We get to starbucks and Jane starts asking us a bunch of questions. Her parents were never religious but she felt like she was missing out on something. She asked about denominations and what that meant- the difference between them. She asked what church Youth Unlimited was affiliated with (we're not with ONE but with many) and she asked how you can go to church, if you must be a member or if you can just pick one and go to it.
Carlo laid out the gospel to Jane like I've never seen done and I just sat their and listened as he answered each of her questions with simplicity and truth. It was beautiful to see the change in her face and the wheels in her head turning as she took this all in. She asked what the difference between Carlo's church and my church was and he got to tell her all about pentecost and Christ's death. He took it back to Genesis and explained the 'fall', sin, the need for atonement, the sacrifices the Israelites made to atone for their sins, the need for something to take our place since we deserved death but were not holy- therefore our death would be useless. He told her about Pilate and how he said that the people could have Jesus or Barabas; a murderer and thief. He also said something that blew my mind! Barabbas means "son of the father". So the Son of the Father, took the place of the son of the father. ummm...HOW COOL!
It was so awesome to be a part of that. When i got home, I immediately called my mom and told her (she loves hearing this kind of stuff). We get back to the Church to do the last hour a half of booth manning and Jane does 4 tables down to her booth and me and Carlo just look at eachother like WOW! He says "Amy- that's why we are here today. " He invited her to join us at each of our churches and we'd help her get plugged in somewhere because its much less intimidating.
Ephesians 2: 8-10 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no man can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in CHrist Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
I love this change happening. I love that I'm living my faith out, being challenged and encouraged. I love this city and what is happening in it......
But today i'm sad. I really really miss my beautiful wonderful spectacular sister and my awesome parents. I miss my crazy niece and my sweet sweet sweet little nephew. I miss my friends Jac and Curtis and I miss my Africa journals that i read all the time at home. I miss Mollie too. This school thing has really got me down lately. I just want to quit. I really miss having older friends sometimes too. I want to go to North Carolina and see my sweet FBPC girls, Leigh and Erin. I want to talk Uganda and Ethiopia with them. I watched Invisible Children with myself the other night and it brought back SO many emotions. I miss Uganda. I miss Sophia and lately I purposely try not to think about her because I feel my memories slipping away and that hurts more than not being with her right this second. I'm in a funk and I need to snap out of it.
So blog stalkers and followers. I need encouragement today. Comment with your fav "crappy day- pick me up verses".
"Rejoice always. Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ." - Thessalonians 5:16-18
6 comments:
Psalm 47, it will be good for your Africa feelings right now!
Love you love you love you!
Philippians 2:3
for God is working in you,giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
I'm a lurker, friend of J- Moving Forward blog
Sorry that was Philippians 2:13
I missssssss you so much ia m crying right now. my little chiggalugga and ava goosey need to see you. chuggs is constantly saying mamie mamie! meaning amy amy. You will be home soona nd then we will party like its 1999. well you know as much as you can with a 20 month old and a 4 1/2 year old who is overly enrolled in every possible athletic event for april. seriously. but didnt i tell you i'd push for skating? we will go to malls and the super ridonculous gap outlet that costs more than the real store itself. I will sell you lots of avon to boost your spirits and you can remember me everytime you where something avon.we will go out for girl night a earls with mama bear and have those really nice tasting fruity drinks and some steak and then we will both forget our wallets in the car by 'accident'. and then we will go to micheals and home sense and return everything we bought. cause we king girls just shop like that.we learned from the best. we will go for long walks on the beach (the pond near my house) and get good healthy food from 7-11 to boost our motabolisms.
. now i have to go fetch my bible.to send you a verse
"Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far ouweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)."
I LOVE that you ended your post with that. . .I think we could be real life friends. That's what I need from friends, "ok slap me with some truth" none of that. oh poor you crap! LOVE it! Be blessed, be encouraged, put your eyes on JESUS. He's the lifter of your head.
Bran
Hey Amy,
Cameron's thing on facebook says "you can never get higher than when you are on your knees."
The verse with it is James 4:6...but He give us more grace...
Praying for you and loving what you are doing and learning in Peterborough
Post a Comment