30 September 2008

apfeln.


as previously mentioned, the fall is amazing. and so are fall apples. 
and what do you think the Bible College got blessed with this weekend? 
boxes of delicious, homegrown, handpicked, Siegerlander apples.
so lecker!

27 September 2008

blessing!

SO this week the Lord put it on my heart to pray and really ask Him to provide for me. so i did.
He's also lately been putting on my heart the verse that 'you have not because you ask not'- so i need to start asking, even in silly little things that i don't think really count, or that i think aren't really worth praying about!
WELL- i asked the Lord to provide shoes. and if you know me, especially if you're my family, you know that i love shoes. i even have a certain younger sibling who likes to remind me of how many shoes i have, and that i probably don't need any more. i know, it's sometimes a little bit silly, but i love shoes. and cute shoes too! not necessarily practical ones!
so i prayed a practical prayer. i asked for practical shoes. i live in Germany. it rains in Germany. almost every day. [not quite, but sometimes it feels like it!] and when all of your shoes leak, have holes, or are meant for sunny summer days.. wintertime can be quite a troublesome thought.
so, knowing this, and using my God-given and Germany-instilled practicality, i knew i needed waterproof shoes that were comfortable enough to walk in a lot.
so i asked for a pair of shoes that were practical and waterproof and reasonably priced, and if at all possible, cute.
and today, He gave them to me!
they cost 4,50 Euro at the Halle [second hand store], they are made of leather, they are really comfortable, and they're practically new. and while He could have given me practicality-to-the-core shoes [aka ugly], instead He gave me cool ones!
AND- just to show me that He really cares about my silly little desires- He also gave me a cute [although not quite so practical] pair of shoes yesterday, just out of the kindness of His heart [and via the generosity of one of His daughters!]. :)
here is the evidence! praise the Lord!


Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus
Oh for grace to trust Him more!

26 September 2008

colour!

some of the best things in life:
Fall.
Fall Sunshine.
Fall Crispness of Air.
Fall Crispness of Apples.
Fall Crispness of Leaves.
and the best of all..
FALL COLOURS!


25 September 2008

i'm sitting in the coffeebar, sipping a nice cup of tea, wishing i could be outside in the sunshine.. but instead i'll post. i guess i have been updating on a very irregular basis.. sorry! life is busy, ne?

yesterday we made sheeps [i realize this is incorrect, but so much the 'funner' way to say it!] at kids club! it was fun. some of the sheep turned out soooo cute. the kids are 7-11 years old, and some of them are slightly less ambitious and/or perfectionistic than others. when i get pictures from my friend meli, i'll post them. :) think very large noses, crooked feet, wool clumped in various odd places, and eyes spaced further apart than the ears. so precious!

this semester has been pretty diverse as far as job descriptions.. from secretarial work as the registrar's assistant, to playing games and making crafts at kids club, to cooking meals [we made enchilada hotdish today!], working coffeebar, planning and leading outreaches, leading worship [at the Bible college, youth group and all over germany], overseeing housekeeping, traveling around a bit, hanging out with students, staff, and other friends, learning and practicing german, and being involved with the church. i guess there's probably more than that.. but that's all i can think of for now. it's been super busy, but so fun! i am so blessed to have such amazing fellowship here!

tonight we have a girls' worship night. i'm really excited to spend time with the girls, worshiping the Lord. He's so good to us!

hooray!
mit lieb.

19 September 2008

die Sonne!

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts 
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
2 Corinthians 4:6-7

It's amazing how even in the busyness and chaos of life, the Lord can speak in His still small voice, and still enable us to be used despite our preoccupied minds! Life here is so busy; lately it's bordered on crazy. And yet He saw fit to remind me after a super busy day this week that the joy of the Lord is my strength. At the end of the day, in our emptiness and exhaustion, we need not worry about tomorrow; we need only rejoice in Today- that God has used me as His vessel.

Yesterday I had a pretty busy schedule with all different responsibilities; I figured it would be a busy "doing" day, and not so much of a "people" day. Somehow in there the Lord combined the two, so it was entirely a people day while I was doing everything I needed to accomplish. I had SO many good, deep, encouraging conversations; I heard countless people's testimonies and was able to hear about their current situations and needs. I was able to pray with people, to share my heart with people, and really witness the Body of Christ being the Body! Fellowship is so precious!! I was reminded by a friend that the most important thing is being still and knowing He is God. And really, what else is more important? He's so precious. In abiding in Him, He abides in us, and it's a joy, not a burden, to keep His commandments and love His sheep.

 The sun has been out lately! I love its warmth and the joy it stirs up in my heart; it feels like life is fresh and new again! So true it is that the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ has shone in our hearts, and made us new! Because of that light, we can be those fragile, little, cracked vessels in which God takes so much delight. We can spread abroad His light [through our cracks and deficiencies!] to this dark world. The power is His- because we really have none! In our busyness, we can find rest in Him. In our need, our lack, we can yet be used to His glory. In our weakness, He is strong- as He shines the light of Jesus through us. He left the 99 sheep to seek out the one lost sheep; and so ought we be willing to lay down our tasks and love the person in front of us, because of His all-surpassing and merciful love, with which He first loved us!
Amen.

14 September 2008

for as long as the sun and the moon shall endure..


i love you chilanga!!!!!!!!
ich werde dich vermissen so ganz sehr.

11 September 2008

black forest.

we are in the black forest, at black forest academy, in kandern, germany.
we have led worship 5 times already this week, and have 2 more sets tomorrow.
we= michelle, roelof, fabian, izzy, and me.
i am ein bisschen krank- throaty/cold junk. i took last night off, but still sang this morning. God's good.
we've visited Basel [Switzerland] and Freiburg [Germany] this week- nice cities. helped clean at CC Freiburg today.
tomorrow we have a long day- worship in the morning, hanging out at the school all afternoon [maybe going to German class!], then leading an extended worship time for the high schoolers tomorrow night. pray for strength and grace, and voice-endurance!
also please pray for the kids during this time- it's really a time for them to sit before the Lord, worship, pray, be prayed for, take communion, and enjoy His presence, as an end to their spiritual emphasis week. it's been a good week.
i'm off to bed! gute nacht!
i'll post pictures.. from lots of recent things.. sometime.

04 September 2008

Lead, Lord, with unfailing love those that You have ransomed
And we will sing out as we go on: Our God is Faithful.

it's been really busy here! the semester has officially begun, and all the craziness therein.
I'll be gone for the next week- leading worship at CC Herborn's women's retreat this weekend, then leading worship with a team at Black Forest Academy's Spiritual Emphasis Week.
cool opportunities!

God is so good! oh for grace to trust Him more.