Sundays are lovely....

I can't even begin to express how content and grateful for EXACTLY where I am at...right now. Absolutely no regrets, no lost hopes or doubts reside in my heart. It is crazy wonderful.

Church was just an amazing celebration of life and Christ. But first...

Every week there is at least one song that is done during worship that I used to play with my church during worship. For awhile it made me happy to remember them all and think how I liked to play it....however, the more and more I am hearing and now worshipping through singing, I am realizing a different type of worship. The words are saturated in my heart and I FEEL the words, the emotions and the gratitude in this new, refreshing worship for me. I find myself just saying outloud "Thank you, Jesus".

Today was an amazing reminder of my purpose. Marilyn Skinner spoke and it was just really good. The gist of it was the trademark of God is His love and that we have responsibilities of the kingdom. Jeremiah 22 talks about truly knowing God is to stick up for the down and out - the orphans, the widows...the ones who are affected so much in Africa. Jesus came to restore dignity and takes on the troubles for kingdom work. All of this, truly hit my heart and encouraged me on my path right now. The heart I have for Tegot is exactly this. I believe that is why I feel my faith is growing exponentially - I am truly knowing God by sticking up for the orphans and widows here. I feel my life is consumed with their's. I will not compromise my walk, my life for anything. I have been convicted and now the commitment to Him is there!!

Along those lines, I spent some great time with God today just thanking Him for knowing what is best for me. For delivering me into the exact spot I am in right now. How grateful I am that He is the Author and Perfecter of my faith...my life. I just am so in love with the God of the universe.

I am again reminded of the concept of Passion. Not the kind we normally think of, I mean the realness of Passion - the difficulty I am willing to endure to succeed. Jesus endured sooooooo much to succeed - to claim me, you, all of us, as His. Therefore, my passion, what I am willing to endure to succeed, is to see every person at Tegot in the most amazing relationship ever....with much joy, contentment, fulfillment and peace. At whatever cost.

Ever stand next to one of the prettiest lakes on a clear night and picture that at one point the lake was unusable because there were so many dead bodies floating in it? Where you could stand at the shoreline and see them crossing over? How about being around some of the kindest men you have ever met who love the LORD and children; who just play and make everyone laugh - only to know that they had to run from gunfire, lost family members who were cut up in pieces, and almost burst into tears when they share their stories with you?

The past two days people have been telling me their personal stories about how the war has affected them. I have not asked. From personal friends to church members. I knew of the stories and things that happened here...but now I am hearing it firsthand from people. I wonder to myself how much have they healed from it? I also see the most beautiful people ever. I thank God for allowing me to be part of their lives and I hope and pray I can be the sister to them like the brothers and sisters they are to me.