Subway Heart to Heart

So today was very exciting because I got my first chance to really be a part of sharing the gospel on campus at IIT. We went with the intention of hosting a Conversation Club from 12-2 and to invite in international students to practice their English and discuss certain topics. One of the staff, Emily, and I ended up finding a Chinese girl named Way (probably spelled differently but that's what it sounds like). We talked to her a bit and invited her to the conversation club. She came with us and we talked to her for a couple hours! She explained to us one of her favorite Chinese movies and the whole Chinese history behind it and then we asked her about her religious experiences growing up. She did not have any but she did believe in God, or in a higher power. She taught us what she knew about various religions, mostly Buddhism, and we got to share the gospel with her and who Jesus is and what he did for us! She was very engaged in the conversation, asking questions and made sure she understood what we were telling her. We invited her to come back next week to talk and she said she would! She was not ready to accept the gospel yet but she's definitely in an opening questioning stage. If you could be praying for her, for her heart to be opened up and seeking and finding truth, that would be great!

This evening, we went to the church for teaching night on Philippians. Bacho talked about Paul and how much joy he had even while in prison in Rome because he was still working for the furtherance of the gospel. Instead of questioning why God called him to Rome to preach the gospel and he ended up stuck in jail, he took advantage of the opportunity to preach to the 900 men who were watching guard in the prison. Sometimes, in situations I end up questioning why my plans and hopes aren't working out and why God has me where He does, but that is not up to me to question. Life is not about my own happiness but about throwing my plans and my life away for Christ. 

An amazing verse I heard while listening to a Frances Chan sermon while working out this morning is from Ephesians 5:18-21 "And do not be drunk in wine which is in dissipation; but be filled with the spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God." Wow. So much packed into that verse. I am really starting to learn about living the Spirit-filled life. We are supposed to be sharing psalms and hymns to one another when we speak, blessing people with words and giving thanks to God always. To submit to one another in the fear of God is a hard idea to swallow. Basically, God is calling us to be servants to others for his glory. To think of ourselves less and let our lives be lived for those around us. This has been on my mind a lot lately, especially as I get tired and crabby and just want to complain and be taken care of. I still need to be serving others, and to put their needs before my own. God has been challenging me with this and also showing me overwhelming love and understanding from those around me as I process all of this. When I feel paralyzed as what to do and how God is calling me to act, there is always someone nearby who has struggled or is struggling with the same thing and can come alongside me in my seeking God. Such as tonight, when I felt bogged down and confused after teaching night. My friend Sarah and I ended up on one end of the subway alone and had a wonderful little heart to heart. Sometimes all I need is someone to identify with what I'm feeling. Amazing how God always provides exactly what I need, even when I have no idea what that might be.