Do you ever have one of those really productive days? I had one today. It felt so good to get lots of cleaning and organizing done. I was in the mood, I had that nesting juice flowing through my veins and I felt happy with every wipe of the dust cloth and paper that got thrown away. It was a blessed day because my children were happy and Izzy was being obedient, which really makes for a fun flowing day. I also spent some time outside with the girls playing in the water and the little blow up pool. Man was it hot!! The girls loved it though, and they took good naps afterward, which is always a plus.I find myself wanting to be more and more organized in my home so that I spend less time searching for things or buying something I already have. Now that I have two toddlers, I need things to be in order and I need to know where things are when I need them! But I praise God for days like today, because He doesn't always give me days like today. Many are discouraging and just plain tiring. But God is gracious to give me a happy day that is productive...I need those sometimes. Thank you Lord, You have been oh so kind. May You receive all the glory!

I have not updated this blog in a long time. It has stories about when I used to ride the bus with the purpose of evangelizing. My friend Amber and I rode the bus a couple days a week to and from work together and witnessed to people, and handed out tracks and Bibles. It was an amazing growing experience, I am so glad we did it!

Last week at ABCS

This is my last week at ABCS, it is really strange. I have such mixed feelings. I am transitioning to be a full-time wife and future mom!

What we have been up to lately

We are currently going to one bus stop at Speedway and Alvernon for about an hour and talking with those there. There are a couple people we have seen consistently and built a relationship with and then a lot of others we have only seen once. It has been really good for us to become more bold in sharing our faith and getting used talking about the Gospel. For me, it has also been a growing experience to be rejected or have my beliefs ripped up. Talking with people from EVERY background, makes me have to defend my faith to all sorts of affronts. It is amazing to me how many types of background and religions and beliefs you can come across in one hour.

I know God is using it in my life to not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to have a heart for the lost in my city. Knowing that the power of God in salvation comes from Him and not me, yet I am called to share the gospel and it is through the hearing of the gospel that people are saved.

My desire is to spend time humbly, yet with boldness and gentleness share the gospel of Jesus Christ with people who may have never heard, maybe have heard many times or completely reject it. My life is a vapor on this earth and the salvation of souls for the Glory of Christ should be a priority.

Second Visit with the refugee girls!

A couple weeks ago(Oct. 23rd), Amber and I went back to visit the refugee girls. It went really well. We spent about 3 hours there and both girls were there this time. Praise God! On the way I bought a white board thinking it might be easier to explain some thing esp. with the language barrier using drawings. The Holy Spirit really lead us and gave us wisdom. We had several other family members that we coming in and listening too, which was neat.

We talked to them about creation again and then we discussed sin (and it's origin with satan in the garden etc...) and then we spent a long time talking about how people had to make animal sacrifices for their sins. I hadn't really planned to talk about this, but it seemed appropriate. I also mentioned that people were telling of one to come that would save the people from sin. Then we talked about the virgin birth of Jesus and his perfect life here on earth. I read from the Bible that when John saw Jesus he explained, "Look the Lamb of God who takes away sin" and the 14 year old's eyes lit up and she said, "Jesus was the lamb!" All those listening seemed to make the connection of the lambs being the sacrifice and now Jesus being the lamb, but she really seemed to grasp it. We explained that crucifixion was a criminal's death, and how horrible it was, and then they didn't understand why Jesus died on a cross if he was absolutely perfect. We had made it very clear that he lived a perfect, sinless life, so his death didn't make sense to them. I explained the human reason for Christ's death (that he was claiming to be God and the people didn't believe Him), and God's purpose and plan for His death (to make the payment for sin and die in our place). Of course we had talked to them about what the payment for sin is, death and how we all deserve death and hell for our sins. We told them about his resurrection and ascension and the Holy Spirit. We had to talk for a while about the trinity.

Something that really hit both of us is how crazy all this really sounds. When you grow up hearing it and being in church your whole life, it doesn't sound weird or hard to believe at all. But sitting there that night after talking about the talking snake, a young lady becoming pregnant by the spirit of God, God becoming a man and living on this earth, dying and rising from the dead, and then the Holy Spirit indwelling people...I started to wonder if I believed myself, it was all starting to sound pretty loony! Amber and I both reflected on how it does take the power of God and the His regeneration for someone to believe this stuff. Wow! I was thinking, "If they believe this, then it is really God working in their hearts".

The younger girl (14) really seemed eager and said she wanted to be saved. She asked us several times what she needed to do. We explained repentance and faith and she said she believed. However, we weren't sure since they are impressionable young girls how sincere it was and didn't want to give her any false sense of security. And when a young man came in and was dialoging with us, she seemed hesitant to pray. So we prayed with them and are praying that the Holy Spirit will do the work in their hearts. God must brake their hearts over their sin and help them see who He is and their need for the Savior.

It is hard to put into a blog or even words all that went on that night or all the discussions we had. It really makes you think though, we have to explain everything in child-like terms and words they can understand (their English isn't great). It takes us hours to talk with them. Everything we explain we are very thorough and have them repeat back to us and try to make sure they are grasping.

We are going back to their apartment this Saturday (Nov. 7th) and desire to continue sharing with them and pray that the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts.

Our God Saves Sinners-Glory to His name now and forever. Glory to the Lamb who was slain, He is worthy of all honor and praise. I desire to see more souls saved, not for their sake alone, but that the Lamb would receive His due reward.

Another Opportunity to Witness to the Refugee

Praise God, Purnima finally wrote us! She wants us to come back and teach her more from the Bible! She is the one we shared with before (Sept. 5th 09). Amber and I layed out the gospel very clearly with her when we went. Our desire is to bring her to the point of realization that she has sinned before a Holy God. We are excited that she wants us to come back. We were pretty blunt with her before. Please pray that we can go visit her again and bring to light the knowledge of God to her.

"Creepy energy"

Since I didn't blog for about 5 months of riding the bus and sharing the gospel, I am still thinking of stories. So this one time, a few months ago, we are riding the bus and this large African American lady sits down next to me. I am praying in my heart about sharing with her and trying to get up the nerve. Finally I strike up a "conversation". I ask her if she goes to school (because she has a backpack) and she curtly responds, "no, why?" and I tell her because I noticed she had a backpack. I then proceed to ask her if she has had a good day. And she again rudely reponds "of course, what other option is there" or something like that. By now I am getting the clue that this lady doesn't want to talk to me. Finally I just outright ask her if she has ever heard the gospel. At this she gets really upset, she glares at me and says, "Why do you care???" I said that I want everyone to hear it. Then she tells me to keep my religion to myself and that I have creepy energy. I am a little shocked and scared, but ask, "What do you mean by 'creepy energy'?" She tells me that I know what it means. And I politely tell her that in fact I do not know what she means about my energy being creepy. She says, "Do you know what energy is?" I said, "Not in the context you are using it", and she says, "Do you know what creepy means?" and I said "yes, but I don't understand what you mean?" and She said "I could feel your creepy energy as soon as I got on the bus!". Yikes!! At this point, she told me to never mind if I didn't knonw what she meant.

I was a little shaken up and unsure what to say. It was a weird experience. Oddly enough, a man on the bus started talking to Amber and I right after that and saying that we have beautiful hearts and we were doing the right thing by sharing with people. It was kinda strange, but cool. I can't remember everything he said to us, but it was encouraging.