"If we maintain the open-mindedness of children, we challenge fixed ideas and established structures, including our own." - Brennan Manning

The saved sinner is prostrate in adoration, lost in wonder and praise. He knows repentance is not what we do in order to earn forgiveness; it is what we do because have been forgiven. It serves as an expression of gratitude rather than an effort to earn forgiveness. Thus the sequence of forgiveness and then repentance, rather than repentance and forgiveness, is crucial for understanding the gospel of grace. -BM

WEEK 6… October 21, 2007

This week has been good. Sunday we went to a church in Atteridgeville. We went with Magdaline, a lady from the cresh. Five of us girls; Erin, Stacey, Denise, Katie, and me went and ended up teaching Sunday school. Let me just say that those children are awesome! They know the word- not just verses- but they can explain them to you. They sang some of their songs for us and citied some amazing poems for. They are 5-12 years old. I was blown away by them… that is what makes me excited in Christ… to see mighty warriors at young ages like them. They whole week they all prayed and fasted with the church- 7 days on just juice and water for the Lord. How many kids do that much less adults in the faith?

Who started this nonsense of feeding our children in America watered down spiritual milk? We teach our children summed up bible stories and cutesy songs… and we wonder what is wrong with this generation. Why? If the Kingdom of God is for the childlike-then why do we teach our children like they won't understand it until they are older? We should be raising up the next generation to be mighty warriors. Then as they grow up they will know the things of God- they will be REAL! Teach your children to pray In Jesus Name! A real relationship with God doesn't have to start when you are 16 or 35 years old after you have a "divine intervention" in order to get inline with the Lord. My friend Sam would agree.

So we went to church Sunday and it was so good. The whole church was so nice to us- we were put in the front row (which was very humbling) and they greeted us with many warm hugs of love. The pastor preached a bold sermon on character. It was funny because she had a translator and when she preached she would switch from English to her language every other sentence. It was cool to watch the translator switch back and forth with very little difficultly. At the end of the service we had communion. It was so sweet to be part of it, because the whole church was breaking their fast with a special time of communion. I loved it- The pastor would put the cup up to your mouth and then lay hands on us and pray for us one by one. We were invited back this Saturday for a special youth service. Monday night the boys washed all of the girl's feet and had communion with us. It was so humbling and awesome. Our boys have really stepped up and been real men of God.

Updates on Francina, Catoue, and Alice:

We talked with Francina on Monday and found out that over the weekend Catoue showed up at her house and wanted to stay the night because she didn't want to go home. Michael was ok with her staying, but Francina said no this isn't right- We have to talk to her mother and settle this. So Francina left Catoue at her house with Michael and  got some other neighbors and talked with Catoue's mother. Francina flat out told her that if she sees anymore marks on Catoue or finds out that she is being beaten anymore then she would pay for it. So ever since that night Catoue's mother has talked nicely to Francina and I think things have been better for Catoue. We also her from Magdaline that one her Catoue's neighbors had come to her for advice of some help lines that they could call. It is such an answered prayer that all of the neighbors are stepping up and caring for Catoue. I'm very encouraged to hear that they aren't just sitting around pretending like something isn't happening. I praise the Lord for intervening in that situation. It definitely takes a village to raise a child.

Francina also told us that she went to church this past Sunday for the first time in a long time. She also mentioned that she was able to hear and understand what the preacher was saying. She wasn't distracted by any thoughts like she had mentioned before. Glory to God! We talked with her today (Oct. 25) and she said something so cool. Something like it matters that what you are reading and hearing about the word has to penetrate your heart. Oh and this is something else that is so awesome… Francina has been letting the street children come into her house when we go visit her. She will let them sit in the floor and she will give them cookies and coffee.

Alice told Erin and Stacey on Monday that her husband didn't object to her going to church this past Sunday. He was also asleep in the other room when they went to visit her this week. She was so excited that one night over the weekend she woke up to a hand on her body and it was the Holy Spirit praying over her.

          Personally this week the Lord has been teaching me a lot in his word. I finished Acts and started Romans. The Lord just hit me with a deeper understanding of living by the Spirit- We love God if we obey his words…(matt 7:21) but we don't obey his commands on our strength.

For we who worship God in spirit are the only ones who are truly circumcised. Phil 3:3

If worship is a lifestyle and God's word is written upon our hearts-then we move and breathe in the Spirit who teaches us all things- our hearts are therefore circumcised and that is what matters. So by faith we live-we have life- life in the spirit-our hearts are alive- they beat wildly after God- we are in tune with God- He is madly inlove with us- he desires to bring us into His presence- His holy courts and reveal the deep passions and secrets of His

heart. 

I'm always hungry for God-to be filled with His Holy Spirit- to be filled with the Word so much. This week I have noticed a hunger for The Word like I've never known before. I am so excited to dig into The Word- I want to soak it all up- I want to read and understand it all in one sitting… I know I can't all at once… but I want to read, understand, and follow it by the Spirit.

Lord, I want all of your words to be written upon my heart. It all rains down like a flood-

its so overwhelming. I want to know all the deep things of you O Lord. I long to feast on your words. Allow me to know your furious love in a deeper way. In Jesus Name.