missing thanksgiving

this was the first year without Thanksgiving for me. even the year i lived in spain we had a big dinner, yesterday cold meals and work all day felt like anything but a holiday.

yet, i am still thankful...

...for all God has taught me during this time at OM.

...for the small and big ways He heals my heart.

...for the friends here (even if T-day isn't celebrated!).

...for hope of adventures to come.

...for family, especially new arrivals!

...for music, art, life!

....for so much more....

new birth

yesterday was an amazing day for me. a spectacular first. i became an aunt! my little sister, after a long and strenuous labor (way to go Diana!) gave birth to a little boy, Jack Leon. and, as each birth must be, a miracle happened. i was excited for my sister, but when i looked at the pictures of my little nephew, i cried. i felt emotions bordering on ecstatic and thrilled--and i can't wait to hold him and love him and be the best aunt ever (ok, i may be a little crazy).

new birth. the miracle of a life beginning. a little boy who is looking forward to potty training, his first day of school, puberty, first love, angst about a job, uni, middle age, kids, grandkids...!!! wow. all that in a cute little 7.6lb bundle. it staggers the imagination.

may God bless Jack, wrap His hands around him and shape his little life into a shining light for Him.

Amen.

a psalm of abigail

The LORD is glorious, brighter than a lovely fall day.

His goodness rains down on the earth, reviving the weak and troubled.

His love has no end or beginning, yet it reaches into my life.

As for me, I found frustration haunting me as I lived life.

How can I do anything worthy of God's holy name?

All around me people run everywhere, and I despaired to know His will.

Yet I lift my eyes and know the truth creation testifies.

I may not see now the purpose in this broken path

But I follow One who walked it that I might be accepted.

So I shout "Hallelujah" to the heavens for One who loves even me!

I thank Jehovah Jireh who knows each step He has for me.

And though it may seem long and hard, I know He walks with me.

Glory to Adonai! The LORD who loves.

Let all nations give back the song creation magnifies.

Selah.

pointed papers

Thursday.

Second day ever of passing out tracts. Foleshill, Coventry area. Large immigrant population.

The tracts slipped out of my hands like water, the obliging passersby gladly taking the small slips of paper with their pointed message: Jesus loves you. It all seemed very simple, and I prayed that the message found its way into the hearts of these many strangers.

All of a sudden a motion across the street caught my eye. A bus driver waiting for the traffic to continue was tapping on his window and looking in my direction. Surprised I looked at my teammate as if to ask "are we in trouble" and then all around to see if he was motioning to someone else. Looking back at the driver I tapped my chest and he nodded.

I ran into the traffic as he opened his window. "I'd like one. It will give me something to read at stops."

I smiled and handed him the paper and ran back across the street, careful to avoid drivers who, in this country, do not give pedestrians the right-of-way. As I ran he read the title and I heard him exclaim, "Aw!"

The title? "You're special."

quote

"If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart." ~Oswald Chambers

Wales! (not the aquatic mammal...)

had a lovely time at adventure week in Wales. Snowdon (a small mountain by Oregon standards, but steep!) was spectacular. the above view is from the top. we had (so we're told) a rare sunny day with a refreshing snow shower at the top. all made it safely, which takes on a more serious note when you read that on saturday (just 3 days after we were there) a lady fell off and died.

team building had high moments and introspective low moments. found myself often leading and then feeling bad about doing so. still working on being comfortable in my own skin.

had a very wet solo exercise on friday, sitting in the rain on a rocky hill for over 3 hours with no books, timepieces, etc. beautiful view in spite of the wind and rain, wonderful cleft in the rock. amazed at how much He loves me. oh, how He loves me!

now back to normal (whatever that means). week of planning for light party, school assemblies, door-to-door, etc. hoping that my Christmas plans take shape! anybody want me to visit over the holidays? =)

the ongoing discussion...

what does it look like to do effective evangelism?

i must hand out 500 tracts, work on ways the church can reach a largely immigrant, transient population, do door-to-door, etc. is this the work of an evangelist? am i an evangelist? (normally i would say no. which does not preclude me from doing the work, though.)

what did Jesus do? well, He healed people, spoke to the masses usually in parables (not simple how-to-be-a-christian speeches, but rather confusing stories that only those "who have ears to hear" understood), discipled a few, and died.

ooo, "discipled". this is key. evangelism must come in relationship. we were not called to go out into all the world and get people saved, no, we were told to preach and MAKE DISCIPLES. this means relationship. this does not mean congratulating someone on saying a prayer and sending them on their merry way. no, no! this means loving people through the good days and the bad and walking with them as they grow in grace.

can i, then, do effective evangelism if i am only here for a short time? good question. if i lead people to a point of decision, i must plug them into relationship with people that will walk with them after i am gone. hence, the local church is key. i can only do evangelism if a) i demonstrate in word and deed my relationship with a Person (Jesus) and b) plug people into relationship with other believers who c) want to disciple new believers.

yes, you may argue, people can choose to follow Jesus in a lonely place. but that is only a place to start, and i do not believe that is the best place, especially if there are so many professing believers around anyway.

these thoughts and others along the same lines are churning within me as i walk through my time here in Hillfields. it is key to my continued involvement with OM as well, since blitz methods of evangelism are near and dear to the heart of the organization, or so it seems.

comments, thoughts, contradictions are always appreciated!