Let us go on...

It's been a while since I have even opened my blogger, I thought I would just let it die peacefully but it has been a chronicle of the things God has done in my life and He is not finished. And even though I don't need a blogger to remember all the good things the Lord has done for me, its nice to be able to write down those things and "declare His faithfulness and salvation...to the great assembly (psalm 40:10)."

I have now been in Lima for the past 9 months, I think I have felt every possible emotion while being here. It's been hard getting readjusted to life here and missing Germany so much and all the people there, but the Lord's hand is in it completely, of that I have no doubts.

This morning at devotions we studied Psalm 73. I love how clearly the Lord speaks to our hearts when we are listening. I am thankful for the reminder to once again look to Christ. When we look to Christ it seems like everything gets so much more clearer and you can walk in peace and rest. I wish I could write all the things we talked about but it would be too long, so I will just share one thing the Lord impressed upon my mind which actually came from another verse in Hebrews 13:5

"Let your conduct be without coveteousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

I think it is easy when you get your eyes off of the Lord to become discontent, I have seen this a lot in my own life. Its so easy to compare yourself to others and desire what they have, but how amazing when you realize you have Christ Jesus Himself and He will never be taken from you! I want to understand more and more every day what that entails, exactly what that means. Just some things to meditate on.....

"Godliness with contentment is great gain..." 1 Timothy 6:6

More to come....

Michelle

Ich liebe Deutschland!

This will be my last entry from Germany. The next couple weeks will be busy with things and I probably wont have easy access to a computer.

I am so thankful for the time the Lord has given me here in Germany. Germany is one of the dearest places on earth to me. Its people will always have a special place in my heart, especially the ones I have gotten to know here at the church in Siegen. It is such a bittersweet feeling leaving. I feel like I am leaving home but also that I am going home. I am excited for the things that God has for me in Peru but I know I will be longing and excited for the day when He will bring me back here to Germany. A huge part of my heart will remain here.

There are a couple prayer requests I would like to ask you to pray for:

Next Friday I will be sharing again at the youth group girls Bible study about Mary from Bethany. Please pray that goes well and the girls are blessed and encouraged.

On the 8th I am going with a group from the Bible College to the Black Forest to do worship for a Christian school. Please pray again that we would be used by the Lord in the lives of the students there.

Verses the Lord gave me the first time I came to Germany as a student in the Bible College were:

"May He grant you according to your heart's desire, and fulfill all your purpose." Psalm 20:4

"You have given him his heart's desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. For you meet him with the blessing of goodness you set a crown of pure gold upon his head." Psalm 21:2-3

I feel as though the Lord has done this and above. He has given me so much I didnt even ask for or imagine. I feel as though I am leaving Germany far richer and far fuller than when I came in.

Journals

I think everyone should keep a Journal or Diary (even boys!). Tonight I decided to read an old Journal of mine that I had from two semesters ago and I was amazed at the stuff I found in it and incredibly blessed! It reminds me of that verse about "bringing forth treasures new and old." The Lord wants to remind us of those good things He has done in our lives, the things He taught us, the things He brought us through. How else will we remember those things unless we have them written them down somewhere? Poor humans are so easily prone to forget things, especially spiritual things I think. I highly encourage you start one if you havent already, you will find amazing treasures when you go back and read it...I dont know why I am always amazed when I see how the Lord answered my prayers or worked something into me, He promised to. Keeping a Journal just reminds you of His faithfulness!

A Life Truely Blessed

Last night I had the privelege of sharing my testimony with the youth group girl's bible study. I really like sharing my testimony because it causes me to remember all of the good things the Lord has done for me! My life has been a truely blessed one.

"Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Psalm 107:8

There is so much to thank the Lord for, even in the hard times--the Lord's goodness to us is so much more than we deserved. We are a truely blessed people!

I have one more month in Germany. Right now I am living with the youth pastor and his wife, Tobi and Luci Saenger. Its nice living with people again after living on my own for awhile. I am really blessed by their hospitality. I am so glad that I was able to stay the summer here, its been amazing! I am also very very VERY excited to go home. I havent been back to Peru for about 2 years. I am excited and ready for this new season in my life, there will be lots for me to do and I am excited to just jump right into it. Please pray for CCBC Peru, this next week they are starting classes!

Thanks for reading!

Last week I was able to go to Dusseldorf again for a week with the youth group from Siegen. It was a really really great time ministry with Pastor Edmund there. My heart is always stirred up for that city. Please pray for the church there, it is small and the work seems slow but I know the Lord is faithful and He is doing something great in that city!

Simon and I were talking today about updating blogs and I realized that I am not doing so good at updating mine. I will try harder even if it is something small, I will try!!!! Anyways, this morning I read Psalm 91 and I think that is one of my favorite Psalms. The pictures the writer uses are so cool, I can just imagine being so close to the Lord, under His wing or in a huge fortified tower, Him protecting me so carefully, while the enemy gets creamed.
What is the reason for His gentle and careful care? Because I put myself in that place. "Because you have made the Lord who is my refuge...your dwelling place." v.9 "Because he has set his love upon Me...because he has known My name." v.14

what comfort that we know Him and that we have placed ourselves in such victorious and powerful hands! There is so much to meditate on in this Psalm, I havent gotten to it yet but I thought I would just encourage you to read it because you will be blessed!

Today was nice because I got to hang out with Simon. Usually we are able to just hang out on weekends becasue of work so today was a treat, lots of good times of lauging and joking each other. Ill try not to be mushy but I am so thankful to the Lord for giving him to me. Waiting for sure was worth it and every day I am blessed just by knowing him. He has a blog now, please check it out: http://simonfriedrich.wordpress.com/.

Thanks for reading!

So time for a new update! The semester ended a few weeks ago. We have been pretty busy since it ended doing different things, this week I am helping cook for team that is here-that should be interesting!! Some of my plans have wonderfully changed. I was supposed to go home June 15th but I was able to change my ticket and I will be staying until September 16th, so I get to spend another summer in beautiful Germany! The reason for this change of plans, of course, is Simon. He will leave a day before me in September to go to Belize for a year to help out in the ministry there. I think it will be a hard year apart but we both are confident that the Lord will do amazing things.

This morning in my devotions I was reminded of how happy a Christian really is and should be. In Psalm 1, David writes "blessed" or "happy" is the one who's delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates in it day and night. I was reminded of the importance of training myself to "set my mind on things above." It isn't always the easiest discipline to learn, it takes time and effort but in the end the rewards are far greater and far more satisfying than anything this world can offer. I have also been reading through 1 Corinthians, and in chapter 9 it comes to the part about athletes. Paul talks about fighting and disciplining the body. An athlete's life isn't easy, there is plenty of denying the flesh. The Christian life isn't any different, but the amazing thing, like Paul says, is that our prize is certain, we know what we shall receive and it is really something worth fighting for!

...just because he is so cute!