Acts 7:51-8:1

I just read Acts 7:51-8:1 which is about the death of Stephen. This is such a great picture of true love and trust in the Lord. While Stephen was being beaten, he prayed, "Master Jesus, take my life"... "Master, don't blame them for this sin." Wow that takes whole lot of courage and trust in our Savior to be in a place to say those words and truly mean them. I can't imagine being in His place. I wonder what I would do... how I would truly feel... what I would say...

I only hope that I can live a life with this kind of trust, knowing God has me in His hands no matter what. I'm so timid at times to share with others about the joy I have in Christ, which is crazy because my deepest desire is for everyone to experience this same freedom and peace I have in Him. I should be jumping at opportunities to share about our great Savior. I hope and pray that those I have come into contact with have seen maybe even just a glimpse of God's love through me. I pray that God would be glorified in all I do while I'm in Brazil and wherever else He leads me.

"Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"
Revelation 7:12

Amazed by love

Wow, I'm amazed by the hospitality and love Brazilians have shown me this past week. I got invited to talk with some Brazilians in an English conversational class. Everyone in the class was so nice and welcoming. I ended up riding home with one of the girls(Heloisa) and ate dinner at her house. Her family has been so great to me. This past Saturday her family took me to eat pastel (so yummy... we need to have this in the states). I went to Heloisa's handball game and had lunch at her house. Her family has shown me so much love and keeps inviting me to do more things with them. I have really enjoyed spending time with them.

Saturday night I went to a CD release concert at PIB (the church I helped out with when I came to Brazil the other two times). AMAZING. They have been working on this CD for a long time so it was a big deal. It was so awesome to worship with so many Brazilians and see the joy and love they have in Christ. Here's one of the songs on the CD :)

The past few days I had the privilege to stay at Fernando and Cris' house. They are one of the couples who helped us when we came on our short term mission trips to Curitiba. It has been so great to spend some time with them. They live in a small city next to Curitiba called Campo Largo... it's really cute.

We only have a couple more weeks until we move to Morretes. There have been some changes in what this next step will look like but the Lord has already been showing us that He is in control. I'm excited to see what God has in store for us there. 

"Call to me and I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Jeremiah 33:3