No Where Else I'd Rather Be

After arriving back in Wisconsin I've received many questions about the work in Lakeshore and opportunity I have to serve there. Several people I have spoke to has asked “Isn't the work down there just about done?” This allows me to speak about Lakeshore, the severity of the storm, and the needs are still very present including physical needs, emotional needs, and spiritual needs.

The question that follows is “So what exactly do you do.” It is a position which is not easily defined. My tasks are a little different most everyday, though there are several things that are daily. But these questions have prompted me to think about how privileged I am to be serving in Lakeshore

Here's a very brief list:

1. It is a privilege to serve alongside the believers at Lakeshore Baptist Church and the thousands of believers that flow through Lakeshore Baptist.
2. I am growing in my relationship with the Lord.
3. The Lord has shown me areas in disaster relief and other areas, I can serve in.
4. I've learned to do many random things I doubt I would have learned elsewhere (forklift driving, rat killing, cajun cooking, building, designing homes, and mission trip planning among other things)
5. I've seen the Lord work and begin to heal broken relationships, for which I rejoice
6. Maybe one day I will be transformed into a nice southern belle.
7. I've enjoyed leading the ladies Bible Study and watching the other ladies grow in their relationship with the Lord.

There is no other place that I can imagine being and nothing I would rather be doing at this point in my life. How many people can actually say they have a “job” they love? I can truly say I love serving in Lakeshore, look forward to future opportunities, and am excited to see how the Lord is going to work in my life and the lives of the folks around me.

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2:1-21

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Oh The Deep Deep Love of Jesus

I had the opportunity to spend a little time with my pastor in Platteville singing and sharing songs with each other (basically me learning a few new songs). One song he shared with me was Oh The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus. I hope to spend a little time learning it on guitar when I get back to Lakeshore and sharing it with the congregation.

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus.
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me
Underneath me, all around me
Is the current of Your love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To Your glorious rest above

Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore
How He came to pay our ransom
Through the saving cross He bore
How He watches o’er His loved ones
Those He died to make His own
How for them He’s interceding
Pleading now before the throne

Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Far surpassing all the rest
It’s an ocean full of blessing
In the midst of every test
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Mighty Savior, precious Friend
You will bring us home to glory
Where Your love will never end

Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Blogging Hiatus

It's been nearly a month since I posted last, I've been on a bit of a intentional blogging break. But just for a very brief update:

Much has happened in Lakeshore over the past month. Lakeshore Baptist has had two congregational church meetings discussing the building of the new church buildings.

We've done a lot of planning the past couple of weeks for the upcoming volunteers teams. Beginning right after Christmas we have a group from North Carolina coming and a couple days later about 250 college students from Georgia. Two weeks after that we have ARBCA joining us for the relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts.

I've made it back to Wisconsin for Christmas. I made it back last Thursday before 12" of snow fell and survived all the family gatherings. I got to spend some time with my niece and my sister. And now I can relax for the rest of the week until I drive back to Lakeshore.