion to serve and we want to put them to work building the Kingdom and loving the lost. thanks for your prayers...and by the way, if you want to come, we'll put you to work too! ;)
i also have the sweet blessing of living 4 hours away from a dear aunt and uncle i never lived close enough to to visit more than once a year or so. i've gotten to visit them 4 times this year and spent Thanksgiving with them last week. praise the Lord for family! it was a fun time of fellowship and rest.
and for you Arkansas folks, 16 days before i get to see your marvelous faces again! i am so very excited to come home and spend a few days catching up with everyone and celebrating this sweet season with my family. thank you all for your precious prayers and love for me.
love you all!
on another note, God has been showing off in some other great things as well....my co-worker theresa who was out due to breast cancer for the last month is already back in the office and looking great! she had surgery back in late October and then one very hard week of radiation and has returned to us with what seems to be a clean bill of health. she'll have a couple follow-up appointments over the next few days so keep her in your prayers!
little kaia-lyn, dawn's niece is still hanging in there. she has lost the few ounces she gained, but i think they're still feeling pretty positive about her condition and continued development. she is a fighter and has a host of prayer warriors on her side.
one of our ethnic pastors, Samuel Cho, is starting a house church with Bhutan refugees here in the city and has seen some GREAT response. they recently hosted a Thanksgiving meal with a time of worship and singing, clothing giveaway and instruction on how to adapt to American culture (specifically the cold weather since they are not accustomed to it!). i called Pastor Cho yesterday to see how things went and he said about 100 people came! great, wonderful things are happening in that community with refugees from both Bhutan and Nepal all through the obedience and love of a Korean pastor. pray for him and his wife as they are older and battling some cold-weather sickness and fatigue. he is busily developing church leadership, so pray also for that discipleship process that God will bless the work of his hands.
we have a host of college mission teams coming through baltimore in March and while we're very excited to have them come serve, there is a lot of work and planning to be done before they arrive. pray for our churches to plan ahead and think of how they can best utilize these teams. we're looking at approximately 200-250 college age kids invading our city with the love of Jesus and a passion to serve and we want to put them to work building the Kingdom and loving the lost. thanks for your prayers...and by the way, if you want to come, we'll put you to work too! ;)
i also have the sweet blessing of living 4 hours away from a dear aunt and uncle i never lived close enough to to visit more than once a year or so. i've gotten to visit them 4 times this year and spent Thanksgiving with them last week. praise the Lord for family! it was a fun time of fellowship and rest.
and for you Arkansas folks, 16 days before i get to see your marvelous faces again! i am so very excited to come home and spend a few days catching up with everyone and celebrating this sweet season with my family. thank you all for your precious prayers and love for me.
love you all!
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