a good reminder

18 days to go and I feel like I'm caught up in the business of summer. This morning I took some time to be still with God and He really challenged me. I was reading in Acts about the apostles being persecuted and one verse jumped out at me. After being ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus verse 41 says this: "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name." First, they were rejoicing because they had suffered. They weren't worried about how they looked to society, they were only concerned about being faithful to their Father. They were focused on eternal things instead of superficial, earthly things. They understood that this world is not our home! Second, they considered themselves worthy to have been disgraced. The side-note in my Bible says, "It is a great credit if the world discredits someone for an uncompromised commitment to God." Later in Acts it also says they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news,that Jesus is the Christ. They didn't let anything stop them! This is exactly what James 1:2-4 looks like being lived out: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." The entire time reading this I thought about my summer. Will I rejoice when I face trials? Will I rejoice if I suffer for Christ's name? This one verse was a good reminder that no matter what happens this summer, I need to be joyful always and rejoice when I face trials because God is alive and He's at work.   

As my departure date gets closer here are a few specific prayer requests:

• That the peace of God would guard my heart and I would fully trust in him as I prepare to leave
• for safety and health traveling, but also for safety for all of my loved ones back home. Lately I've been thinking a lot about everyone staying healthy here while I'm gone.
• It's going to be very difficult for me to leave my parents. I've never been away from them for more than 2 weeks, so pray that as I leave my earthly parents I would grow closer to my dad in Heaven!
• preparation for the hearts of the people I encounter- that their hearts would be open to Christ's love.