God's blessings

I've heard back from my church and they have decided to help my mission work by supporting me monthly. Another big blessing is that I've found a forwarding agent, so that means that there isn't such a big push to get all my money in by the time I leave.  God is amazing and his blessings overwhelming.

life or something like it

There is a thought that has permeated my life for the past few days. Ever since i started to write a sermon concerning the first five verses of John. One thought, which goes back even further, to sunday when I heard an amazing sermon,  and another thought which came as i read my bible. These two thought dwelt together and eventually came into one continuous theme. Light and darkness, Life and darkness. In him was life and that life was the light of all me. In my story, there is life, and that life is found in Christ. There is light, and Christ is that light. He lights up the darkness in my life and he gave me life. He also gives me the command to be a light, not hidden but shining brightly for all the world to see. That is what has been in my thoughts. But, this concept of light and darkness just permeates scripture, from the very start. This idea that light is good and darkness represents evil. When we look back to genesis chapter one we see light being pronounced good while darkness is left unpraised. The darkness in exodus hangs over pharoah's army while God's light shines for the Jews leaving Egypt. David sings about the LORD being his lamp and bringing light to his darkness. The darkness has no where to hide in the coming light. There are areas in life where we need to let the permanant light of God shine in and take care of the dark. Once the Light of God is in us and dwells with us, It continues its work in us and allows us to be that light for others. We all of the sudden are transformed into that beautiful city on a hill which cannot be hidden. The light shines in the darkness but the darkness doesn't understand it. Sometimes, in our lives, we shine in the dark, but the dark doesn't understand it. When we shine, we shine bright, and we conquer the darkness. 

I'm going to continue to be that lamp on the table, and urge you to one end, "Shine on!"

Love and peace,

Beret

it takes only one

It was always a sad day when I was little and needed to get a shot, but now that i'm all grown up, it seems to be a little easier, except for today. That was no fun at all. I got FOUR shots right, two in both arms. It was a painful experience. However, I didn't shed a tear, and i didn't even whine, well, beyond this post. My funds are coming along quite nicely, and all is going quite well. I went shopping for resources today and bought a bunch of commentaries and christian devotionals to bring with and to give to the people when i leave.

Life is God, Life is good.

God is Life,

Beret Ryggs with the Lukas in the middle