A good January

January came and went, but it was not without its blessings. I had yet another chance to preach this month, and God opened up the door for us to share the Gospel with people. In truth, it was a month that I would hope would be like every month. I enjoy teaching and preaching, and I love the opportunity to share with people I meet the good news of Jesus Christ.

A few weeks ago, I spoke at the Youth Group in Wuppertal, and told them the short amount of time I have left with them. Although the months will go by fast, I wanted to stress my desire to encourage and see them grow. I said, "it is my aim in these last few months to encourage each of you to start or grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ." Two weeks later, Ette and I led a discussion time about alcohol. I shared from Eph. 5:18, and asked them why drunkenness and "being filled with the Holy Spirit" are in opposition of one another. It was a great discussion, and Ette closed the evening with a short encouragement from Galatians. The point stressed, was that if we are filled with the Spirit, then Christ is at the center of who we are and what we do. If he is the center, there is no more room for the corruption of the flesh. Afterwards, many of the kids thanked us, and we could tell God was working in hearts. We continue to pray for this group.

While in a cafe last week, Chris and I met a couple ladies who were meeting for lunch. We struck up a conversation about the elections and our new president (I would like to personally thank our new President for coming to Germany during the election. It has opened up so many opportunities for me). Through this time, we were able to share what we were doing in Germany, and I was able to have a conversation with one of them about the simple message of the Gospel. Although we did not have a lot of time with them, it was long enough to share the truth of Jesus Christ. It is the small moments like this one that get me excited.

February is just a few days away, and I am praying for more opportunities to teach and more opportunities to meet new people.

The prayer that I shared at the end of my message, and the prayer that I shared to and for the youth group comes from Ephesians 3:14-21. And so I share it with all who read this blog,

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."