Getting to hang out with Amanda this weekend was wonderful! :)

I don't have much to blog right now - I mainly wanted to ask for prayer for Lifegroup tomorrow night. We're having a "Matthew Party" (based on a passage in Matthew, that I wish I knew off the top of my head, but I don't... the one where Jesus has dinner with Matthew and other tax collectors and such) where we basically just hang out and eat food and stuff. The purpose of it, though, is to invite people who either don't know Jesus or who don't have a church home yet, to just hang out with them, get to know them, and make connections with people on campus (to follow up on). We'll also have one of us share the Gospel, and another one share their testimony about how going to Lifegroup really affected them and helped them grow. We're trying to get especially Freshman and Sophomores serious about getting plugged into a church (not necessarily ours, just a church) and a community and such.

For some reason I'm nervous, probably because I'm now more directly involved in the planning of the logistics and that kind of stuff. But I'm really, really excited! :) This past week I've challenged myself to step it up and talk to at least one person I've never talked to in one of my classes, and then to find someone in the cafeteria and such and invite them. And then of course there's people I already know. It's been hard, but so good. Every day I'm more convinced that this stuff really is that important, and thus am more propelled to just do it. I challenge you as well - just share the Gospel. If you see someone sitting by themselves in the cafeteria, sit by them, ask them about themselves, tell them your testimony. There's so much life in Jesus. Why shouldn't we tell other people about the abundant life we have?

Anyways, so pray for tomorrow night (at 6:00; we'll be grilling by the on-campus apartments. At 5 we're going and inviting people on campus), that God would really speak to students - that the Gospel will come in power in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction (1 Thess. 1:5) to see people come to Jesus and that UMHB students will realize more of the importance of Biblical community and hunger for more of His presence.

ALSO... Wednesday night at 7 is the first Refuge of the semester (the college/young singles service every other week at my church). I was asked to give a 5-10 minute testimony about how being involved in Lifegroup and serving in church and stuff grew me last year, and specifically how I came to understand more the love of God and fall more in love with Him. I'm nervous, of course. Not because I don't like talking in front of people (I honestly don't mind it), but I'm more nervous that I'll just talk really fast, go way over the time limit and ramble on, etc. (I'm sure you could guess that, as always, I have a lot to say!) Sarah encouraged me to make an outline or something. Last night, the Wahlquists helped me a little with it, so I feel better about it. Anyways, if you think about that, pray that I'll speak with clarity and...very... slow-ly ;).

Love you guys!

May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make His face to shine upon us,
that Your way may be known on earth,
Your saving power among all nations.
  Ps. 67:1-2

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
  2 Corinthians 4:6