fervent love

A new session started this morning, which means that Craig and Debbie finished up yesterday and headed out bright and early. Their Christian Family class was quite a hit, sparking lots of good conversation and interesting questions. Their presence in our lives for two weeks was also a great blessing, and they even finished off their time by babysitting Lily one evening so Matt and I could go out, for the first time since December. It was fantastic…Thank you, Craig and Debbie, for everything!

Matt begins teaching Romans this morning the fourth year class, and the preparation for this class has really catapulted him into a new stage with the Lord. There may be no better way to learn something than to teach it! I am continually grateful for the way that Lord meets us and speaks to us and guides us in many challenging and beautiful situations!

This is the passage He is opening my eyes to:

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another,

because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

As I've been meditating on this passage this week, I keep thinking about the 'multitude of sins' that fervent love could cover.

In my marriage...intense, sincere, enthusiastic love would absolutely overcome irritation, selfishness, anger, bitterness and resentment.

In my parenting...wholehearted, dedicated, ardent love could totally wipe-out impatience, frustration and selfishness.

In my communion with missionaries, co-workers, students...committed, passionate and sincere love can kill the temptations for frustration, selfishness, grudges, gossip, short-fuses, bickering, defensiveness, slander, my rights, justice and what is best for me.

FERVENT love, the kind He models for me, can cover a multitude of possible sins before they even happen...

Obviously, this is not an easy thing, but if fervent love for Christ and others was my goal, and constantly on my heart and mind, I know my life could look more like His.

Keep fervent in your love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.

Prayers and Praises...

PLEASE be praying for our internet situation. We have now been down since Saturday (we can send and receive occasional emails, and throw up an occasional photo-less post) and this is starting to greatly affect the Master's studies of Matt, Paul, Luke and Guenson. They are now going to hotels in town every other day to upload and download assignments... Please pray that these major problems could be fixed.

PRAISE the Lord for the Renner's, who are letting me use their internet right now!

PRAISE the Lord for the exciting news that Paul and his wife are pregnant with their fourth!! (Paul is not yet overly excited, but will be :)

PRAISE the Lord for the fruit of new believers blossoming in Sakanville...little by little, roots are digging into the soil.

Continued PRAYER for the staff and students as they work to tell Haiti about Him...many still haven't heard the Truth of Christ, and many more are hard-hearted.