The Weight of a Moment

This semester is officially over, Christmas is quickly approaching and God's grace has abounded to me in ways I cannot even put into words. Even though I don't feel great, I have many reasons to rejoice in my Savior.

Also, the salvation of two people in my life weigh heavily upon me this evening. Oh how I want them to know Christ and to make Him known!

Earlier this evening I went to a Christmas party. The host read the Christmas story from Matthew 1-2 and we discussed the different aspects of the account that have impacted us or stood out to us. Someone reflected on how the reason that Jesus can be Immanuel ("God with us") is because He saves us (Jesus means "Yahweh Saves"). Someone else talked about the horror of the babies that were slaughtered by King Herod. I couldn't help but think of the weight of that moment in history. At that moment in time, God's long awaited promise came to fruition in the birth of Jesus Christ. I heard a song yesterday (by Chris Tomlin, I believe) about how the world was unaware that the Messiah was born that night. It's true. Only a privileged few knew that God's promised Savior had come into the world. The God of the universe came in the midst of obscurity.

I would like to share with you what is currently my new favorite Christmas song. It is called "Amen, Amen" and it is from Sojourn Music's CD Advent Songs. Click here to listen to it or click here to download the whole CD for free (which I highly recommend!). May your worship of Him grow deeper this Christmas.

Let every creature rise and bring
their grateful praises to our King
Angels descend with songs again
and Earth repeats a loud Amen

(Chorus) A-men, A-men
A-men, A-men
I found my life
I found my life in Him
A-men, A-men

Peace like a river from His throne
will flow to nations yet unknown
His Word a light where all hope is dim
and all tribes unite to cry "Amen"

Chorus

And in this Child we'll find our rest
and all the meek and lowly blest
An infant tongue could sing the hymn
of Hallelujah and Amen

Chorus

On My Way Out

I am preparing for my mass exodus from Louisville. My room is sort of a disaster zone with boxes stacked everywhere. This makes move number 4 this year. Crazy. Maybe I should just leave my stuff in boxes. :)

The Father has been so gracious in providing for my every need. He provided the amount I needed for South Asia. Some of the money came from what I had left over from a trip I took 5 years ago. The Lord's sovereignty takes my breath away. I used all but $2 of that money towards this trip. He sure knows what He is doing. :)

I got my flight itinerary the other day and am in the process of applying for visas. This is all starting to become a reality and I can't quite get my head wrapped around it. :) While in Missouri this week, I will get some of the immunizations that I need (or at least the first round of them). When I first checked the International Travel Center here in Louisville, I thought I was going to have to spend hundreds of dollars for vaccinations, but as the Lord would have it, my mom found out that I can get most of them for free in Fredericktown because Missouri considers them state vaccines. Missouri is just awesome like that. :) Seriously though, this is such a blessing and God continues to work out the details of my trip in little ways like that. I am thankful that He is a God who cares about the details!

A few weeks ago, we had a panel discussion in chapel about multi-site churches. It was very interesting and I had planned to post a reaction to it, but I lost all motivation, but you can listen/view it by clicking here. :) In short, I agree with the majority. I have seen hundreds come to the Lord through multi-site. God can use whatever means He wants. Who are we to limit Him?

Have I mentioned how I excited I am that I am done with classes? I only have 3 finals left! Plus, I have finished two assignments for next semester! Over-achiever? Yes!

By the way, does anyone know where I can store my twin bed while I am away?

Turkey Day is coming!!! I already had one Thanksgiving meal on Sunday at RF, but that doesn't really count because I was told that was for my birthday. hehe

Whirlwind Weekends

I have had two visitors in the past two weeks. I could barely contain myself. Kristi visited me during Halloween/Reformation Day Weekend and Sarah came in last weekend.

Here are a few highlights:

• Graeter's Ice Cream...twice
• watched the movie Luther in honor of Reformation Day
• helped a family from RF move to their new house
• enjoyed outdoors indoors at Bass Pro :)





There was a Starbucks in the Bass Pro. Kristi said her two worlds collided.

• carved a pumpkin for the first time





Mine is the one with the ridiculously long stem. :)

• dinner with the Hendersons in St. Louis
• took Andrea to Target for the first time



• experienced my first IMAX 3-D movie (A Christmas Carol)
• Orphan Sunday Simulcast
• LOTS of laughing...and driving :)

In the midst of all this, the Lord has been so gracious in reminding me of His faithfulness and not letting me get too distracted from Him. He continues to provide for my every need even when things look grim and continues to confront me with my sinfulness and the glory of Christ.


This Sunday marks exactly two months before I leave for South Asia. It also marks the beginning of the last week of classes and one week before my birthday. I am not going home for a full week, as is my custom, for Thanksgiving, so I will be spending my birthday here. :( I will, however, get to go to the RF Thanksgiving dinner. :)

Jesus has been teaching me to live in Today (Hebrews 4:6-7). I have been doing a lot of planning, thinking and dreaming about the future, which I don't guess is bad in itself, but I need to be faithful to what God has in store for me Today. Each day is important and unique and has been designed by Him for a particular purpose. I need to strive to make much of Christ each day and not lose sight of Him in the midst of impending events. Jesus said that each day has its own troubles. He calls me to serve Him in the here and now and not just think about how I can do so in the future. He calls for faithfulness in the little and seemingly ordinary things of life.

Plight of the Orphan

Today is Orphan Sunday. There are 140,000,000 plus orphans in the world and every 18 seconds another child is orphaned. Today I saw a live simulcast from Nashville, TN raising awareness for orphans. The webcast will be available to watch on www.GospelMusicChannel.com during the next six months. I encourage you to watch it and consider how you can make a difference for orphans.
James 1:27

English 101

God has given me many opportunities to spend with my Chinese friend Andrea. Sunday, we spent the whole day together. She joined me at RF, had lunch at my apartment, checked out the Halloween decor on Hillcrest Avenue (where I was reminded of how much I dislike Halloween) and went to Huber's Farm with my small group. I am supposed to be helping her with her English, but I think she is helping me with mine! When she wanted to know what was in the white chili I made, she had trouble understanding me when I said onions. As I slowed down my speech, I realized that I pronounce it ung-yons. There is no G in onions! Poor girl, when I get through with her she is going to sound like she is from the back roads of Southern Missouri.

Hebrew woes: I had to buy another box of flash cards today for my Hebrew vocab. This means that my first box of 300 (!) was not enough. Sad day. I am about Hebrewed out. I have started see schewas in my every day life (two vertical dots that aid in pronunciation - see the pic from my dry erase board below). This cannot be a good sign.

Take two: My sister and I are going to make a second attempt for her to come visit me this weekend (if the Lord is willing, of course!).

Baby boom: Baby Lydia Grace came last week, weighing in at almost 9 lbs. Her parents are my good friends at RF. She was a week and a half late. My cousin's baby, Ella Grace, came yesterday, weighing in at 8 lbs, 2 ounces. She was a week early. Everyone is doing well. I am thankful that both of these little ones will grow up in homes where they will learn about Jesus. Please pray for their salvation even now. They will also be taught to cheer on the St. Louis Cardinals. It's good to know they will be raised right. :)

Be Careful How You Dial...

Today, I was attempting to call a charity I support to update my account. In the process, I misdialed the number using 1-800 instead of 1-888. This mistake connected me to a very scandalous hotline. Thankfully, I did not hear what the automated voice was saying as my mind was comprehending what was happening. I quickly hung up, checked the number (& realized my mistake) and tried again with the corrected number. I later received two text messages from the hotline. This experience, while a little bit comical, reminded me of something I learned in one of my classes. Wicked businesses like this one spend massive amounts of money to buy up every phone number and web address that is closely associated with well-known ones in order to catch, with the intention of hooking, unsuspecting persons. It is a very sad and shameful reality.

On a slightly different note: I attended a panel discussion today on the relationship between the local church and social justice (I believe the discussion will be posted on Southern's website). It was very good and the panel members were very passionate about the church being the primary vehicle of social justice (coupled, of course, with the Good New of Jesus Christ). I couldn't agree more. Because of God's mercy and compassion extended to us on the cross of Christ, we have the best reason and motivation to reach out to others in love and compassion. Because Christ loves us, we should love others. Because people are created in the image of God, we should seek to redeem that image by ministering to their physical and spiritual needs. All for the glory of Jesus Christ.

One of my favorite reasons came from Dr. Moore: "The Gospel is the announcement of the turning back of the curse (Romans 5 & 8)." God's Kingdom is here (though not fully realized) and we are to advance it wherever we go. "What beats in the heartbeat of the King, should beat in the hearts of His people" (also Dr. Moore). The Bible clearly and repeatedly calls believers to obey God and love others through word and action.

This issue is very close to my heart and God is further burdening my heart for those who suffer. Did you know that 25,000 people die every day from hunger? Did you know that every 4 seconds, a child dies from hunger? Does this not grip your heart?

While the church of Jesus is responsible for social justice as a whole, we are responsible as individuals as well. I can do something. You can do something. Never underestimate how God can use one person. Each of us can:

• give our time: You can volunteer with Habitat for Humanity or at a local homeless shelter
• give our resources: You can support a child through World Vision or Compassion.
• give our voices: join the ONE Campaign which seeks to end severe poverty (mainly in Africa) through advocacy. At the Third Day concert I attended (they support this campaign) we collectively stood against extreme globally poverty. This was the first I had heard about ONE, and I have been told it is a commendable organization.

As God's people we should be leading the cause. Let's not be hearers of the Word only (James 1:22).

Change in Plans

Well, in my plans anyway. It turns out that the Lord was not willing to have my sister visit. She is sick with what is probably a sinus infection. I am extremely disappointed, but the Lord know's what is best. He is sovereign and wise and good.

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps (Proverbs 16:9; cf. Proverbs 19:21).

On a different note: I was challeged by my Hebrew class today regarding the Book of Ruth and my traditional understanding of it. This book has much to say (through the actions of Ruth) about the loyal love of God. Ruth was faithful to her bitter mother-in-law, Naomi, even to the point of risking her reputation (or worse, according to some scholars). The epitome of God's love and faithfulness to us was demonstrated in Christ as He did the radical by sending His Son to die a excrutiating death on the cross. With this in mind, I need to reread the Book of Ruth.