Oh man. God is really hard, but He LOVES to issue challenges.

First of all, Circuit Riders has already been totally radical and life-changing. We're basically talking about how the gospel is LOVE, and THAT is what people need. The LOVE of Christ. Not rules, not religion, just the simple gospel of love. It's totally elementary, but I think it's something we often forget- we like to complicate things so much in this day and age that's craving knowledge and deep understanding. It's so simple though, Christianity: God LOVES the world SO MUCH that He sacrificed what He held dearest to His heart SO THAT WE COULD BE WITH HIM FOREVER. It's that verse everybody knows by heart but that we forget to really meditate on. It's really ALL ABOUT LOVE. God JUST wants to be close to us, just wants to have a relationship with us, just wants to be with us forever. That's what it's all about.

Right, so that's basically Circuit Riders. It's the best way to kick off outreach for sure.

God has been doing really amazing things all week- I don't even think you would read through all of them if I tried to write about everything. I couldn't even begin to write everything anyway, so it's probably best that I don't even begin. Two things I want to talk about specifically just happened tonight. That LORD once again is highlighting the power of OBEDIENCE.
Number one: A group of us were at the dollar store, waiting in line to pay for some drinks, and God whispered to me that I should pay for the lady in front of us' items. I pulled out my card and handed it to the cashier, who looked annoyed and told me to wait. Both her and the lady in front of me were totally confused when I explained that I wanted to pay for her things. She asked me why, and I told her that it was because God loves her SO MUCH and that He's really proud of what she's doing. She let me pay, and I'm pretty sure she almost cried. It was really wonderful. THEN, it got BETTER, because I found out that she's actually helping with a VBS at the All-Nations church near our base, and that's what she was buying stuff for! The Lord totally knew before I did. It was perfect. We got to pray for her and bless her, and then, because God isn't a one-way God, she was prompted to bless us in return. Let's just say that Sarang got a nice bit of her outreach fee paid for(: God is AMAZING! Be praying for Grace (that's the lovely lady of God's name) and for her VBS!
Numero dos: God's been telling me that Lulu, my beloved guitar, won't be coming home with me. He's been saying this for a while. After the whole thing with Ryan's shirt, I was beginning to understand the power of obedience... Ohhhh buddy. I had no idea. My friend Owen gave his life to the Lord on Friday (WOOHOOO!!!!), and it's pretty obvious that he has a worship calling. Tonight, I was with him and a few others, and he was jamming away. As we were leaving, the Lord had me ask him if he had a guitar at home, and he said no. God told me to walk away. So. I. Did. Oh man, you guys. That was heart-wrenching for me. I felt it, literally, in my chest, hurting. But, when I called him a few minutes after we left to explain to him that the Lord wanted him to have it so that he could invest in his calling, I could hear over the phone how much God had just blessed him. It was so amazing to know that God used me to bless him so much. Seriously, that was worth so much more than what Lu meant to me. And she was like my child. Ha.

Good is good- He really knows what He's doing. He really does. God blesses us so that we can bless others. He loves us so that we can love others. We are His hands and feet here on Earth. Seriously. That's why we're here as Christians. Not to live our good little Christian lives, in our little bubbles, avoiding sin as much as we can. We're here to save the lost. We're here because God loves the world so much that He doesn't want to see anyone go to Hell. Seriously, you guys. Christianity isn't about being quiet. It's about saving souls. It's about planting seeds, watering, harvesting, and shepherding. Come on, body. Let's commit to Jesus the way He committed to us- with his whole life. Yeah, I'm calling you to action. It's not about watching me do all this stuff, being happy about what God can do through me. He wants to use YOU. He gave His Spirit to EVERYONE who loves Him, not just to the missionaries. You don't have to go to another country to be saving people, either. Everywhere you go, keep in mind that you're constantly running into people who are quite possibly going to spend eternity in Hell. What are you going to do about it? You have faith so you can share it. Jesus talks about "bearing fruit", right? What tree hides its fruit so no one can see it? What tree makes fruit for its own pleasure? No way! That's ridiculous. Trees make fruit for other people to see, to enjoy. And the same goes for you. You haven't been given love, joy, peace, patience, etc for yourself. STOP BEING SELFISH. Go eagerly, and share what the Lord has given to you with those around you.

I say all this with love, because I know that your hearts are good and set on following the ways of the Lord.

God bless.
Ash.