Monday, November 23, 2009

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

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

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.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

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