Please pray for me as I go through this job fair. I only got one hour of sleep on the plane and I have a lot to do today!
I'll update you as soon as I can from this internet cafe.
Much love!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Testimonies--Phyllis
You can hear Phyllis a mile away. You can see her too. At over 6 feet, she's an imposing force to be reckoned with.
Saved by Jesus from a difficult childhood, taken out of the hood, she has amazing elegance and tons of sass.
Phyllis weaves magical phrases in her conversation such as "I was a kid at a candy store on crack!"
You got to love Phyllis.
As part of our study, one member Jennifer, was sharing how she was struggling to understand God's will. She was looking for a job and things just weren't happening.
Phyllis started to share her story of how she came out of the hood, how she was taken by God from job to job, gaining experience and wisdom. One week she drove her car on empty, a full week and God kept that tank full.
One time she was working a 20 hour a week job and she had 40 hour a week expenses, but she never stopped tithing and she was never late in a payment. God always provided.
As Phyllis teared up remember these things, she looked at Jennifer and started weeping. Through her tears she said, "You're it. You're the reason I went through these things. I know it. You need to hear this right now, don't you?"
Jennifer who was crying by now, nodded her head. Her faith was built up and Phyllis was reminded that she did not suffer in vain. God had a plan and a purpose for everything.
Saved by Jesus from a difficult childhood, taken out of the hood, she has amazing elegance and tons of sass.
Phyllis weaves magical phrases in her conversation such as "I was a kid at a candy store on crack!"
You got to love Phyllis.
As part of our study, one member Jennifer, was sharing how she was struggling to understand God's will. She was looking for a job and things just weren't happening.
Phyllis started to share her story of how she came out of the hood, how she was taken by God from job to job, gaining experience and wisdom. One week she drove her car on empty, a full week and God kept that tank full.
One time she was working a 20 hour a week job and she had 40 hour a week expenses, but she never stopped tithing and she was never late in a payment. God always provided.
As Phyllis teared up remember these things, she looked at Jennifer and started weeping. Through her tears she said, "You're it. You're the reason I went through these things. I know it. You need to hear this right now, don't you?"
Jennifer who was crying by now, nodded her head. Her faith was built up and Phyllis was reminded that she did not suffer in vain. God had a plan and a purpose for everything.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Update on Riley
Good news for Riley! The tumors are not malignent! They are pseudotumors, a serious side-effect from his transplant he had earlier.
Riley is still very sick as these pseudotumors have cupped his liver and surrounded his aorta and inferior vena cava. Please continue to pray for his complete healing.
Our God is a God who Heals!
Riley is still very sick as these pseudotumors have cupped his liver and surrounded his aorta and inferior vena cava. Please continue to pray for his complete healing.
Our God is a God who Heals!
Divine Appointment
I think the best thing about my new small group that I attend is that it meets in a popular college coffeeshop. Not only is there a plethora of goodies to be shared, but everyone within hearing distance hears about Jesus. And anyone within a block hears Phyllis. But that's another post...
This past Sunday we had 11 of us crammed around a long table. Our topic was "What is faith?", not a pat, Sunday School answer kind of study. We delved into real applications of what faith is and what it looks like in our lives. I'll share a bit later some of the amazing testimonies that were shared.
But about one hour into the study, two young men came up to us and said, "Are you a Bible study?" Shocked we said, "Uh, yeah."
"Can we join you?" he said, holding up his well-worn Bible.
"Of course!" we all said.
So D'juan and Hynik joined us. And their story was amazing.
The men are brothers, both working hard at a new church plant in the area. They were coming to the coffeeshop to talk and read the Word together. As they were walking in the door, Hynik talked about his desire to be able to step out in faith and really trust God with his finances. As they were standing in line to get coffee, they heard people talking about these "loud people in the back" and went to investigate.
Hynik needed to hear about faith and trusting God. And we were talking about the exact. same. thing. Not only that, but members were able to give him specific encouragement and advice that helped him exactly where he was at.
That was just one of many amazing God moments from that night.
So be open to divine appointments. God works through lattes and old worn tables and loud people, laughing and praising Jesus.
This past Sunday we had 11 of us crammed around a long table. Our topic was "What is faith?", not a pat, Sunday School answer kind of study. We delved into real applications of what faith is and what it looks like in our lives. I'll share a bit later some of the amazing testimonies that were shared.
But about one hour into the study, two young men came up to us and said, "Are you a Bible study?" Shocked we said, "Uh, yeah."
"Can we join you?" he said, holding up his well-worn Bible.
"Of course!" we all said.
So D'juan and Hynik joined us. And their story was amazing.
The men are brothers, both working hard at a new church plant in the area. They were coming to the coffeeshop to talk and read the Word together. As they were walking in the door, Hynik talked about his desire to be able to step out in faith and really trust God with his finances. As they were standing in line to get coffee, they heard people talking about these "loud people in the back" and went to investigate.
Hynik needed to hear about faith and trusting God. And we were talking about the exact. same. thing. Not only that, but members were able to give him specific encouragement and advice that helped him exactly where he was at.
That was just one of many amazing God moments from that night.
So be open to divine appointments. God works through lattes and old worn tables and loud people, laughing and praising Jesus.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Today we witnessed history
Every year I taught elementary school I looked out onto a class of children that reminded me I live in America. I can count on both hands the number of white children I've taught. The majority of my students were Hispanic, African-American(or African), Iraqi or Afghani and a mixture of just about every combination possible. I didn't teach races, I taught kids, but many of these kids didn't understand their history, hadn't seen anyone like them in a history book and didn't have a lot of heroes to look up to.
Every year I taught a unit about the Civil Rights Movement. We read Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou, we sang and danced to spirituals and African praise songs. We wept over the horror of the slave trade, ran with Harriet Tubman on the Underground Railroad, and road the bus with the Freedom Riders around our classroom. We read The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963, one of the best kids' books out there. We watched Dr. King preach Jesus and freedom and Jesus some more. I had 10 year-olds that wept for 10 minutes after watching the "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech. When Dr. King finished with "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!" I had kids cheering and jumping up and down. In a public school.
So today as I watched the swearing in on TV, I remember every child I've taught and I just want to hold them and say, "Look! Look what's happened right here in your lifetime! Look what YOU can do! Look who YOU can become!"
I remembered every firsthand account we read by a former slave, every picture of those precious girls from Birmingham that lost their lives going to Sunday School, and everything in me wants to rejoice! We are not done yet, but I rejoice with those who are rejoicing today.
This is huge.
We are witnessing history.
Every year I taught a unit about the Civil Rights Movement. We read Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou, we sang and danced to spirituals and African praise songs. We wept over the horror of the slave trade, ran with Harriet Tubman on the Underground Railroad, and road the bus with the Freedom Riders around our classroom. We read The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963, one of the best kids' books out there. We watched Dr. King preach Jesus and freedom and Jesus some more. I had 10 year-olds that wept for 10 minutes after watching the "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech. When Dr. King finished with "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!" I had kids cheering and jumping up and down. In a public school.
So today as I watched the swearing in on TV, I remember every child I've taught and I just want to hold them and say, "Look! Look what's happened right here in your lifetime! Look what YOU can do! Look who YOU can become!"
I remembered every firsthand account we read by a former slave, every picture of those precious girls from Birmingham that lost their lives going to Sunday School, and everything in me wants to rejoice! We are not done yet, but I rejoice with those who are rejoicing today.
This is huge.
We are witnessing history.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Pray for Riley
Hi all.Our family found out some devistating news this week. One of my mom's students who has been battling leukemia for years and was finally healthy. This week he was taken back to the hospital. He is one of my mom's favorite students. Recently the local newspaper, San Diego Union Tribune, did a two-page spread on Riley and his recovery. When they went to interview him, they wanted to go to his favorite class, my mom's band class. Here is the newspaper report and here is the report from Riley's teacher:
"Riley Spiering is a 10 year old, 5th grade student at Christian Elementary School West. He was diagnosed with Leukemia when he was in kindergarten and has only been able to attend school intermittently since that time. His mother has homeschooled him when he has been well enough. We have all been so excited to have Riley at school this year, but sadly, he has had a
recent major set back.
Riley now has a form of lymphoma (yet to be determined what form), several cancerous tumors around his kidney, and one in his liver. There will be more tests throughout the week to determine if there are more tumors and how to treat all of this. The Spierings have four other
boys. This is very heavy for them to hear after a time of rejoicing in Riley’s health. Please bathe this family and our little Riley in prayer. He is at Children’s Hospital, and his mom told me he will probably start chemotherapy on Friday."
recent major set back.
Riley now has a form of lymphoma (yet to be determined what form), several cancerous tumors around his kidney, and one in his liver. There will be more tests throughout the week to determine if there are more tumors and how to treat all of this. The Spierings have four other
boys. This is very heavy for them to hear after a time of rejoicing in Riley’s health. Please bathe this family and our little Riley in prayer. He is at Children’s Hospital, and his mom told me he will probably start chemotherapy on Friday."
Please pray for Riley. He loves Jesus and is simply a joy. Please pray for comfort for his parents and brothers and for all his classmates and teachers who love him dearly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
