Doubt and Grace

Everyone has off days. You know the kind...when nothing feels quite right. No particular reason. Communication just misses the mark... just overall blah.

I am not gonna lie, the retreat last weekend absolutely exhausted us. (I will post pics and tell you about the retreat later) We are definitely NOT in our twenties anymore! We have been slowly recovering. Maybe that was part of our overall feeling of being out of whack last night.

Those are the nights when we start to question ourselves. Is what we are doing here at AU making a difference? Doubt. Questions.

So here is a little math lesson for you. What do you get when you add a couple of half energy adults + a lower turnout than expected to our Thursday night activities?

Guesses?

GOD'S GRACE.

Let me explain. The night ended well. The AfterParty picked up. There were several new faces. We were asked my favorite question... "So, who are you and why do you allow a bunch of college students to invade your home and eat your food."

But still, it was just an OK night.

Then we found the letter this morning. It was set neatly by the breadbox last night but somehow missed by Greg and I until this morning. This letter was from a student who went on the retreat. This student is not a believer.

The letter was just amazingly encouraging. It reminded me that no matter how many programs we put together, events we organize the Lord is going to work in ways we never even dreamed were possible.

This morning when I was taking the kids to school the Chris Tomlin song "God of this City" came on the radio. I just started bawling.

You're the God of this City
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You are

You're the Light in this darkness
You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless
You are

There is no one like our God

I just needed a reminder. He is indeed the God of these people.

AND

like the end of the song declares

Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here!

Increase, Provision, and Abundance

1 month. It has been 1 month since my job with our church ended and I have had "more time" for other things. I have enjoyed my time so much. Last night I went to bed before 10. #winning

(Is it bad manners to hash tag in a blog post?)

This semester has been one characterized by the word increase. First, there has been a huge increase in the numbers of students involved in ACF related activities. We are averaging 60+ most Thursday nights. That does not include students who only come to things other than large group on Thursday. Second,there has been an increase in our financial support! PRAISE THE LORD! Third, the increase includes lay volunteers willing to "do life" with these students. Fourth, and most AMAZINGLY Greg and I both have been given the awesome gift of increased FAITH.

Let me park here for a moment.

Increase. Provision. Abundance. The Lord has it ALL planned out. He KNEW our numbers were going to grow this semester. He knew Greg and I would never be able to connect personally to over 70 students, so He PROVIDED some great volunteers from local churches. The Lord knew that I would be overwhelmed by trying to balance a part time job, family, home, and ministry responsibilities. So HE prompted in my heart MONTHS ago the need to step away from a job I loved and timed the actual departure date perfectly.

I am sensing a theme here. HE has been so faithful in the "small" and "medium" details of our life and ministry. He has provided far and above what we even dared to dream about when we first began here at AU 6 years ago. ABUNDANCE.

Our impending move (by June of 2013) is never far from my thoughts. If you have no idea what I am talking about you can get all caught up here. In my mind this goes past the "small" and "medium" things mentioned earlier. In my mind this goes into the "exponentially LARGE" category.

BUT

Day by day...need by need...the Lord is providing INCREASE, PROVISION, and ABUNDANCE.

So day by day...need by need...my faith is growing. JUST.SO.GRATEFUL.

Keep on praying with us friends.