I love my church.

Yesterday our church, Spotswood Baptist, prayed for and commissioned Claire and I for our year in Thailand. It was such a bittersweet service-- I've never been a part of a church that has had such a profound spiritual impact on my life like Spotswood. I have grown; I have failed, and I have been loved through both. Pastor Doug always talks about how church should be the launching pad to propel us into the world... and I feel very launched.

Claire and I had lunch after the commissioning with part of the short-term team who will be coming to Bankok, Thailand in August. There are 12 of them: Laura, Sam, Abby, Laura-Michal, Stephanie, Vern, Zac, Zach,  Ryan and Jake (plus Pastor Doug and Pastor Drew). The team coming in August is phenomenal. They have such a heart for God-- I am so excited to see what God does through them and in them during their time in Thailand.

Please be praying for them also:

- That God will prepare their hearts for the ministry and people they will meet in Thailand, as well as the hearts of the people they will meet  

-  That God would provide all the financial support that they need

- That God would be glorified in their obedience and that the church would be encouraged

Thank you for your prayers and support. I have been overwhelmed by it. God is so gracious, and you have been so faithful to pray and to give. Thank you.

Done

This morning I had the singular opportunity to share with my church family (in two minutes) about GotLife-- what it is to me and why I participate in it. It felt very surreal. The only thing that felt real was the flip flopping of my stomach and general sense of nausea before going up to the stage each service. But God is so faithful.

Last night I had everything typed out and timed for what I wanted to say... but I felt unsettled about it. So, I prayed, went back through it again, gutted all but a few sentences and started over. I love getting on my soapbox about different topics, but that was not the point of this morning. I wasn't asked to give a sermon or to take over for the Holy Spirit and convict people. I was just asked to tell my story and let God do what He does best. And that is what I tried to do.

It was a very weighty thing to be given the mic and asked to share about something that is so central to the heart of God... sharing His Good News. I feel very humbled that I was asked to share, and I hope that as broken a vessel as I am, that Christ shined through. But after mulling this over for weeks, I am so glad it is behind me.

I am looking forward to a restful sleep tonight! :)