Be Still and Know......

Wow. I can't believe my last entry was November 19. I've had a lot to say. I've 'thought' about posting. I'm not even sure why I haven't.

Christmas was crazy working a couple different jobs and volunteering at church. Then after the first of the year I took a step of faith and took on a larger commitment to Women's Ministry at church. All in all life has been full. Not busy in the sense of crazy or out of control, but full. There is a difference. :) And to be honest I continue striving for balance in my life daily.

One of the most wonderful things was a trip to the Philippines that I took at the end of February. Our church sent a team of 19 people on a mission trip. It wasn't the typical mission trip where you drill a well or build a school or church (although those are AMAZING things), but it was to be whatever the growing Philippine Christians needed. There is a huge move of God happening in the Philippines as the Christian church is emerging. They face tons of opposition...and yet they persevere. They are evangelizing their own country and we went to assist them. To help them hold crusades where people could come and hear about Jesus for perhaps the very first time. To present the gift of God's salvation to them. It was so amazing and so humbling to see their eagerness for God's most wonderful gift! Well over 6,000 people came to know the Lord. They also were offered the opportunity for prayers for God's healing. It's amazing to think of how willingly they believed what God had for them. And God did so many marvelous things there!!!

One of the things I really loved was that they didn't offer the gift of salvation and leave people hanging with salvation, but no direction. Now please understand that the gift of eternal life is incredible and I am not downplaying that at all. But so often people make that decision and no one follows through with discipling a new believer. They were given a small Bible study pamphlet that really took them scripture by scripture on what the decision they made really was...to make sure they understood. The next day a Bible study was held at the same location as the crusade and the pastor with the closest proximity to that baranguay (village) would ask people to host a Bible study in their home. Those Bible studies will turn into local churches. Praise God that over 70 Bible studies were started!!! And not only that, but there will be follow up for that as well. Within 3 months Philippine church leaders will go back to that area and check with each and every pastor, and each and every Bible study.

I saw so many amazing things while I was there. Sometimes I'm still overwhelmed by it all. In such a good way.

I want to leave you with.........God is doing amazing things! He's doing amazing things in the Philippine people and he's doing amazing things in me. I hope you are letting Him do amazing things in you as well. He wants too and is waiting for you to surrender your 'stuff' to Him.