My dad came in for a few days to visit. We went to Yellowstone for a day and it was 70 degrees and perfect. The next two days it SNOWED (yes in June) so I got him involved in some of the ministry stuff I had going on, including hanging posters in the children's ministry room and chasing all over town looking for a large world map that will help when talking to the kids about missions. He also came to church on Sunday, where Pastor James gave a great sermon on Matt 5:33-37, where it talks about "simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No,' 'No.'" It was a great reminder that in a world where there are constantly needs to be met, we are not meant to say 'Yes' to everything, but to seek the Lord for direction and only say 'Yes' to the things that align with His plans for us. Sometimes that means saying 'No' to some good opportunities while in pursuit of the great ones He has for us.
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| My dad and I at Yellowstone |
Sunday night our outdoor worship service at the Covered Wagon got rained out, but we rescheduled it for July right before another week of camp we are running and we are trusting that God's timing is perfect!
Monday, the 11th I had my wisdom teeth out, and proceeded to look like a chipmunk, trying to hide nuts in both cheeks, who had been in a fight the next few days, as my cheeks swelled and turned black and blue. Yay ... or not! The procedure went well and I have started to feel a little better the past couple days. Thank you for your prayers surrounding that matter!
Tuesday, we started kickball club and had some kids from the neighborhood and even one of their parents join in. Everyone had a great time and we were able to do a devotion at the end that focused on 1 John 1:5 - "God is light and in him there is no darkness at all." We are praying the next five weeks of the club will allow us to build on that, and that through the devotions and building relationships we will be able to share the Gospel.
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| First day of Kickball Club |
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| Devotion at the end of Kickball Club |
Wednesday was the first day of the community Bible study myself, and the Pastor's wife Misty have joined for the summer. We are studying the book of James. We have taken on the challenge of trying to memorize the book of James throughout the study and are praying God will help us to meet this challenge! It will be a great time in the Word and fellowship with a new group of people!
Thursday night we had our Vacation Bible School work night, where about 15-20 church members got together for the evening to work on getting all the crafts organized and stage decorations put together in preparation for Vacation Bible School which begins June 25th! It was a great time of fellowship and seeing the body of Christ coming together working for His glory. We are excited for the mission team from Judson that is coming to help to get out here to Bozeman next weekend!
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| VBS Work Night |
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| VBS Work Night |
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| VBS Work Night |
All is well here in Bozeman and we are excited about the doors God is opening and what lies ahead! Please continue to pray as we prepare for Vacation Bible School, for the mission team to travel out here safely, and for many children from the community to come and learn about the eternal hope we have in Jesus Christ. Also pray for the Lord to send some people into our lives that we can disciple to lead, for Him be present at the other events we have going in the community (i.e. kickball club) and in everyday conversations on the street. We serve an awesome God!
I have been studying the book of Nehemiah and it has been talking about how even through trials and potential distractions coming from all angles, Nehemiah did not waver from what God put on his heart to do - to rebuild the wall surrounding Jerusalem. He constantly sought the Lord in prayer, was willing to sacrifice personal gain, was a humble leader of the people, was willing to say "no" to things that did not align with God's plans, and gave Him the credit and glory in each circumstance. I thought of the times in my walk I let little distractions derail me and take my focus off the Lord. It was a great reminder that God's call doesn't change based on how we feel or what is going on around us. Our job is to continue to humbly seek His face (Psalm 105:4) everyday and watch Him work ... What has God put on your heart to do? FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS AND GO DO IT!
