There have been plenty of joys mixed in there and I'm so grateful for God's grace in tough situations. Youth group has been going well and we continue to have new faces here and there. As I gauge the spiritual needs of my kids, I find myself at the foot of the cross more and more often. There is such a sense of urgency within me that sometimes it's really hard to sit back and follow the curriculum. Some days it's tough knowing that the maturity isn't there, but God's work runs deeper than I get to see, so I trust Him.
On a different note, I was blessed with the gift of a piano recently and what an amazing privilege it's been to spend so much time worshipping the Lord through song in my home. I don't think I'll ever get away from music being the thing that drops me to my knees in worship. I can't hear even the simplest of melodies without wanting to raise my hands to the King of Kings. Now I just need to take the time to practice the instruments I've been given. My guitar doesn't go un-played, but I'm not the one playing it so much these days. I miss it. I went through a few weeks of writing recently and I know I need to get back at it.
Something else that's been a bit time consuming is my grad school application... also a reason I've not been writing much else lately. The goal is to have the app completed before I leave to spend Christmas with my family. It'll be a huge relief to be done with that. Each time I talk with anyone at length about the grad program or life once I have my master's, I get overwhelmed with excitement. I can't wait to start and I've definitely spent way too much time putting it off. I've decided that there will never be a great time for me financially (thank you, IWU) so I just need to jump into it. I seriously cannot wait for the day when I'm a licensed counselor! Glory to God.
Outside of youth stuff, work has been a little hectic. That definitely comes with the time of year. We're expanding upon a ministry that's been up and running for years and I'm so pumped to see what God is going to do with that. The Yield service is still going well, though our numbers haven't been increasing. I love preparing sermons each week and I love working with our worship leader to pick music. There's no denying the presence of the Holy Spirit in that place... it's by His power that the Word gets preached each week. The Advent sermon series that I'm doing is called SENT and I've really been enjoying it so far. We've also just started another round of adult Bible study which meets at my house each week. The study is on prayer and it's great. I'm looking forward to getting further into that too. So much goodness happening.
I had the amazing privilege of spending Thanksgiving with a dear friend and his family in North Jersey this year. It was a lovely time and really felt like a vacation for me. His family lives in a gorgeous home on a beautiful lake. It was very picturesque as the show fell while I wrote my sermon, sitting by the fire with my puppy by my side. Perfection.
Aside from the Bears embarrassing loss on Thanksgiving, it was a fabulous day. We walked the dogs around the lake as the snow tapered off, we shoveled a tiny bit, and we ran a quick errand for last minute items. After the first football game, everyone began to arrive and we went and picked up his grandmother. The meal was amazing and the fellowship was fantastic. I do love being able to share what I'm thankful for... and no one had a shortage of things to thank God for. After dinner was cleaned up a bit, we got our desserts and gathered back around the table. Allan's grandmother then shared part her amazing story. I can't really put into words what it meant to be there for that. It was truly an honor to hear all of the amazing things God did to bring them safely through. I know there's so much more to the story and I can't wait to hear it someday. God carries His people.
On Friday, Allan and I grabbed a train into NYC for the day, but not before having a lovely breakfast with Jean!! I really miss Chicago and spending time in big cities. I mean, Philly is great and all, but it's just so small. He was a fantastic tour guide! I got to see so many things I hadn't seen before and the weather was pretty much perfect. Cities are so lovely when it's a bit chilly out!
Again, it was an awesome day. The whole trip was a blessing. We got back down here in time to practice and have church on Saturday. I'm happy to report that the meds I got for Piper worked! She didn't get sick once while in the car (or otherwise, for that matter)! She was well behaved... it gave me hope for Christmas.
This past week has been spent catching up and organizing a bit. I can't believe that Christmas is so soon. There's a lot going on at the church in the next few weeks and I know it's gonna fly by.
Actually... before I know it, I'll be walking the dirt roads of Uganda. Truthfully, it brings tears to my eyes to think about being there and reconnecting with my beloved Africa family. My heart has been longing for this for 3 years and I'm so thankful for the chance to go. My church has been so understanding and supportive. There aren't many jobs where they'll let you take two weeks off to go to Africa. Not that I'm vacationing, but it still feels like such a privilege.
As I mentioned earlier, the urgency of the gospel is overwhelming at times. I don't have to look much further than the daily news to realize that. The current condition of our country is horrifying. Not that the rest of the world is much better off. My sermon last week was called "The Coming Lord" and I talked briefly about the longing of the Jews for a Messiah. Their cry was, "come!" My cry is the same. And yet, so many people I love still don't know Jesus. It's a very difficult thing to want nothing more than for Jesus to come again, but to also want every knee to bow. Like God's, my desire is that, "no one should perish." (2 Peter 3:9).
In the midst of all of the pain and the suffering that we are surrounded by, God is so good. My heart has been burdened by the condition of the world and the condition of those near and dear to me. God has given me special time to spend with Him this week in order to interceed. Monday, I found myself back at Valley Forge. Two hours of worshipping, praying, and exercising... btw, some of those hills are no joke. And then yesterday I began to feel overwhelmed and again, God gave me a place to go to be with just Him. The more time I spend in His presence, the deeper in love with Him I fall. This study we're doing on prayer has been a great reminder of what it looks like to align my heart with God's. My desires are His desires. His will be done.
I still have those tricky areas where my human nature creeps in, thus causing some worry and anxiety, of course, but God is compassionate and patient with me. How comforting that He knows my every want and need and that He is sovereign over all! Sweet relief.
I really do long to be more like the woman described in Proverbs 31... hardworking, humble, strong, wise, dignified, nurturing. O Lord, keep making me.
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