Earth-quake!!

God truly shook up our annual SFC Belgian retreat. The theme this year was "The book of Acts today" Over 70 students were gathered from all over Belgium, in unity from both the French and Flemish speaking parts. They came wanting to hear what God had for them. The retreat speaker, Wim Kok, started off the weekend by saying that when he had first became a Christian, the book of Acts annoyed him because there was no end to it as there had been with the Gospels. Yet he continued by saying that the reason that the book of Acts didn't have an "end" was because it hadn't ended.

The book of Acts, the workings of the followers of Christ, is still being written today. No longer by Luke who wrote the original book, but by God inscribing our acts in Heaven. It was an amazing weekend of waiting on God, seeing His miracles of healings and being "shook-up" by Him. You see, as in Acts, one night there were a group of students who stayed up to pray and while they were praying a student prayed out "Lord shake this place up." At that very moment, they all heard a loud noise and the building began to shake. There was an earth-quake! The next day, when reading the newspaper, it said that there had been an earth-quake 2kilometer from where we were meeting. Was it a mere coincidence of science and words, or was it God?

One thing that I know is that, Belgium needs to be shaken up. I believe that this weekend, God did some things that effected Belgium in ways we cannot see, but I am waiting and watching for I know that God is preparing the ground here for His harvest in a new way! As in Acts 4:31, "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." Let us continue to pray that God will shake this place up!

A Day of Thanksgiving

It's funny how even though Thanksgiving is not a very commercial holiday (note: there is no mention here of "Black Friday" with people buying anything and everything at unheard of hours in the morning) it seems sometimes "unfinished" without the things one is used to. Today my Thanksgiving was rather uneventful, but I had to remind myself that it was still the day to be thankful. I went to the University ate with a friend, went on our campus prayer walk, hung out on campus, went to go look at an apartment, ate a 'regular'--but good dinner, talked with family, and then ate ice cream while watching "A Christmas Carol." Although I did not eat turkey and stuff myself with stuffing or pie--God really showed me that this day, Thanksgiving is just what it says it is, a day to be thankful, regardless of what I eat or how I spend the day.

It got me to thinking how I often overlook things for which I can be thankful, good friends who have seen the worst of me--and they love me still, I am thankful that I have food to eat and a warm bed to sleep in with a roof over my head, I am thankful that I have a God who loved me sooooo much that He died for me. I am thankful that I have a family who cares about me and who misses me. I am thankful that I am here in Belgium, having one of the best jobs ever--walking with students to deepen our relationship with Christ! There's so much to be thankful for.

I must admit, at the beginning of the week, I was sad that the "normal" ways one might "classify" Thanksgiving were not there, a big Thanksgiving dinner with all the stuffing and family to share it with. But then, as this day came closer--I realized something. Turkey does not make Thanksgiving and that God has given me a family here in Belgium. Today was a good Thanksgiving day where I had the opportunity to reflect on what a day of Thankfulness really means, just that actually remembering what I have and thanking God for it.

One thing's for sure...

One thing that is for sure is that I am not going to make apartment hunting a hobby! I am currently looking for apartments with Joëlle and Adaline and it has been quite an adventure. There have been good places, and, well...not-so-good places. But, there is one apartment that we have all fallen head over heels for! It answers each one of my previous prayer points and it's more beautiful than I could have imagined! Here are two pictures of it, oh--admire it with me, it's that gorgeous?! And on the positive side, the price, location, and area are also perfect!

Here's the thing, I need prayer for this apartment. The landlord just told me that he is no longer sure if the renter is going to move out and so he will know and then notify us by Dec. 1st. So my prayer is that the current renter will find something better for themselves, closer to their work, less expensive, and more beautiful (if that is possible to find something more beautiful) and that I will be one of the first people the landlord calls to see the apartment. Please join me in prayer for this apartment. My prayer is that if it is indeed not for us, that God will make that clear while we are visiting it, but if it is for us, then I'll have my signing pen ready. ;) Thank you for your prayers, I'll keep you updated!!

Return of the Turley's

Although that could sound like a poor excuse for a movie film from the 1980s, it is not. The family Turley, whom I have been assigned to help here in Brussels, who have been gone for almost 15months (or longer) are finally back in Brussels! It is very exciting to have them back, to wake up in the morning hearing them moving about the house, seeing them around the house and at SFC! I am glad that they are back for good. :) So...Turley's, Welcome Home to Brussels!