Monday, May 31, 2010

Marvelous May!

Todd/Leslie: May was quite a month! It started with the 5-day visit of three staff members from The Center for Community Transformation (Philippines), included our first Spring Celebration Event (a fundraiser focused on raising funds for PEER Servants itself). went to the weeklong visit of Ghena Russu, Managing Director of Invest Credit (Moldova), and ended with the first half of Todd's trip to Africa, focused on South Africa and time with Aloga Financial Services. It was an exhausting but very full and rewarding month. As always, God's grace is sufficient. We were very blessed by our visitors from the Philippines and Moldova and the time in South Africa (more on the Africa trip in the next blog entry).

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6 about hard work and sleepless nights. He lists many other actions taken, all part of urging the Corinthian church not to receive God's grace in vain. In months like May, we learn a bit more about God's grace. It is the most amazing resource we could ever imagine -- more precious than gold, yet in endless supply. God really does supply our every need. He gives us strength when we need it, and the blessing of fellowship with Him.

We met this elephant in South Africa on the last day of May. It reminded me (Todd) of God's grace. It came within just a few feet of us and could have easily charged. Yet, it left us in awe as it used its amazing trunk to enjoy a feast among the tree branches. We couldn't help but worship and thank God in seeing what He had done in creating this elephant the way He did and allowing us such a close-up view. God came among us in the form of Jesus and has given us a close-up view. He could have come in power and might, and yet He came in peace and love. What an amazing life He led, and yet, He tells us in John 14:12 that "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." He has gone to the Father to intercede on our behalf in hopes that we will tap into the grace needed to do even greater things.

May we tap into His grace today in a new way.