Encouraging Grace

I'm in Anderson, Indiana.

I took the week off and joined Zach and his pastor for the big "camp meeting" here. It's were ppl from the church gather for a time of pouring into one another. The days consist of topical conferences about nearly anything within the church: stewardship, discipleship, youth, children's ministries, worship, women's ministries... etc etc etc.

I got to meet John and Linda Pemberton. They are the couple from Birkenhead, England I'll be living with. I was honestly nervous meeting them (will they like me, do they have expectations).

They are fantastic.

I love the great encouragement I've gotten while here. It's funny. You expect this kind of support from your family. Its taught me so much. That if you are going were Christ is leading... no matter what anyone else thinks. God will provide family in the form of Brothers and Sisters in Christ. People here have showed me grace and love. They are excited. They ask for my email so they can be there for the whole process. I have made many friends and people even from initial meeting have shown me Christ.

Father,
thank you for your grace and encouragement. I deserve neither. May you get all the glory.
Amen

Peace

Its been awhile.

So much has happened. 1) I'm engaged 2) I'm moving to Birkenhead, England

My mind is crowded with jumbled thoughts of honesty and vulnerability today. A good place to be I think. I'm so excited for what God is already doing in my heart and mind. I am nervous. Zach has an established relationship in England. I'll just be his wife. (still weird to think of someone being my husband... but again I couldn't be more happy or excited) I want to dive in, unrestrained, to how God is already working there. My heart aches for intentional relationships. I cry some days because I'm so ready to be doing anything more than what I'm doing now.

There is no internal battle anymore. I was made for one purpose... and one alone.

To demonstrate God's love to the broken-hearted, the desolate, the hopeless, the lost, the sad -- People ultimately like me, like you. As Donald Miller put it "we're called to hold our hands against the wounds of a broken world, to stop the bleeding."

I desire that.

Zach is at camp this week. Oh how I wish I were there. Sharing the gospel. Loving on teens. Pray for him this week (and the other counselors) for strength and discernment. For patience and opportunity. He is such an encouragement in my life and makes me so excited about the grace of God I don't deserve.

Perhaps this post is slightly confusing or unorganized. Its my brain today. The basics are in the title... I have never had such peace about my life and my future. No matter how little I know, how scary it may seem. I know it is right and good.

I was made adaptable for such a time as this. Wherever you are, whatever your doing I leave you with this

"For now we see in a mirror dimly lit, but then face to face;now I know in part; but then i will know fully just as I also have been fully known" -1 Corinthians 13:12