Seeking

In February, I attended a high-school parent appreciation dinner at our church. The Leader, Kumi, had students (including Zachary) write and read a eulogy for their parents. Kumi started this tradition several years back after attending a memorial service where a child spoke about their parent, and he thought if only the parent could have heard that during their life. Between January and April, we received the news of 7 deaths, and it has been sobering. As we have been, we want to encourage you to seize three opportunities before you today : 1) forgive one another, 2) redeem the time and 3) fulfill the greatest commandment.  "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity... forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:26-27, 32, NASB). The reality is we get angry and sin against one another. I have heard it said, once upset, the clock starts ticking, to "get over it....

Beloved, it is that time of year when the season is about to change and students are going back to school. Recently, in a Q&A, a young lady shared her testimony and call to serve as a missionary with bible translation. She defined her "spiritually dry season" as a time of being lonely with unmet expectations, in a region where there are no thriving, strong or welcoming churches - she had to bear her burdens alone, apart from her strong church family and look straight to the Lord. This summer, while reading "God does His best Work with Empty," by Nancy Guthrie, it was made clear I am naturally dry and empty, but Christ is faithful to continue providing Himself  (see Philippians 4:19 and Romans 8:32 ). In her book, Nancy hones in on the perspective of seeing emptiness in our life as a pre-planned opportunity for God to personally fill us in ways no one and nothing else can. Instead, we tend to quickly and regularly feed on our 'disappointment or frustration...

This past month I had the blessing of two weeks off from work at CBU, since my job is active 10 months each year. With some of the time I was able to rest and reflect, quite a bit. For our update, we would like to share some pictures, praises and prayer requests.  Praise Reports: July 1, Husband, Zachary and I toured the Master's University, and Zachary said it was his favorite college tour, so far; he also enjoyed his first time eating sushi, and we had a great conversation (picture #1); July 4, Husband and I celebrated by taking "A," an international student athlete to the airport, before she went back home to Western Europe; I met her at work, and it was a gift befriending her; I gave her a copy of the "Gospel Primer" and pray the Lord continues drawing her to Himself (picture #2); Husband and I had the blessing of meeting up and sharing with two young couples that are courting; Husband and I were able to fellowship with a brother and another family for lunch...