So many busy days in a row...
Yesterday was the last day of school. Then, a goodbye barbecue for staff who are retiring or transferring to the elementary school. THEN, our youth team sponsored a giant end-of-school party for all of the junior high and high school students at the Waterfront Park.
Hundreds of kids showed up for free food, basketball tournament, video game tournament, dance-offs, and 4 different bands. I was SO worried that someone would die, but God was so very present at the waterfront. Many of my junior high students came to the park and we're surprised to "find a church there already". They told me stories about their lives, about their summer plans, about their friends and families. At the end of the night, one of our pastors shared a message about Jesus and one of my classroom students decided to follow Jesus for the first time. Talk about rejoicing!!! The party in Heaven is SO much bigger than our party at the waterfront last night!
And then, today, was like someone hit the pause button. Restful, relaxing. Less of an agenda.
Coffee dates. Time with my lovely Mom. Running with my friend Shannon. A barbecue. A long phone call with Amanda. Mmmmmmmm. I like summer!
Today has the feel of Sabbath.
But tomorrow, I'm picking up friends from the church at 4:30 am to drive the first wave of our Mazatlan mission team to the airport. My part of the team leaves Saturday at 1:30 am to join them. Please pray for our journey.
Pray that God's Spirit goes before us, works through us, and transforms lives of the people of Mazatlan. Please pray, too, for peace to descend on the city. There was a riot at the city prison earlier in the week which killed 29 people. Pray for God's peace to change lives. Pray for the rescue of those trapped in the drug trade and in extreme poverty. My team will be working with a church called Amor y Libertad. Please pray for the brothers & sisters of the church, that we would all use our short time together for the best to spread Christ's love throughout the city.
Prayer updates during the trip will be posted on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129409370412730 .
Excited to put my summer on the mission for Jesus. Who knows? Maybe there will be more opportunities to press the pause button along the way. :)
"Be still and know that I am God." -Psalm 46:10
"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace." -Romans 8:6
Thursday, June 17, 2010
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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