With the tradition of blogging on holidays...

Happy Valentine's Day...

"For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth He is called. For the Lord has called you... 'with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,' says the Lord, your Redeemer." - Isaiah 54:5-8

Knowing the deep, faithful love of this Redeemer... resting in the peace of His presence... coming away with Him... what a beautiful way to spend Valentine's Day... especially considering that traditionally St. Valentine was a Christian martyr, persecuted as part of the early church...

So much more than a Valentine, my Maker is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. He never changes. His faithful love endures forever. His mercy and forgiveness and grace is new every morning. He has called me, imperfect and impetuous as I am, to be a witness to the nations... His ways and His thoughts are so much higher than my own. I can only marvel at the way He has orchestrated my life - one teensy part of this grand symphony that sings His praise. He is so worthy of all my praise - with every breath - today and forever.

Beautiful. :) And now for the news - I have officially been appointed to return to Peru this summer! Plans are underway for me to head to Recuay with a team of students to make disciples in this town and the surrounding areas. You can be in prayer already for my teammates Olivia and Karen - that the Lord will continue to prepare our hearts for His plans for the summer - that He would provide all that we need - that we would learn to depend on Him wholeheartedly and love Him more the more we know Him. More details to come soon! Until then, "to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, to HIM be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen."