And the world wonders why....

"With our hands lifted high and the world wonders why- we'll just tell them we're loving our King- Oh we'll tell them we're loving our King" ( a song from the worship time this morning)

Hey today I write with my heart filled with joy and sadness. First of all the joy- This morning I worshipped the Lord together with my brothers and sisters at the Nigerian Church in Wichita- The Redeemed Christian Church of God. What a blessing to share this experience with my parents, 2 sisters, and good friend Staci. The preaching was powerful and the music so beautiful and worshipful. They truly live like they believe Psalm 16:11

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
They truly rejoice in the presence of the Lord. =0)

Some thoughts from this mornings teaching
Sunday School

* We have been called by God to do a special assignment
* He's the boss! He asks for hunility and faithfulness as we serve Him for His glory!
* God will accomplish His plan with or without us. If we won't do it- someone else will. Elijah thought he was the last faithful man- God told him their were 7,000 more faithful followers of God in Israel.
* Don't ever think "I am the only one God can use in this position." For every Elijah their is an Elisha, every Moses a Joshua, and for the Eli's theirs a Samuel- If you won't follow God in everything he can use even a child who listens to God's voice to replace you.
*Will I be obedient or does God need to look for a replacement?
* Do your God-given assignment with joy, right from the heart!

The pastor dynamically shared the joy of the resurrection in His sermon from I Corinthians 15. Oh the hope that we who have faith in Christ share- not only for this life- but for the life to come!
"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."
One day we will all be changed and be with the Lord forever!!
Speaking of our hope of Heaven and exalting His name together was so great! They even prayed for me as I go to Nigeria and do the assignment God has called me to do there. What an honor to be prayed for by this family of God!! My heart was filled with joy!

After church we went to the hospital where my parents visited a man from our home church (61) who was just diagnosed with terminal cancer. Apart from a miracle from God he has 6 months to live. And while we were there we heard that our friend- Doug Pearce (24) went to be with the Lord this morning. He had been battling cancer for a year. The e-mail his parents sent to the church this morning included this verse from I Corinthians 15:54

" Death has been swallowed up in victory."
It makes me wonder how God can handle the joys and sadnesses of this broken world he sent his Son to redeem. This morning a new life was celebrated during baby dedication. Also this morning- a dear man breathed his last breath on this earth. Rejoicing and sorrow in the body of Christ. The world wonders why we can still praise God. It's because of the hope we have through the work of Jesus Christ. For the believer death is not the end, it's the beginning of an eternity with Jesus Christ, Amen.

As I think about this joy and hope that we have in this life and the next-I know it does make the world wonder. How can we be filled with such joy? We are just loving our King. How can we have hope in the midst of sadness? Our hope is in a Risen Savior who had victory over death!

"With our hands lifted high and the world wonders why- we'll just tell them we're loving our King- Oh we'll tell them we're loving our King"
Let's praise the King of Kings! One day those of us who he's redeemed will see Him face to face.
(one day soon I hope)

Its All About Him

Lately I have been writing and addressing thank you's ( for those of you who have been looking for them in the mail for some time- thanks for your grace ) Wow as I was writing and going through the list of all the people that have contributed to this Africa adventure God has called me on- I kept thinking- this whole thing is not about me- but totally about God. Only He would call an ordinary Ks gal to go to Africa- only He could touch so many hearts to give- only He could confirm this calling to me the ways He knows I need to hear it- Only He is worthy of everything I can give Him. So sing it out to the King who is calling us to lose our life to find it- who blesses obedience- who triumphed oer the grave.

We sang this song Easter Sunday and I love the lyrics-

Crown Him the Lord of Heaven. One with the Father known. One with the Spirit thru Him given from yonder glorious throne. To Thee Be endless praise, for Thou for us has died; Be Thou O Lord, thru endless days Adored and magnified!!!

"My lips will shout for Joy when I sing praise to you- I, whom you have redeemed. " Psalm 71:23

I am the daughter of a King

I work at Dress Barn while I am preparing to go to Africa. Yes, Dress BARN ( That's for you Julie, Lavonn, Becky) inside joke=0)
Yesterday I worked with this one lady for like 2 hrs. So funny, cause as I was ringing her up at the registar, I realized my Dad knew her husband pretty well. I told this customer this and she asked, "So who's your dad?" I proudly told her. Surprised we had a connection, she responded, " Now I have just got to look at you." So funny- she leaned a little closer over the counter to look at my face as if verifying that I really was Arvin Busenitz daughter. I had to laugh later on thinking of this interesting encounter. When she found out who my father was- she wanted to see the resemblance. I couldn't help but think, when people find out that I am a daughter of the King of Kings, I think they look to see a resemblance. Not if I have His eyes, nose, or complexion, but His Heart, His smile, His love.

John 1:12 "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons ( and daughters) of God, even to them that believe on His name."