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Yesterday was a good day. I came home to find a 5 pound bag of coffee beans had come in the mail for me from a sweet friend back in St. Louis. Apparently I had mentioned on my facebook status sometime last week that I was feeling tired, so she thought she'd help me wake up. It was so, so, sweet of her and it made my day.
We spend the evening at a concert down on the square handing out free boxes of of Tic Tacs just for the heck of it courtesy of our church. It was fun, yet totally out of my comfort zone to approach strangers and ask them if they wanted some free mints. We got to meet a lot of interesting folks though, which I always enjoy.
I also found out some very sad news yesterday. A friend of mine that I knew from when I lived in Texas was murdered on Tuesday by Al-Qaeda in the northern part of Africa. He and his wife have been living there with their 4 children for the last 6 years as undercover missionaries. This country is 99.9% Muslim and had targeted him for attempting to spread Christianity in the nation. They attempted to kidnap him first, but shot him after he tried to resist. He was such a wonderful man - what I appreciated most about him was his sincerity and wonderful sense of humor. We had just received a letter from him and his wife a few weeks ago updating us on all of the exciting things that have been happening over there. My heart goes out to his sweet wife and children.
Although there are things I would like to see changed about our nation, I am so, so grateful that we are a country that allows our citizens freedom of religion. I never want to take the freedoms that we have for granted. I also feel so honored to know so many wonderful people that are willing to risk their life in order to share the hope that they've found with others in the remote parts of the world. I am so challenged and inspired by the lives of so many wonderful people that I've met over the years. I only wish that I had such boldness and faith to step out like that to share my faith with others. I often times think about our move to Madison and how much of a leap of faith this process has been for Steve and I. Really though, ultimately God has taken care of us just like we knew he would. Hearing about what is happening in other parts of the world (and even sometimes our country) really puts things into perspecive and I can't help but feel a little bit foolish for worrying so much about if Steve's temporary job will turn into a full time position. Ultimately it is God who gives and takes away and I want to choose to put my hope in what He has for me rather than what I think I need, when I think I need it.
We spend the evening at a concert down on the square handing out free boxes of of Tic Tacs just for the heck of it courtesy of our church. It was fun, yet totally out of my comfort zone to approach strangers and ask them if they wanted some free mints. We got to meet a lot of interesting folks though, which I always enjoy.
I also found out some very sad news yesterday. A friend of mine that I knew from when I lived in Texas was murdered on Tuesday by Al-Qaeda in the northern part of Africa. He and his wife have been living there with their 4 children for the last 6 years as undercover missionaries. This country is 99.9% Muslim and had targeted him for attempting to spread Christianity in the nation. They attempted to kidnap him first, but shot him after he tried to resist. He was such a wonderful man - what I appreciated most about him was his sincerity and wonderful sense of humor. We had just received a letter from him and his wife a few weeks ago updating us on all of the exciting things that have been happening over there. My heart goes out to his sweet wife and children.
Although there are things I would like to see changed about our nation, I am so, so grateful that we are a country that allows our citizens freedom of religion. I never want to take the freedoms that we have for granted. I also feel so honored to know so many wonderful people that are willing to risk their life in order to share the hope that they've found with others in the remote parts of the world. I am so challenged and inspired by the lives of so many wonderful people that I've met over the years. I only wish that I had such boldness and faith to step out like that to share my faith with others. I often times think about our move to Madison and how much of a leap of faith this process has been for Steve and I. Really though, ultimately God has taken care of us just like we knew he would. Hearing about what is happening in other parts of the world (and even sometimes our country) really puts things into perspecive and I can't help but feel a little bit foolish for worrying so much about if Steve's temporary job will turn into a full time position. Ultimately it is God who gives and takes away and I want to choose to put my hope in what He has for me rather than what I think I need, when I think I need it.
Labels: pog
2 Comments:
so sorry to hear about your friend. Hope you're doing okay.
What an amazing man. What awful news. I'll keep you and his family in my thoughts.
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