GO BOTAS :)
This morning I was listening to a message on Generosity from Clayton King, and it was really good! It is funny how the Lord works, because Jo and I decided to go to Starbucks on our way to the gym. We had a team meeting before the game, so we were going to be getting there kind of early. I wasn't planning on getting anything, but then decided to get a chai tea. Well, the guy says, "Your drinks are free". Jo then said, "WHY?" and the guy said, "Just because". I couldn't help but smile to myself. Here is a guy who is being generous by giving us free drinks from Starbucks...thank you Lord :)
Then, on our walk we had a bus stop to let Jo and I cross the crosswalk. Now, you may not think it to be a big deal to let pedestrians cross, but over here in Turkey drivers are all business and do not stop when people are waiting to cross. In my mind I was like, "Wow, this is AMAZING". I then told Jo, this is going to be a great day! First we get free drinks from Starbucks, then we are allowed to walk across the street AFTER someone stops for us to cross :). GOD SURE IS GOOD!!
We get to the gym and the meeting goes well. We then play and we WIN!! One of my teammates had to go to the hospital and get eight stitches in her head...crazy. I will say the game was quite physical! We also had a girl hurt her quad, a girl sprain her ankle, and a girl get kneed in the chest. I got hit a few times in the face, but all is well. After one of the hits, I actually got a headache so I decided to take some medicine for it. They gave me something to dissolve under my tongue, and then a tablet to swallow. Whatever the concoction was, it worked :)
After the game I went out to eat with some people from my church. During the game at some point I looked up and saw about 10 people from church...WOW!! Thank you so much you all for coming :). Six of the people stayed and we ate at a Chinese restaurant for supper...yes I did say a Chinese restaurant in Turkey! I ordered chicken with pineapple and almonds...delicious. It was such a great time of food, fun, and fellowship :)
Tonight we set our clocks back an hour! So for a week I will only be 6 hours ahead of the East Coast.
I am looking forward to the privilege of being able to go to church tomorrow :) I hope you all are able to find a place to worship the LORD!!
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Verse of the day:
It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.— Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Don't you love gifts! Especially when they're truly given, with no strings attached, all we have to do is receive them. The greatest gift we've ever received has nothing to do with our efforts. It is a gift from God. We didn't earn it, deserve it, or purchase it. God gave it through his sacrificial gift so our salvation would not be our boast, but his kindness.
My Utmost For His Highest:
Faith always works in a personal way, because the purpose of God is to see that perfect faith is made real in His children.
For every detail of common sense in life, there is a truth God has revealed by which we can prove in our practical experience what we believe God to be. Faith is a tremendously active principle that always puts Jesus Christ first. The life of faith says, “Lord, You have said it, it appears to be irrational, but I’m going to step out boldly, trusting in Your Word”
Our Daily Bread:
LINGERING DAMAGE
A young teen who was constantly getting into trouble always apologized when his parents confronted him. No matter how much he hurt his parents with his previous wrong-doing, he would soon turn around and do something else wrong—knowing he would be forgiven.
Finally, his dad took him out to the garage for a talk. Dad picked up a hammer and pounded a nail into the garage wall. Then he gave his son the hammer and told him to pull out the nail.
The boy shrugged, grabbed the hammer, and yanked out the nail.
“That’s like forgiveness, Son. When you do something wrong, it’s like pounding in a nail. Forgiveness is when you pull the nail out.”
“Okay, I get it,” said the boy.
“Now take the hammer and pull out the nail hole,” his dad replied.
“That’s impossible!” the boy said. “I can’t pull it out.”
As this story illustrates and King David’s life proves, sin carries consequences. Even though David was forgiven, his adultery and murder left scars and led to family problems (2 Sam. 12:10). This sobering truth can serve as a warning for our lives. The best way to avoid the lingering damage of sin is to live a life of obedience to God.
A Prayer: Thank You for being slow to anger and filled with compassion. May I not presume upon Your mercy by assuming there will be no consequences for my sin. Help me to confess and then to sin no more. Amen.
Our sins can be forgiven and washed away, but their consequences are ours to pay.
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Be blessed and have a wonderful rest of your weekend :)
Megan