Flittering around

Being back in Canada has been quite lovely. I’ve forgotten just how strange my family is (and how much I missed it!...I see where mine comes from), felt the West Coast weather, slept a lot, missed Asia immensely, cooked things that no one should be forced to eat (except the fam), seen my babies who have grown all too big, thought a lot about Asia, been wowed over the appearance of Canadian money, laughed a whole lot, really longed for Asia, lived out of a suitcase, watched real English TV, and a bunch of other stuff. I’m happy to be back, but ready to head home soon.

Now it’s on to Michigan for the long awaited wedding. I’m sure that’ll be a whirlwind of hugs and hellos, dress fittings, picture taking, smiles and much laughing, some tears (bring the tissues), and shoes that don’t quite fit but look pretty anyways. I’m excited to see all the people I haven’t seen in so long. I’m sure it’ll fly by and before I know it, I’ll be gone again. I’m going to have to keep my eyes and heart open for ways I can serve.

China hovers in the distance. Ok, that was poor, but anyways. China will be coming soon. My China! I get butterflies when I think of it. I’ve been in contact with a foreign run orphanage there north of Shanghai, and I’ll be going to visit them while I’m in China. Prayers for that. I wan’t to be a blessing and serve them however I can.

God’s shown Himself to me a lot since I’ve been back. It’s nice to be quiet and reflect on the last year, and I’ve seen my glaringly obvious sins and downfalls, and God’s amazing grace and how He’s grabbed my hand even if I didn’t want to take His and pulled me back up next to Him. I’ll never be happy with who I am in Him. There will ALWAYS been MUCH room for “improvement” or drawing closer to Him and becoming more like Him. But, that’s why He gives grace. Because He knew I’d need it. :) He’s awesome like that.

I was reading in Ephesians 1:3-14 a couple days ago in my time with God, and the immensity of it hit me.

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

“Chose us”, “in love He predestined us”, “adopted as sons...in accordance with his pleasure and will”, “to the praise of his glorious grace”, “freely given”, “in Him we have redemption”, “forgiveness of sins”, “that He lavished on us”, “according to His good pleasure”, “in Him we were also chosen”, “we...might be for the praise of His glory”, “you also were included in Christ”, “marked in Him with a seal”, “guaranteeing our inheritance”, and “God’s possession to the praise of His glory.”

He would do this for us? Who are we?

The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail. Get busy.