And when the Gentiles heard this...

Before I start getting neck deep into the work I have to do today I guess I really have the urge to write you all. I want to share a few stories of how God has blessed me this past week. Many of you have heard but I'm willing to bet that not all of you know these things since some of you are very far away from me and this makes me sad. However it is still a blessing to be able to share my life with you in this way.

First, I recently got a refund check from my scholarship that wasn't used all the way which is a huge blessing because before this I literally had no money. Having no money makes it hard to live which is the general formula  so this money is a huge blessing because not only can I now fund my last few weeks here at school I can save some of it for later use in paying things off.

Second, I have this wonderful opportunity to live on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a year housing international students and having to pay little rent. Therefore I must fund my rent money and living expenses and thus need a job, ya know, like the grown ups have. So a while back I applied my little heart out and lo and behold the other morning I get a callback from one of the places I applied asking to set up an appointment for an interview. To God be the glory great things he hath done. So pray it up for your sista over here and this opportunity to snag a job and minister to international students who may not know Jesus.

Third, I've been reading through the book of Acts (it has taken a while but I'm getting there). It truly it awesome the things you find in Scripture that you have read many times but it never hits you until some random point. I came across this in Acts 13:46-48 when Paul is preaching to the Jews in Antioch in Pisidia:

"And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,

    that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed." (ESV)

This struck me because of what happened in the Gentile's hearing. They rejoiced because Paul had given them their first glance into their new found future. They were already God-fear-ers according to the context because Paul and Barnabas are in a synagogue, but their reaction is just as legitimate as someone finding something new and true and believing whole-heartedly in it. 

Two things come to mind here as I read this; 1: are we so conditioned to this life altering news that, unlike the Gentiles of that day, we deem it "normal" and "old news"? and 2: This makes me excited to share this news with someone who has never heard of it. I pray that the Spirit makes this rejoicing a continuous thing in my life and the life of all other followers of Christ. 

Well, there's my tidbit for the day. Thank you for your prayers and your love, and I hope that in some way God has blessed you in apparent ways this week. God is good, all the time.

All to God