This past week:

We (the church team I am a part of) went to Conference in Fort Wayne, In.

We had a couple days upfront to connect, pray, and play. I didn’t take very many photo’s at all except for a few on the travel in. Usually if we road trip, the “girls” car we take little side stops. We had one with a beautiful drive.

But this time I didn’t plan even for our free time day. What did we do? Instead of go, go, going we sat around, ate good food, and napped. It was some much-needed rest time for me. One day I took 3 of those naps.

The best part of the trip was by far being together. And God met us in that.

Individually He met us, and as a group, He affirmed us. We sought the Lord for answers, direction, and just prayed over each other. It was so good. We also noticed that AJ was markedly missing, he was helping with this and going over here doing that. Then he would come back for a bit, eat, hang out, sleep and go again. We felt the releasing of him going on to new and different things. We will miss him. He will go on to pastor in Clinton, IA in Nov.

Song from this weekend that touched my heart:

Oh, I want Jesus
Oh, I want Him
Oh, only Jesus
Take this world and give me Him
Oh, I want Jesus
Oh, I want Him
Oh, only Jesus
Take this world and give me Him
No more mixture, give me the God of scripture
No more idols or lesser loves
No substitute will ever do
There’s nothing more I’ll ever pursue
Oh, I want Jesus
Oh, I want Him, only Him
Oh, only Jesus
Take this world and give me Him
And I surrender until my heart grows tender
Here be my treasure, my greatest call
No substitute will ever do
There’s nothing more I’ll ever pursue

source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/john_wilds/i_want_jesus

Book I’ve been reading:

This book has been a great read on Christian leadership, pastors, and the church. I love how this author breaks down the scriptures for a deeper look and greater understanding.

Quote from that book:

There are two fundamental characteristics of the people of God – this is faith and knowledge. Far from being incompatible, faith and knowledge, or faith and reason belong together. It is those who know God’s name, who put their trust in him – their knowledge of God’s name or revealed character is the foundation of their faith in him. They trust him because they know that he is trustworthy. God’s people are believers the family of faith yet there are degrees of faith. Jesus spoke of people having either little or great faith. The Thessalonians faith was “growing more and more” Paul said in their letter. Our knowledge is also to grow for it is part of Paul’s apostleship to increase it further. He has in mind our knowledge of the truth which itself leads to Godliness or God-centeredness. It is an essential feature of Truth and a good test of its authenticity that since it comes from God it also leads to God. – John Stott

Thanks for listening,

Starla