It has been bitterly cold for several weeks – teens for highs on the good days and windchills of -30 on the not so warm days! Lots of snow that hasn’t melted for weeks on end. It has been uncharacteristically sunny and snowy for Iowa winter in the midst of the cold, which has been wonderful. I say, if it’s going to be cold, I like to see snow. This past weekend the temperatures skyrocketed to 30 on Saturday, 40 on Sunday and 55 on Monday, sun shining, melting the icy streets, and snow covered yards and getting our hopes up for spring…in January.
Today however, welcomes back the midwest winter… a high of 18 maybe, with gusting winds at 40mph, and blustering snow. The dirty streets and brown lawns are now exposed and the lovely sun is has hidden away behind the ever so typical gray Iowa winter skies. Bummer. I can’t wait till spring.
I spoke last Sunday night with a youth group here in Des Moines – a group of people I had never met, who had been praying for me, having found my blog sometime back in June. It is such an amazing blessing to share life with other people in the body of Christ. I loved that aspect of the Race, and I love it here too. I saw how we really are united in Him, seeking after Him, in our own cultures, languages, even in the mix of denominations…we are following Jesus and when we humbly gather together, we gather with Jesus himself, and that’s awesome. I am loving speaking to groups of people about my year. There is something about it that makes me feel a little more alive. I think perhaps a part of that is that God has told me again and again that it is time for me to pour out what He has poured into me, and He will continue to fill me as needed. When I get to pour out through speaking with people, I know that He is faithfully filling me more. It’s pretty cool.
I am busy as ever, but doing my best to keep my priorities in proper order and trusting the Lord to provide for all my needs. I have yet to have any reason to doubt him…
