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It's time for another update. 

My small group (Core) is winding down. The photo above was from our second-to-last meeting. We had cake and talked about thankfulness. I'm pretty amazed at how God has grown our group over these past months. We've had movies nights, gone to the fair, made tie-dye t-shirts and most importantly, been studying the bible since August. My favorite study we've done so far has been a six-week study on Philippians. That book might be just four chapters, but I felt like every chapter had so many takeaways. 

The overall FOCUS community has been empowering students to get into the Bible more. I, along with my fellow apprentices, was challenged to host groups and read scripture out loud. I read Jonah with some girls from my small group for my first attempt. The book of Jonah led us into some challenging conversation on how we can be like him. My second go at reading scripture aloud was during one of my one-on-ones. This girl has not read much of the Bible, so we met up and read Matthew. It took a little over two hours to read the whole book; there is something to reading a book in its entirety. I felt like I was able to appreciate the rise and fall of Jesus's story. You should give it a try! 


The last thing I wanted to talk about is outreach. This photo is from an event that was done at TWU Dallas. We hosted a cookie decorating hang out with hot cocoa and coffee. TWU Dallas is a college that focuses on health sciences like nursing, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. This cookie event was my first time at their building. It's a different culture from UTD in the fact there are no dorms or really anywhere else to go. There are six floors, that's it. 

What's encouraging about the FOCUS ministry there is that we are equipping people in medical fields to serve Jesus and their patients. Jesus knows how to love people well. Having Jesus's love in a hospital can change a patient's life. So the outreach event went smoothly. We had a few people stay and chat while making cookies. Most of the people who came by were on break from their long lecture classes. It was fun to be able to bless them with warm drinks and cookies. 


 I would ask for you to pray for our students as they finish up their semester. Pray for the students who have been a part of studies and are going back home. Home can be complicated for some students. Lastly, pray for my girls who do not know Christ and that they will seek him over break. I'm excited to see what will come from yall's prayers. 
Thank you so much for coming along this journey with me.
"Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letters but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" 2 Corinthians 3:5-6

Comments

  1. Kelly SchlitzDecember 4, 2018 at 2:42 PM

    Hey Emily! I'm encouraged to hear about you reading Scripture aloud with your students. Hearing the Bible read aloud is a totally different experience from reading the words on the page. I am glad that your students are interested and engaged in encountering God that way!

    I'm also pumped to see you involved with those TWU nursing students. Nursing is definitely a field that needs Jesus! Nurses have so many opportunities to bless, serve, and love people who are experiencing dark times. Training those nursing students to love Jesus and love others will pay kingdom dividends!

    Love you Emily!

    ReplyDelete

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