Everyday Beautiful

Our church's national youth leader began attending a sort of Bible college in January. He's enjoyed studying there immensely and often spoke of taking his fellow students to the village to meet us (the local youth group). In July the wish turned into a plan. Between 15 and 20 students joined our youth leader, Teacher Sam, to visit the village. The day proved immensely enjoyable and greatly encouraging! During the introductions, I felt my spirit leap. About four of the guests were refugees from South Sudan and one was a refugee from Sudan! I have been praying heavily for these countries, sometimes crying or feeling pain in my heart as I bring the war, persecution and division of these countries to the Lord. What joy I found in meeting brothers in Christ from these nations, seeing their joy despite challenging circumstances! I implore you to pray for these men, who have limited options after Bible college aside from returning to the refugee camps where they've left their wive...

  Today I want to consider a paradox God brought to my attention multiple times this week: the paradox of resting in God's power. Why is this a hard truth to understand? For one, we as humans seek doing , even if we aren't the person who says yes to everything and runs around like a chicken with its head cut off. I've seen it in some degree in every human I've come across. Humans desire to gain because they've worked. Every Christian I've talked to or heard from expresses a difficulty comprehending how free salvation, love and protection from God truly is to His children. Even in healing, I see this human tendency at play. Instead of laying in the arms of God, depending on His strength to bring renewal or empower one to act... Christians (including myself) often strive for health, wholeness and productivity on their own power. No wonder the majority of us are tired! If you're tired today, wanting to do, heal, or defeat something... let me invite you into a P...

Recently I became friends with Kokas' wife, Martha. (Kokas is another friend of mine) I began to drop by to chat with Martha, who was often bored at home because she lives far from her family, is the only one to do household chores, and has only one child who is often elsewhere playing with friends. Because she was pregnant, I loved to ask Martha about her baby. This always made her smile. God used our growing relationship to encourage Martha and me alike.  Come July, Martha shared with me that she was seven months pregnant, the same number of months at which she had her first born, George.  Only two weeks later, an excited neighbor told me that Martha had just had her baby! I grabbed the baby clothes I'd bought as a gift and rushed over to Martha's house. The baby had come fast and no one had been at home with her, so Martha bravely endured a home birth- alone. The neighborhood grandma and two other ladies arrived not long after the baby emerged into the world. They helped...