Tuesday, June 23, 2009
extravagant grace...
one of my friends gave me a gift this evening -- a gift of extravagant grace. i did nothing to merit this gift. it was his way of supporting me in ministry and as a friend. i was floored. i think i only showed 10% of how impacted i really was. i actually cried almost the whole car ride home. you see, to me, it wasn't just about his generosity and extravagant grace, but it was also about God's extravagant love and generosity for us -- on an even greater scale -- an infinitely greater scale. if i was so impacted by this gesture, how much more so should I be on a daily basis when I think of God's grace and mercy extended toward us. i didn't deserve this. i really didn't. if anything, i owed him big time for all the help and support (not to mention prayers) these past 9 years I've served with CP.
and it's not just this one friend. i am so blessed with such good friends and an incredibly loving family here. and i don't want to take these gifts for granted. i was just really overwhelmed with the realization of how generous and kind friends/family/supporters are here. and i reflected on the truth of my name, Amy, meaning "Beloved". i was just struck by how loved, cherished -- and spoiled I am here. but i like to think i'm spoiled in a good way, because it allows me to spoil others who perhaps need it even more. generosity has a way of breeding generosity, i've always believed. it's a gift that keeps on giving.
anyway, to my friend who will probably read this... Thank you. Really.
Off to packing... in about 11 hours, I'll need to be driving away to Oxnard for training... Already!
P.S. If you haven't heard yet, I'll be staying in southern cal for the summer, joining the N. American section of CP during their training time rather than joining the European section's training (b/c of a wedding out here this summer).
one of my friends gave me a gift this evening -- a gift of extravagant grace. i did nothing to merit this gift. it was his way of supporting me in ministry and as a friend. i was floored. i think i only showed 10% of how impacted i really was. i actually cried almost the whole car ride home. you see, to me, it wasn't just about his generosity and extravagant grace, but it was also about God's extravagant love and generosity for us -- on an even greater scale -- an infinitely greater scale. if i was so impacted by this gesture, how much more so should I be on a daily basis when I think of God's grace and mercy extended toward us. i didn't deserve this. i really didn't. if anything, i owed him big time for all the help and support (not to mention prayers) these past 9 years I've served with CP.
and it's not just this one friend. i am so blessed with such good friends and an incredibly loving family here. and i don't want to take these gifts for granted. i was just really overwhelmed with the realization of how generous and kind friends/family/supporters are here. and i reflected on the truth of my name, Amy, meaning "Beloved". i was just struck by how loved, cherished -- and spoiled I am here. but i like to think i'm spoiled in a good way, because it allows me to spoil others who perhaps need it even more. generosity has a way of breeding generosity, i've always believed. it's a gift that keeps on giving.
anyway, to my friend who will probably read this... Thank you. Really.
Off to packing... in about 11 hours, I'll need to be driving away to Oxnard for training... Already!
P.S. If you haven't heard yet, I'll be staying in southern cal for the summer, joining the N. American section of CP during their training time rather than joining the European section's training (b/c of a wedding out here this summer).
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
doin' better...
hey y'all. this won't be very detailed. just wanna let y'all know i'm doin' lots better these days. we had a couple of really pivotal prayer times together as a unit and a lot of the spiritual clouds have lifted. i still covet your prayers as i know His covering and protection are not to be taken for granted. but things are a lot better and i'm feeling more like myself again. not like the horrible monster that invaded my body, mind, heart, and soul.
today was our last day off and we spent it as a unit altogether visiting the old market square in Poznan (Poland), and visiting two malls -- including one that had a T.G.I.Friday's!!! Yea! We went shopping together and picked outfits for the others to try on and took pictures and just had a really good time together.
i can't believe this mission will end in one week. every unit and every mission is very special to me but i have to say that this unit/mission has definitely ranked up in my top five. it's gonna be hard to release one another -- esp. Rachel as this will be her last mission with Covenant Players. At least I'll see her in August when i go up to Oregon to be a bridesmaid in her wedding.
that's all for now. perhaps this'll be the last blog from this mission. soon i'll be home in LA...
hey y'all. this won't be very detailed. just wanna let y'all know i'm doin' lots better these days. we had a couple of really pivotal prayer times together as a unit and a lot of the spiritual clouds have lifted. i still covet your prayers as i know His covering and protection are not to be taken for granted. but things are a lot better and i'm feeling more like myself again. not like the horrible monster that invaded my body, mind, heart, and soul.
today was our last day off and we spent it as a unit altogether visiting the old market square in Poznan (Poland), and visiting two malls -- including one that had a T.G.I.Friday's!!! Yea! We went shopping together and picked outfits for the others to try on and took pictures and just had a really good time together.
i can't believe this mission will end in one week. every unit and every mission is very special to me but i have to say that this unit/mission has definitely ranked up in my top five. it's gonna be hard to release one another -- esp. Rachel as this will be her last mission with Covenant Players. At least I'll see her in August when i go up to Oregon to be a bridesmaid in her wedding.
that's all for now. perhaps this'll be the last blog from this mission. soon i'll be home in LA...
