Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord

Ok, I fully admit I am eating my words. I am willingly- and even more than advised- blogging. I can't help it! God is too good and I had to share!

Short and sweet version of it:

Remember from my last post that our group was going to have ice cream with some girls from a bar? We sure did. and let me tell you, it was the most beautiful conversation I have ever had. 

Last week I knew I was supposed to leave Tip a letter telling her that there was a God who loved her more than she could ever know. I explained it in simple words and left it with her. I had no clue how it was going to be when I saw her next- awkward? just plain weird? But the Lord is so faithful. She brought it up first thing and told me she got goosebumps when she read it. Then, as one thing led to another, DQ blizzards were eaten, the mall was walked, and FINALLY, the gospel was shared!

There is nothing like telling someone how much Jesus loves them. Especially when they have never heard of salvation or of Jesus. The real icing on the cake is when I got to be the first one to tell her that heaven existed and she could go for free! 🙂 Oh my stars, it was incredible and as I explained this free, unearned, undeserved, sacrificial, unending love and the way we are washed clean and are perfect in His sight, all Tip could say was "really?" and "just like that?" 

I was struck by how unbelievable that kind of love truly is. No wonder she was blown away by it! Ponder it for a while if you get the chance.

…..and you thought that was it!

Nope, God was just warming up. That night was a ministry night. I was drained because we had been out all day and I haven't been alone in years (yep, partial introvert). I sat outside with God during worship and told him he was going to have to do it all because I had nothing to offer.

Boy, did he step up to the plate.

We weren't going to go back to the bar that night to see Ning (remember the girl from the last blog that came over and we got to have the great conversation? We prayed that God would start healing in her family and break down the walls in her heart.) WELLL, God had other plans. We were walking down Bangla and we see Ning running towards us, she throws herself on us and weeps and cries and laughs and shares with us what God has been doing in our absence. He answered our prayers in record time!

After praying about it with us she found the courage to talk to her dad and he's leaving his mistress and going back to Ning's mom (his wife) and they are going to start rebuilding her family! She told her fiance everything about her past and he didn't see her as too dirty as she thought he would, but loved her more for it. Her dad even had dinner with him and gave him his blessing to marry Ning. It's insane how much God moved in two days. It's like He was waiting for Ning to ask Him to show His love for her. He proved his love and faithfulness just to prove His love for her. She was yelling in the streets and laughing and shouting about God's love.

 Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord!

That was all I could think as I watched the most pure and beautiful sight I have ever seen, her hands in the air dancing around because she recognized God's goodness. The sound was so sweet to my ears. People walked by and stared at the prostitute who was washed pure as snow because of God's grace. It's one of those snapshots that will be in my brain forever. Complete abandon to God's love.

I was fairly certain my heart was going to explode. I have no clue why God chooses to let us experience this ministry with Him but I am so thankful for the light that is being shed in this dark city. 

If you'll excuse me, I've got a game of spades to win…
much love