Sorry I did not blog last night. To fill you in on yesterday, we won our game against Tarsus yesterday 82-73. It was a close game throughout, but we came out on top. It is nice to be able to start out the season 1-0 :) I am proud of how our team played...everyone is in it together...such a blast to play with them and be a part of the team.
Above is a picture of the scoreboard after the game. I was waiting around for Shanna after the game, and so I decided to snap a quick pic. It was so great being able to meet up with Shanna again. We actually came back to Adana and hung out here. We had a great time of fellowship. I introduced her to tavuk doner and of course I had to have her try the banana milk (both were big hits).
Today we started off the morning by going to Starbucks. Shanna doesn't have one in Tarsus, so it was a treat for her. She got some coffee, while I got chai tea that was AMAZING!! After a pit stop at Starbucks, we walked to meet up with one of my friends to go to church. Shanna and I met some new people today that want to have us over to their house. It would be sweet if Shanna and I played on the same team, but we are only a 30 minute train ride apart so you can't beat that.
After church, Shanna and I took a bus that dropped us off near the train station. Once we got to the train station, I got Shanna squared away with her train ticket, and she was headed back to Tarsus.
I wanted to share with you some notes from today's church service here:
"GIVE AND TAKE AWAY"
JOB 1: 20-21
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21And he said:
“ Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
The pastor passed out pieces of paper and had us write down 3 things.
1. What is an important possession of yours?
2. Who is an important person in your life?
3. What is a dream of yours?
*Possession, person, dream!
He went on to talk about how Job had everything (wealth, great family, etc.)...then he lost it all!
His challenge to us was: Could you, like Job say "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised"!!
Why was Job able to react like He did:
1. Job walked with God in the good times.
- He made the point that a lot of people turn to God in the bad times. The reality is, we need to be going to Him all the time. It is important we seek Him in the good times, because when the bad times come, we will have a solid foundation.
- God's plans are greater than what we can see!
1. What would happen if out of nowhere something or someone was taken from you?
2. Would you be able to praise God?
We sang the song below to finish the service and how fitting!!
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
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Verse of the day:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.— Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...We pursue so many things, but only one pursuit brings wisdom. Paul reminded the Athenians that God made us to seek after him and find him (Acts 17). The wisdom of Proverbs keeps leading us back to "knowing God" and having a deep and reverential awe toward him as the source of wisdom. Understanding of priorities, needs, purposes, goals, problems, and issues can only occur when we first recognize who the Lord is and know him in our day to day lives.
My Utmost For His Highest:
October 23rd:
Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.
October 24th:
Paul’s secret joy was that God took him as a blatant rebel against Jesus Christ, and made him a captive— and that became his purpose. It was Paul’s joy to be a captive of the Lord, and he had no other interest in heaven or on earth. It is a shameful thing for a Christian to talk about getting the victory. We should belong so completely to the Victor that it is always His victory, and “we are more than conquerors through Him . . .” (Romans 8:37).
Our Daily Bread:
October 23rd:
Based on incomplete or inaccurate information, we can jump to wrong conclusions and make poor value judgments about people and situations. And that can cause great hurt to others.
Speaking to people who had misjudged Him, Jesus warned, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). We need to be careful that our judgments are backed up by the right information (the truth) and the right attitude (the compassion of Christ). Try this motto: “Righteous judgment is for winners.”
Don’t judge too quickly what you see;
Treat lightly first impression;
Misunderstandings multiply
Without right information. —Sper
A snap judgment has a way of becoming unfastened.
October 24th:
When love and kindness rule our lives,
And we are seen as one,
The fragrance of our unity
Has no comparison. —Sper
Christians who get along with each other
spread the sweet aroma of Jesus.
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I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday. I plan on enjoying the rest of my day off, and then tomorrow starts another week of practice :).
May we find ourselves saying this week "Blessed be the name of the Lord"!
P.S. I added a copy of our tentative game schedule to my "Home" page. I also updated the websites where you can access Turkish League and Team information.
God bless,
Megan