Experiences bring us closer...

The past 2 nights have been so encouraging. On Monday nights the girls from Samuel Family come over and Liz (my roommate) has devotions with them. As she’s getting ready to leave in a few weeks and isn’t planning on starting a new “study” we have been taking time to soak – meaning I play worshipful music from my computer as we sit and listen to God speak into our hearts individually. This particular Monday after our time of listening and being in God’s presence I was compelled to ask the girls how God had spoken to them. Immediately one of the older girls was grinning from ear to ear ready to share with the rest. Let me first say how uncommon it is for many of these children to be personal in larger group settings, let alone with me, someone they don’t fully trust yet. Her joy was contagious as she shared how she really heard God speak truth into her heart and release her of issues she’d been struggling through and praying over. I don’t even know fully what she felt freedom from but I was so excited to see how her heart was open to God and she was rejoicing in his faithfulness to her. While she was finishing up 2 other girls starting chiming in with similar thoughts and I had to say, “hold on, one at a time”...never would I’ve thought I’d have to calm them down from all speaking at once. I love those moments where one can truly experience God and know without a doubt he is Alive and Active in our lives!

Tuesday nights is when the whole family comes over and we read a chapter from Jennie Danger’s book. Tonight was a bit different from the usual, after we read we had a celebration. I decorated the house and I baked a cake in honor of all the July birthdays! We laughed together, they all wanted me to take pictures of them and we hung out. What I could just enjoy them tonight and I somehow felt more connected to them. I think it touched them that we thought to make a big to do about their birthdays and they responded with love!

I have to keep living day by day, one experience at a time.