Kiev...

October 29- We caught the train to Kiev so that I could be ready to fly out Wednesday morning Oct. 30th to Israel. Although my delayed passport meant I would not be able to join our friends in Chernivtsy I decided to use the afternoon to write notes to about a dozen of these dear ones and remind them that they are loved and a sweet fragrance to God! What an amazing community of Jesus followers they are!
Tonight Max and I were invited to a home for dinner to meet one of our dear couples parents and siblings. After such a short night before I was starting to run out of gas but God's Spirit began to meld our hearts and open the door for some really significant conversation about how to hear and follow Jesus! This is just the beginning of our journey to maturity in Jesus but understanding how to hear His voice, know His Word and walk in loving obedience is startlingly novel to most folks in the Church! Many have a sincere desire for this but have never heard how! Another blessed evening with good food, great fellowship and sweet prayer just whisked any lingering sleepiness I had right away!
God's blessings have been so constant and fluid these past few years that I started to take some of this for granted. But the trouble with my passport and Visa and the subsequent delay has made me more mindful than ever of not only the battle but the abundant mercies that have surrounded us everywhere we go!
What Amazing Grace we have been given without earning an ounce of it, just out of the abundance of His loving mercy...