"As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore." Psalm 25:2
This past month the Lord has been surrounding us here in Exeter with His love in every way. He has been faithful in surrounding our small ladies Bible study in the village with His abundant love as we have faithfully been coming together weekly for prayer and study of God's Word. We have seen prayers answered as He has been sheltering us from those daily storms. As we have encountered trials, we have learned so much how God's love is there for comfort and encouragement along the way.
On our last "Solomons Porch" University ministry for the school year, the weather was nice to have a barbecue in our back yard. Many of the students don't often get chances for barbecues, so this was a special time. As we were eating, we all shared about God's abundant love and goodness and how special this year has been. Hearing the students share, my heart was so blessed to see how they have grown more in love with Jesus as God has been truly faithfully to surround them each and everyday with His love, stability and strength. In 3 John 4, it is stated so beautifully- "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children* are walking in the truth."
I had an opportunity to go with about 16 from our church (and a few from other churches) to Poland this past month. The flight was only 2 hours away from our home. It was a 5 day tour throughout the land, visiting a Polish church pastor and wife and encouraging them in the Lord, seeing Kraków and the old Jewish quarters with Schindler's factory, and then visiting Auschwitz and Birkenau, the death camps.
Words are hard to find how special this trip was, though at times it was a remembrance of tragic history. As we walked through Auschwitz, I heard no birds singing; but yet I felt God's Presence holding each one of us close in the comfort of His love.
Throughout the day, God ministered to us about His abundant love, hope and comfort. The Scripture that kept coming to mind the thoughts that were included in Psalm 125:2, "As the mountains are all around Jerusalem, the Lord is then and is now all around His people." With that we can have hope. That no matter what we go through, God is there to surround us with His love, mercy and grace, holding us close to his heart.
Summertime here in Devon is upon us. It is a time for the beautiful flowers to shine forth with the warm temperatures. May we all take time to reflect this summer upon the warmth of "God's Son" and smell His fragrant beauty. For when we do take that time, thankfulness will indeed arise in our hearts for others to see.
Prayer requests:
-future teaching opportunity at Missions Conference in Austria in August
-no visa troubles for the next two years: we are hoping to apply for indefinite leave to remain (residency) in March of 2018, if the Lord tarries.
-abundant grace and refreshment during these summer months before all the University students return in September.
God bless,
Jeanne ❤️🐾
