tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80764470138420702142024-03-04T21:00:11.557-08:00Surprised by JoyErin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-73223376401969704532017-06-26T06:01:00.001-07:002017-06-26T06:02:13.747-07:00The Flooding of God Over Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have not written on this blog in a long time and that's because of a few reasons. One, is that I have so much going on in my mind and my heart that I don't know how to put it all down. Two, I really haven't had much time to do this type of writing, between journaling and ministry and life. Seriously, we have found that, if possible, we could do ministry 24/7. There is so much opportunity! And finally, I know when I write on this blog it is mainly for me. I know everyone has a busy life and so many things compete for our attention. So when I write on this blog, I guess it is pretty much for me to have a log every once in a while to look back on, but I sure am encouraged whenever anyone wants to read what I have written.<br />
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I know this morning, my spirit wants to boast of God! In fact, I should get in the habit of daily taking the time to just write down what I have heard from God and what I see Him doing. I hope I can begin to get into this discipline. It will be a lot of writing though, because anymore I see Him doing so much! Where in the world to begin?? How do I condense all I have in my heart from Him to just this small space? Well, I will try my best. "Lord, please give me your words to convey how amazing you are in what I have seen you do, recently."<br />
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Let me preface by saying that this year, God has shared with me to mainly stick to reading and studying and meditating on His Word. I still read (cause I absolutely love it!), but minimally for now. Also, He has worked in me the desire to ask and believe Him for great faith in Him! To really believe what He promises and what He is able to do! He has also taught me to look at my life from His perspective, to live according to what His Word says why He created me. To surrender my day each morning to Him and ask for His plans for the day. Then to be sensitive to what I have asked Him for. I want to outlive my life! I want to share the good news of Jesus' desire to save! The best news on the planet! I want to make disciples! I want to live for what He created me to be! I want to be used, to be spent for the gospel! I want to see Him move mightily! I want to see Him do miracles to bring Him honor to Himself!<br />
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I have been in awe and adoration of what I have seen Him do this past year! As we have prayed for God to show us who He is drawing to Himself, He has shown us some. Yesterday, we got to listen to two testimonies of two Chinese visiting scholars and how God drew them to Himself in America. They had had seeds planted about ten years ago by ELIC teachers in China and along the way, and now they get to go back to China as followers of Jesus! Excited about sharing the Truth with others around them! They intend to be very pro active, as they have been discipled and are ready to serve God in China! In the last month, we have seen many new Chinese come to church. As we prayed and asked God to direct our steps to more Chinese relationships, He directed us to go to a small house church that's very international and strong in missional living. How cool is that? It's been SO good for us to be a part of this strong body, and a great way for all of us to build relationships with intention. We all realize that we have windows of time, as most of these Chinese and other internationals are only here for a year.<br />
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So how can I find the adequate words to convey all that I have been honored to see God do in me and around me this last year? I can't, but I will do my best...again. I can't believe that God had this plan for my life! I can't believe that I get to each day talk to and listen to God! I can't believe that I get to see Him move in miraculous ways! I can't believe that He has worked an increasing desire in me to do this work for Him! I can't believe how He has grown my faith in Him! God's Word says, "with man it is impossible, but with God ALL things are possible." I believe this! I finally believe this! Even in all of the challenges that doing full time missions has, I am humbled, honored and grateful that I get to do this in the life that God gave to me! He is way beyond worth it!<br />
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<br />Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-77460893425477790402017-01-02T03:41:00.001-08:002017-01-02T03:41:15.691-08:00The Goodness of the Lord<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I found this drawing and it spoke so sweetly to my soul. It's because it expresses all that I have been feeling lately in my love relationship with my sweet Savior.</div>
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I have never been so much in love with Him and hungered for His presence more. </div>
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He has brought me to this place and I am filled with great JOY and GRATITUDE!</div>
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He is faithful and has held me close as I have navigated through several tribulations this past year. I've felt His great love and compassion as He has gently lead me through the wilderness. </div>
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He's taught me to know that my natural slide into bitterness and anger could be caught by His rescuing hand of grace, then transformed into a state of mind that could only come from Him. He's reminded me that sometimes He allows me to come face-to-face with an experience that could potentially breed bitterness, just so I can see His ability to work miracles in the way I feel. He chose to do this with His Word in Isaiah, "You keep Him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You." As the Holy Spirit continued to bring this Truth to my mind, I have repeatedly prayed it over myself. How miraculous it is to me that God's Word is living and true and it has transformed me! I do have perfect peace when my mind is fixed on Him.</div>
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So, now when I am standing as the children of Israel, my feet planted in a place I don't really want to be....camping out in a location I'd rather be seeing in my rearview mirror, I will not waste what God is developing in me in the wilderness. I will stay put until I am living a fully committed life with Jesus, and it is what I want more than anything. I will camp there and I will look up and see Him in all His splendor and glory. Being wonderfully astounded again and again at His goodness, His power, and His Holiness. And I will remember that I am His child, I am holy and I am loved by Him! And someday soon, I am hopeful that He will take my face tenderly in His hands, just like the drawing... it's my greatest longing!</div>
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Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-15072074329292624282016-08-16T06:43:00.001-07:002016-08-16T06:43:23.406-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do you think of, when you hear the word miracle? The first thought I have, is God. In my heart and mind, God is the creator of genuine miracles. Recently, in my life, I have been asking Him for a miracle. Professing my love for Him and my desire to see Him move! Well, yesterday, He answered that yearning! Right before my eyes, I watched Him perform a miracle! Let me tell you about it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two months ago, we went to a picnic with other campus missionaries and a bunch of students. We all met together at the amphitheater park in Cary for their Fourth of July celebration. Two Chinese visiting scholars sat near Glenn and I and instantly, God gave us friendship. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After that picnic, our team had another picnic at a nearby lake and invited about 20 Chinese friends. Only one of these two young woman joined us with the others. It was a wonderful day of fun and fellowship and it was at that picnic that Jia Rei asked us if she could go with us to church the next day. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She went with us, and afterwards we had lunch together. We talked about the message we had heard, and our families and then we asked her if she had any spiritual beliefs. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She said she hadn't, that her mother was muslim and her father was nothing. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She met us at church the following Sunday and was intently listening to the message. As we walked to the car, the Holy Spirit prompted me to ask her if anyone had ever explained Christianity to her. She said "no" and she said that she wanted to know. So we asked her if she would like to do a Bible study and get her questions answered, and she said "yes". The following week, she came to our home and we began the</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> six week study that we brought back from China. It was created by one </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of our fellow workers in our organization and it is written in both English and Chinese.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we began sharing with her, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">we felt that she was curious. Knowing she had only a month before she returned home, we asked God to help us finish this study well with her in the short time that we had to complete it. He did and when she came to our home </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">yesterday, for some reason because she was late and she was leaving the following day...we just figured in our finite mind that we would finish it the best </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">we could and they would be seeds planted and she would leave. But, God of </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">course had other plans. He had been working in this young woman's heart </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">more that we knew and when we finished and asked her if she could believe this...she smiled and said "yes". We were surprised! I asked her if before she came to America, she had been curious and wondering about God and she said "yes" again. She had a huge smile on her face and we knew that God had certainly been drawing her to himself! Glenn then asked her if she wanted to pray and confess her sinfulness to God and receive Him as Savior, and she said "yes". Not only that though, she said that she was thinking about how she could ask us to do this and become a Christian! We were blown away by what </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God had been doing and was doing in this young woman. How He knew that He would use us when we met her just two months before. How He let us be a part of His salvation plan for Jia Rei! We were so moved, so thankful, so humbled!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please pray for her! Please pray that as we attempt to get her connected to some of our mature believing Chinese friends in Beijing. God has a plan for her, and naturally we wanted to have more time to disciple her. But this was God's plan and He brought her to this point and He will continue to carry out His plan for her. She is excited and she understands, as she refers to herself as a "baby Christian. She is a mother and a wife, so her desire is that her husband and her </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">son also become Christians. She left today with two Bibles, one from our team mate that is bilingual and a small purse sized one in Chinese only. We also gave her a picture Bible to read to her son. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so thankful to God! We have been praying to bear fruit as we abide in Him and also I have been praying habitually for a miracle! I have had this great hunger to see God move in a mighty way that only He can! I have wanted more of Him as never before! He graciously gave us both and He knows how encouraged we are to continue on. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you, most precious Father. The One and Only miracle-worker!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-6947377137900344292016-05-30T13:33:00.003-07:002016-05-30T13:37:21.719-07:00God as Redeemer: Replacing Loss with Something Only He Can Give<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Have you discovered that God wants to redeem things that you never dreamed possible?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Well, I have embarked on that discovery and I believe it is one of the most beautiful and</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">touching things about God. I am understanding that this is nothing less than solid</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">evidence of His love for me, so it changes my perspective of things I believe I</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">had lost. I also believe, knowing the character and faithfulness of God, that I will see</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">possibilities in my life like never before. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Time and again in His Word God shows His redemption. And because He has already</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">redeemed the most important things in my life. He has redeemed me from hell, from second</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">death, from condemnation, from sin. His words cause me to be expectant and hopeful about</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">what God can do in situations of extreme loss.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">In Isaiah, He asks, "Is My hand shorted that it cannot redeem?" And in the book of</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jeremiah, He says, "I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked and I will redeem</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">you from the grip of the terrible". So I know that no matter what has been lost or</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">stolen in my life, God will restore it in some way. In Psalm 34, God tells me that</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">He redeems the soul of His servants. Of course it's always in His time and His way,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">but I know that there will come a point when I no longer feel the pain of certain losses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Lord has shown me lovingkindness and tender mercies. In all things, I worship Him</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">as my God and my Savior, my Protector and my Deliverer and my Redeemer! His praise is</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">always on my lips no matter what the circumstances, because He has graciously showed me</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">that He alone knows how to repair and rebuild no matter how much damage has occurred. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I am confident that I will never experience any loss so great that He cannot restore or redeem</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lord, thank you for loving me so great that You desire to restore my life in every way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Redeem me and revive me according to Your Word. (Psalm 119:154). Draw near to my</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">soul, and redeem it. (Psalm 69:18) Redeem me and be merciful to me. (Psalm 26:11)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Thank you for all the redemption You have already worked in my life, please continue</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">to redeem my life in ways I never dreamed possible. I proclaim that You alone, God, are</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">the God of Impossibilities! You are Faithful.</span></div>
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<br />Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-75719755137243597322016-04-19T12:40:00.000-07:002016-04-19T12:41:28.516-07:00Useful in His Hands1 Peter 4 says that Christ suffered "according to the will of God". For me, it's predominately the last 2 years that I've been able to better understand what God is after in His dealings with me, in my sufferings. Of course, at the time of what God was putting me through, I had no understanding of what God was doing and why He was allowing it. Do we ever? It has only been by His grace and my chasing after Him in chunks of solidarity....craving His voice... that I am able to know and understand why He has allowed certain suffering in my life. God has strengthened me as no other time in my life. He has supernaturally transformed me to more intentionally live for Him. He has made known His Lordship over my life and what His desires are for me and He has loved me so sweetly.<br />
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Hoping each day that I live with His divine perspective planted in my heart. I am basking in His love for me that He would do this in my life. I am so thankful that I am on the other side of those sufferings in some sense. I am so thankful that He chose me to be His bond-servant. it's the only true way to really live! Containing His Joy and having the honor of reflecting Him! He has taught me how to live with contentedness where I am... to view this life as saints that have gone before me and carrying a quiet longing for Him as I journey nearer to that time. I really DO love my Savior with all of my heart, mind and strength and I will serve Him all the days of my life. How could I not? He has given me peace that surpasses all understanding.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sjOCk2L98qMZWxJrkLDDe7lanWK6XGyU_mAR9s23CtgGEzJo-xrS6oaYACrBHYlG32ntt1K6oS2Lkp5-Q_Flo_76LJUGpRNbErGpqfLEbT4V1UGTzeJM3U1K9HuK9oev7Na9QfodUFRw/s1600/jesus-hugging-girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sjOCk2L98qMZWxJrkLDDe7lanWK6XGyU_mAR9s23CtgGEzJo-xrS6oaYACrBHYlG32ntt1K6oS2Lkp5-Q_Flo_76LJUGpRNbErGpqfLEbT4V1UGTzeJM3U1K9HuK9oev7Na9QfodUFRw/s320/jesus-hugging-girl.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<br />Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-90129123627157957552016-01-24T06:40:00.004-08:002016-01-24T07:42:52.762-08:00I WANT RENEWED<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xMTNafIHwtgr4EeJP7eBi5_TgWvWVM2z4w2knqXElRgRKGRB80UUnCpIv3toScZPfz-EckB0e9NHicpC_M64I75ZQnwi9GgfYTUew3DEJ-AICkm1BGxwAZYpfJw4F32ZWO9b2JKlyMPX/s1600/IMG_8812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xMTNafIHwtgr4EeJP7eBi5_TgWvWVM2z4w2knqXElRgRKGRB80UUnCpIv3toScZPfz-EckB0e9NHicpC_M64I75ZQnwi9GgfYTUew3DEJ-AICkm1BGxwAZYpfJw4F32ZWO9b2JKlyMPX/s320/IMG_8812.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I want God to deliver me! I want to be renewed this year. I want God to change my emotions, attitudes, and patterns of thought. I want Him to take all of the pain endured the last couple of years and turn them into beautiful praise for Him! I want Him to pour out His Spirit upon me and make my heart open to receive all He has for me. I want Him to make my mind clear so I can better understand His Word. I am humbly asking Him to refresh, enrich, enlighten, free, fulfill, and HEAL me. That He will breathe life into the dead areas of my existence. That He will infuse me with His power and His JOY! I am asking Him to fill my empty places, liberate me from bondage, take away my fears and doubts, grow my faith, and give me the pearl of great price: PEACE.<br />
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For now, I am praising and worshipping Him, no petitions, just that He would do a mighty work in me! Simply basking in His love and tenderness for me. My heart wants to express my utter dependence on Him, my total submission to Him. David spoke of praising God constantly. He said, "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1. I want to do this, I want this great blessing. I want to really seek the LORD my God, and I am told in His Word that if I seek Him with all my heart and with all of my soul I will find Him. I want this! My spirit is longing for Him in a new way! John 4:23 tells me, "The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him". He wants to reveal Himself, His glory, and His power to those who look to Him. What a treasure, I want this treasure! My heart and my spirit are longing for Him to fill it.<br />
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I am asking God to revive me, to ignite my God-given passion for HIM! I want Him to be my focus and experience His love so abundantly! When I am praising God, the tornados of life will still swirl around me, but I believe that I will see God move on my behalf. I understand the hidden power of praise. It's not me saying, "I'll give it everything I've got, and the Lord will bless it," but rather it's the Lord saying, "You just bless My name, and I'll give it everything I have." It's His character. He wants my love and my worship and praise, oh He deserves this and so much more. In only Praise and Worship of Him, this is my dwelling place for now. I want His kindling afresh and His JOY overflowing! "As the deer panteth after water, so my soul panteth after You!<br />
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<div class="line" id="p19091001_06-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5.5em; text-indent: -3.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="selected" original-title="" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> He who dwells in </span><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the shelter of the Most High</span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19091001_16-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 7em; text-indent: -4em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a alt="esv_16" class="va" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8076447013842070214" rel="v19091001" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">will abide in </span><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the shadow of the Almighty.</span></div>
<div class="line" id="p19091002_01-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5.5em; text-indent: -3.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> I will say </span><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to the </span><span class="small-caps" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">, “My </span><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">refuge and my </span><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">fortress,</span></div>
<div class="indent line" id="p19091002_12-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 7em; text-indent: -4em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a alt="esv_12" class="va" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8076447013842070214" rel="v19091002" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">my God, in whom I </span><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">trust.” Psalm 91:1-2</span></div>
Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-16937647335937736572016-01-06T13:57:00.002-08:002016-01-06T13:57:48.662-08:00Sometimes a Song Says It Perfectly!This beautiful song by Big Daddy Weave,<br />
Every time I listen,<br />
I am singing these very words. <br />
To set the tone for future blogging, I think this is fitting.<br />
Because, I "Could Not Have Said Any Better." <br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">If I told you my story</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">You would hear Hope that wouldn't let go</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">And if I told you my story</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">You would hear Love that never gave up</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">And if I told you my story</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">You would hear Life, but it wasn't mine</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">If I should speak then let it be</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Of the grace that is greater than all my sin</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Of when justice was served and where mercy wins</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Oh to tell</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> you my story is to tell of Him</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">If I told you my story</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">You would hear victory over the enemy</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">And if I told you my story</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">You would hear freedom that was won for me</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">And if I told you my story</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">You would hear Life overcome the grave</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">If I should speak then let it be</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Of the grace that is greater than all my sin</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Of when justice was served and where mercy wins</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Oh to tell you my story is to tell of Him</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is my story, this is my song<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Praising my savior all the day long<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />This is my story, this is my song<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Praising my savior all the day long<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span>Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-25552184405251208182015-08-01T07:11:00.001-07:002015-08-01T07:11:17.221-07:00Living in These Truths!<div style="border: 0px; color: #464646; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He calls you </i><b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">beloved</i></b><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Rom 9.25" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Rom%209.25" style="border: 0px; color: #6ab3b2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Romans 9:25</a>).</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You are his </i><b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">treasured possession</i></b><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Deut 7.6" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Deut%207.6" style="border: 0px; color: #6ab3b2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Deuteronomy 7:6</a>).</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You are His </i><b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">child </i></b><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="John 1.12" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%201.12" style="border: 0px; color: #6ab3b2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">John 1:12</a>, <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Rom 8.17" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Rom%208.17" style="border: 0px; color: #6ab3b2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Romans 8:17</a>).</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You are </i><b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">free</i></b><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Gal 5.1" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gal%205.1" style="border: 0px; color: #6ab3b2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Galatians 5:1</a>).</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You have been </i><b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">redeemed</i></b><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Eph 1.7" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Eph%201.7" style="border: 0px; color: #6ab3b2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ephesians 1:7</a>).</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You have been and will be </i><b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">restored</i></b><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="1 Pet 5.10" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Pet%205.10" style="border: 0px; color: #6ab3b2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1 Peter 5:10</a>, <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Col 1.13-14" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Col%201.13-14" style="border: 0px; color: #6ab3b2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Colossians 1:13-14</a>).</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You have been and can be </i><b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">forgiven</i></b><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Heb 10.17" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Heb%2010.17" style="border: 0px; color: #6ab3b2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hebrews 10:17</a>, <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="1 John 1.9" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20John%201.9" style="border: 0px; color: #6ab3b2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1 John 1:9</a>).</i></div>
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I am FREE and living to only PLEASE HIM!</div>
Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-89974291302088103952015-07-30T20:07:00.000-07:002015-07-30T20:07:24.032-07:00How Do I Describe the Last Two Years?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If anyone would ask me to describe the last two years in China, I would have to say something like: God literally took my life and shook it up! When I think about it, it's still so shocking to me. He used my obedience in ways I would've never dreamed and He changed me more than I thought possible. While we were preparing to move I didn't even think about being changed, really. When you serve cross-culturally, I don't believe most people even think about what God is going to do to them. I didn't. And I'm happy I didn't know what was coming, I would have been scared to go. He knew that though. He also knew that His Mighty Strength would be enough for me in my weakness. <div>
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I still cannot believe what He let me be a part of! It was extremely hard at times with many struggles, but what I received is way more than I would have ever thought or imagined. It was because of obedience. It was because He knows what's best for me, I don't. We think we do, but we don't.</div>
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If Glenn and I would have said, no, we would have missed some of the biggest blessings of our life! Making life-long relationships with Chinese students, sharing the "greatest news" with some, getting to be in the classroom with them each week doing our best to teach them our language, living life with them on campus, worshipping with some, celebrating with them in their accomplishments, listening to their hearts.... And in all of this, becoming changed more for Him! We LOVE Chinese students so much and in the years to come we look forward to building relationships with more Chinese on campuses, continuing communication with all of our Chinese friends still in their homeland, ministering to our Chinese friends that have come abroad and sharing with many how the hardest thing that God asks you to do will actually bless your socks off! You won't believe what He will do with your "yes"!</div>
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Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-11871524354375764242015-03-29T20:16:00.000-07:002015-03-29T20:16:19.143-07:00Something Beautiful I Have to Share.<div style="border: 0px; color: #464646; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">O LORD,</i><strong style="border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></div>
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<i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I marvel that thou shouldst become incarnate,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> be crucified, dead, and buried.</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The sepulchre calls forth my adoring wonder,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> for it is empty and thou art risen;</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> the four-fold gospel attests it,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> the living witnesses prove it,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> my heart’s experience knows it.</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Give me to die with thee that I may rise to new life,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> for I wish to be as dead and buried</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> to sin, to selfishness, to the world;</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> that I might not hear the voice of the charmer,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> and might be delivered from his lusts.</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">O Lord, there is much ill about me — crucify it,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> much flesh within me — mortify it.</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Purge me from selfishness,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> the fear of man, the love of approbation,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> the shame of being thought old-fashioned,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> the desire to be cultivated or modern.</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let me reckon my old life dead</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> because of crucifixion,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> and never feed it as a living thing.</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Grant me to stand with my dying Saviour,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> to be content to be rejected,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> to be willing to take up unpopular truths,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> and to hold fast despised teachings until death.</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Help me to be resolute and Christ-contained.</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Never let me wander from the path of obedience</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> to thy will.</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Strengthen me for the battles ahead.</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Give me courage for all the trials,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> and grace for all the joys.</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Help me to be a holy, happy person,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> free from every wrong desire,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> from everything contrary to thy mind.</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Grant me more and more of the resurrection life:</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> may it rule me,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> may I walk in its power,</i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> and be strengthened through its influence.</i></div>
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<i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">- “Crucifixion and Resurrection” from </i><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1DFj9LT" style="border: 0px; color: #6ab3b2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Valley of Vision</a></i></div>
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Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-13124402898264539182015-01-03T00:22:00.002-08:002015-01-03T00:22:52.658-08:00Hey Soul<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I don't know if anyone reads, Ann Voskamp's "Hey Soul" posts, but I love them. They speak to my soul and today I am going to talk to my soul here, using her template. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;">(The human soul is central to the personhood of a human being. As C. S. Lewis said, “You don’t have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.” In other words, personhood is not based on having a body. A soul is what is required. Repeatedly in the Bible, people are referred to as “souls” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Exodus 31.14" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Exodus%2031.14" style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Exodus 31:14</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Proverbs 11.30" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Proverbs%2011.30" style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Proverbs 11:30</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;">), especially in contexts that focus on the value of human life and personhood or on the concept of a “whole being” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Psalm 16.9-10" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%2016.9-10" style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Psalm 16:9-10</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Ezekiel 18.4" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel%2018.4" style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Ezekiel 18:4</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Acts 2.41" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Acts%202.41" style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Acts 2:41</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Revelation 18.13" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Revelation%2018.13" style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Revelation 18:13</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;">).)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hey Soul,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You have had a bittersweet year, but I guess that's normal in this broken world.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You have had countless joys from the Father, nevertheless, I know the pain </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">you have </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">endured at different times has been excruciating to you. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have felt it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Making me at times, feel like I could just fall apart.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Instead, through these painful times, the Father is teaching me how to </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">take better care of you, my soul.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He has urged me, this year, to give me</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <b>more</b> of what I need. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To better care for a part of me that will live forever.</span></h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">intention, this year, to nourish you all the more </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">with Father's </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">truth in a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">more superior way. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Through each day, I will be <b>still</b> at times when sensing you need more of Him-</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">bring us His Peace. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And at night, when I lie down, with my heart I will ask Him to</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">prepare us for another tomorrow and to give us His strength </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">for what's ahead.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Soul, I <b>need</b> you to be more filled with His Truth. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I will be more purposeful </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">with my part in it.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">breathed </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Gen. 2:7</span>Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-53617358655120703902014-11-20T19:38:00.002-08:002014-11-20T19:38:36.207-08:00If you want me to...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">This beautiful song is by Ginny Owens and it spoke to my heart today.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">The pathway is broken and the signs are unclear</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">And I don't know the reasons why you brought me here.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">But just because you love me the way that You do</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">I'm gonna walk through the valley if you want me to.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">Cause I'm not who I was when I took my first step</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">And I'm clinging to the promise You’re not through with me yet.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">So if all of these trials that bring me closer to You</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">Then I will go through the fire if you want me to.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">And it may not be the way I would've chosen</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">When you lead me through a world that's not my home</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">But you never said it would be easy</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">You only said I'd never go alone.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">So when the whole world turns against me</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">And I'm all by myself</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">And I can't hear you answer my cries for help</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">I'll remember the suffering that your love put you through</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">And I will go through the valley if you want me to.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">I recommend listening to it on you tube :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;">all for HIM!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 29px;"><ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-0919305250342516" data-ad-slot="8367624871" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="display: inline-block; height: 250px; width: 300px;"><ins id="aswift_0_expand" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline-table; height: 250px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 300px;"></ins></ins></span>Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-10664307578646140832014-09-30T22:57:00.003-07:002014-09-30T22:57:55.708-07:00my sanctuary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3e55zRlCu1ysQskzyhsHj-KgbSdsSOfOmPwZUeLnKQx5cS0Zu1BzTczGfDEFhZpsbtpxI7SDnrlpvv3brmr9OS5bPoSPIEcAC-RJ-pkoQKpJAKnuvoflqoz3M9q4SyDZGITkqd4LMocED/s1600/jesus-is-my-freind-218x300.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3e55zRlCu1ysQskzyhsHj-KgbSdsSOfOmPwZUeLnKQx5cS0Zu1BzTczGfDEFhZpsbtpxI7SDnrlpvv3brmr9OS5bPoSPIEcAC-RJ-pkoQKpJAKnuvoflqoz3M9q4SyDZGITkqd4LMocED/s1600/jesus-is-my-freind-218x300.jpeg" /></a></div>
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This picture is my focus...<br />
It's where I have journeyed to...<br />
It brings me things of Him...<br />
The Peace, the Faith, the Hope that only He can give me...<br />
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I am not focusing on what's around me...<br />
I TRUST HIS FAITHFULNESS!<br />
I am not concerning my self with tomorrow...<br />
I TRUST HIS FAITHFULNESS!<br />
I don't want my will...<br />
I TRUST HIS FAITHFULNESS!<br />
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I want to stay hidden in Him...<br />
I want all He has to offer me...<br />
I want to resist temptation...<br />
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I simply want to rest in His arms.<br />
<br />Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-56595711343656843092014-05-06T23:11:00.001-07:002014-05-06T23:11:41.575-07:00While I'm Waiting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.judydouglass.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/waiting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.judydouglass.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/waiting.jpg" height="242" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love it when certain songs at key times in my life really resonate with what I am enduring. It plays, I listen and say in my heart, "yea that's how I feel." While I'm Waiting is the song for my heart and soul right now.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am waiting,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am waiting on you Lord</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I am Hopeful</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(standing on Hope!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm waiting on You, Lord</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Though it is painful</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(so painful like I've never known)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But patiently, I will wait.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will move ahead, bold and confident</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(In Your strength, I will move ahead)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking every step in obedience</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(it's the way I can move ahead)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I'm waiting</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will serve You</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(I want to serve You, Lord)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I'm waiting</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will worship</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Everyday, I will worship and adore You)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I'm waiting</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will not faint</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(You, O Lord, will give me strength I need)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll be running the race</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Provide me with unending courage!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even while I wait</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(It will all be worth it!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 26px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm waiting</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm waiting on You, Lord</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I am peaceful</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(My obedience gives me peace)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm waiting on You, Lord</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Though it's not easy</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Only You give me the ability to wait)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But faithfully, I will wait</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, I will wait</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(You have made it clear to me, to wait)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />I will serve You while I'm waiting</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(You provide me with fortitude I need)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will worship while I'm waiting</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will SERVE You while I'm waiting</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will WORSHIP while I'm waiting</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I WILL SERVE YOU WHILE I'M WAITING</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord</span></span></div>
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Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-51717638000927646072014-04-18T03:12:00.000-07:002014-04-18T16:14:05.323-07:00Like Peter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ronmartin.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/stop-rooster-crowing-200x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.ronmartin.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/stop-rooster-crowing-200x200.jpg" /></a></div>
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To me, it's the most wonderful time of the year! The Spring season is a season of newness all around in Father's creation. It's a celebration of the winter being behind me and looking forward to the trees and flowers blooming and the season of Easter and hope. As I have been reading and thinking about the events that led up to The Son's crucifixion, I've decided to look at Peter with more focus.</div>
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We all know Peter's story, denying his Friend three times before the rooster crowed. I used to think, how could he do that? How could he betray the One he followed? How could he deny his friend, the one that he claimed over and over again to love. As I've grown older, I realize that I probably would've done the same. It would have been my first response, I'm sure. If I think about it, when I am fearful and don't think about what I am going to say it's usually something that I'll regret. He was human and that's probably what happened, since he was fearful. </div>
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Just like Peter, we live in those few moments between the rooster's first crow..worldliness, getting by, provision, familiarity...and the second crow of shame, realization, loss, despair and weeping. After the first crow, it's an opportunity to turn around and change my course. But after the second crow, well that one is the realization of truth and remorse usually follows.</div>
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I can learn a lot from Peter, but what I am learning this season is that I don't want to continue with the shame, realization, loss, despair and weeping as much as in my past. I want to gain wisdom from this story. I want to be prepared and less fearful, so that I will be well equipped when the second crow comes. I want to remember and be encouraged that 106 times the word, wait, is used in The Word, for perfect reason. I want to wait and then respond, so I can hang my head in shame...less.</div>
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Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-75716141614185927112014-04-16T01:22:00.001-07:002014-04-16T01:22:57.498-07:00Living in Beijing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, before class, we invited our neighbors for lunch. Our neighbors are a German teacher who has a Chinese wife and a young lady from Spain. As we enjoyed lunch and conversation together, it dawned on me that this is a benefit of living here. We get to share meals with foreigners from other countries and share about our culture and our experiences here in China. So I think I will share with you, first, the positives of living here for this season. </div>
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Most Chinese people like foreigners, especially if you are kind and respectful to them. Many of them think to do little extras for us and it makes us smile. Just yesterday, Glenn and I went to a dining hall on campus to have lunch after class. We were sitting there eating lunch and a lady worker there saw that we were eating a rice dish with chopsticks and went and got us each a spoon. When we go into our market on campus to our vegetable and fruit people, they love to throw in little freebies for us to enjoy. Right now it seems to be cherry tomatoes.</div>
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Rather than bore you with all the details, I will just list some other benefits and if you have questions you can email me. Cheap public transportation that includes buses galore, big subway system and cheap taxis. Lots of vegetables and fruits everywhere. Students always encouraging us that we should take a nap everyday. Impromptu visits when someone wants to see you. A culture that is so relational. Lots of good food available. Hot pot. Lots of free tea to be had. Respectful students with lots of smiling faces. Cheap cell phone plans. Chinese love to bring fruit as a gift, just this week we were given watermelon and a bag of cherry tomatoes. Two places on either side of our campus to get good coffee. Seven very cheap dining halls and five restaurants right on campus. Most students like to play badminton. And best of all: talking of the son is as easy as discussing the weather :)</div>
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Next time I'll share some, not so positive things, cause we know everywhere has them! </div>
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Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-17779256542282685102014-03-12T18:11:00.003-07:002014-03-12T18:58:07.096-07:00Joy Restored<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been four months since I've been on this blog, and it's not that I didn't have anything to write, but I didn't know what to write. With so many things swirling around in my head, I just couldn't get them to the keyboard, maybe that's why it's called, "writer's block." The fact is that I have been "in school" with the Father learning some pretty intense lessons these previous months and I have felt my mind was swimming and that's all it could do. Too tired, too mentally exhausted, too wiped out after all the "swimming" brain activity, and not enough energy left to sit and write. I am finally at peace now, my mind is at rest and my joy is restored.<br />
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Since coming to Beijing, I have been stretched beyond anything I expected! It's been so hard and so painful. But I have been privileged to know my Father in ways that I don't think I would've otherwise. He has given me abundant strength and sustained me in the days that all I could do was go through the motions. He has forgiven me, when in the beginning months I desired to be disobedient to His calling for me. He has used me, even in my weaknesses. He has healed me of pain and much grieving. He has given me a new song. Best of all He is so much more to me. I trust Him in such a deeper way and my love for Him is newer! I am thankful for what the Father has brought me through, because I am different. I am more of who He has designed me to be. <br />
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Looking back, Father's showed me how I have had tendencies related to Lot's wife, Jeremiah the prophet and Job. I never thought of relating to any of these people, especially Lot's wife, until Father showed me that in one way I was doing exactly what she did that turned her into salt. She became cold, careless and disobedient. She couldn't fully let go of what she was to leave behind. I struggled with this. Along with my feelings of grieving the past of what I left behind and the homesickness, conformity and compromise began to crowd in. My faith that I thought was so strong began to erode. I was beginning to move towards having a divided heart and from that came a lot of grief. Enter, Jeremiah, the weeping part of Jeremiah. I don't think I was ever able to fully understand "weeping" until I was the one doing this. I felt so much loss, such a longing for what was behind me, but most of all such a deep sadness over my sin of my divided heart. My spirit was in a state of anguish and I could barely stand myself. As for the Job part, that was some understanding of his "ashes". When Job sat among the ashes He began to see and repented. Thankfully, Father showed me how to do the same. As I sat among the dust and ashes, my Father was able to get me to focus only on Him. He reminded me of His power, His sovereignty, His strength in me. As I was finally taking His strength, I knew it was the end of the path of this destructive storm I had been in. He restored my joy in Him and pulled me from the ashes and I am rejoicing! <br />
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There is such beauty now in my newfound love relationship with Him. The old way of thinking has disappeared. There is absolutely nothing that I can add or take away to make His plan any greater, so I have humbly submitted my heart to His plan for me. I am not questioning His purpose or looking back and wishing things were as before. I am able to thank Him for blessing upon blessing in the past seasons of my life, and I am praising Him for this present season of blessing! All the twists and turns threw me off balance and caused such painful stretching, but in the end I am able to embrace His will and proclaim that He is the Hero of this story! HE IS FAITHFUL!<br />
<br />Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-63666177092864522882013-11-07T23:57:00.002-08:002013-11-08T00:02:17.088-08:00Finding the vestibule of heaven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Moving across the ocean has forced me to take cover<br />
in the shelter of the Most High.<br />
I have taken refuge under His wings.<br />
Walking in a foreign land has forced me<br />
to "live out" the words that have previously been before my eyes.<br />
Up until this "uprooting", often it has been read and glean.<br />
But, coming to China has changed all that.<br />
I have a much larger dependence and an intense need for the "Living Word".<br />
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I have to "live" in Truth! I have to make sure it's enveloped around me.<br />
I have to meditate on it and ask for the faith to believe.<br />
I have to desire it becomes alive in my spirit.<br />
I have to ask for strength from Him.<br />
I have to ask for His perspective, His desires.<br />
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the physical distraction competing for my attention.<br />
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I know that the Holy Spirit has a strict watch over me.<br />
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He is Sovereign. He has brought me here. <br />
He has a right to do as He pleases with me.<br />
I want to look beyond my temporary challenges to what God is doing.<br />
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I must be where God desires.<br />
I am His, He is mine.<br />
He is so gracious and His kindness showers me in His Fatherly way.<br />
He is telling me that through all of the strain and stretching,<br />
He has pledged Himself to make me all that I would love to be!<br />
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<br />Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-10469715285846072782013-10-10T04:55:00.002-07:002013-10-10T16:38:15.775-07:00Regular life on campus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was a gorgeous fall day today in Beijing and as we were walking on campus, I thought it would be fun to share the regular things about living here on The B.I.T. campus.</div>
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We have quite a few dining halls/restaurants on campus and we've been going to the staff dining</div>
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beans and meat. The young man always laughs nicely when he sees us because we can tell him what we want in Chinese, but he knows if he asks anything else we have no idea what he is saying. That bowl, by the way, sets us back 8 RMB, which is $1.31 U.S. Today was special, three male teachers joined Glenn and I for lunch and we had fun getting to know one another.</div>
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You make friends with so many different people here. Most Chinese people are very kind and they are very relational. We go to the fruit and veggie market and they want to talk to us and when you keep going back to the same vendors they usually give you a free treat every now and then. Today it was two small clementines. Oranges and clementines are so good here! Very, very juicy!</div>
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This evening after getting a few groceries and fruit at the market we went around the corner to a small vending area of street food. There is a vendor with two young men that have a freezer full of frozen meat kabobs and a big open fire going with a grill top. You pick, they cook it as spicy as you want it. This sets us back 3 RMB (.50 U.S.) and it's so delicious! Next to them is a noodle vendor. They have two different refrigerators, one of meat and they other full of trays of different veggies. You pick a basket and put all the meat and veggies you want in it. You give this to the waiter, they weigh it, you pay and in a few minutes you have hot steamy noodles for about 18 RMB ($3).</div>
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One of the things I really like about China is all the vending on the streets. Everyday there are all kinds of vendors mostly anywhere you go. They are selling a variety of nuts, foods, phone cases, journals, clothes, socks, slippers and yummy drinks. My favorite is a cold green tea that has such a good flavor. It's fun to be able to make purchases without going in an actual store.</div>
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The little convenience store on campus is handy for our staples and a few sweets that are familiar comfort foods. Tonite we picked up a few packs of mini donuts, bread and oreos. The downside is they only sell bagged milk, which for us is great for cooking and not so much for drinking. There also we can get any sewing done that we may need, copies made for Glenn's students, money put on our phones, and watch repairs done.</div>
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So to wrap up, I want to share something that hopefully will at least make you smile. There is a very common saying in this country: "It's China", meaning anything goes in China. We laugh because it's true. We see everyday things here that would definitely cause a second look, but here it doesn't attract any attention. In China, it's so much about relationships and not appearance. You can wear the same thing everyday and I really don't think it would be noticeable. You do what is necessary here. You have one bike and a family of three? You all, in some way ride that bike. You meet someone and you are both hungry or it's time for a meal? You go eat together and you'll get to know one another over that meal. You like a striped shirt and a flowered skirt? Wear them together, here it is not a faux pas. And here is the smile (or laugh) part: You want to show your friends/family a squirrel you saw? You put it in your fanny pack and take it to them on the subway! Yep, anything goes in China and most of the time it doesn't even get a second look!</div>
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Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-79493806267112890272013-09-23T02:46:00.003-07:002014-02-17T22:32:36.102-08:00COMFORT TO COURAGE (by Andy Cheely)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Whether moving to China, teaching a new course, shopping in a market or building relationships with students, leaving comfort for courage makes us want to wrap our arms around every ounce of safety in our life. From the outside, leaving comfort and safety looks and sounds alluring and attractive, but the attraction fades quickly. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moving from comfort to courage will… <strong>cause us to question our decision.</strong> It will cause us to look around for the safety bars, seatbelt, any kind of security button.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moving from comfort to courage will… <strong>cause us to try to make something happen. </strong>Scheme, make phone calls, send out hail mary e-mails—anything to distract from sitting in the fear.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moving from comfort to courage will… <strong>cause us to doubt our abilities. We</strong> will look at everything that we have failed at in the past … failed relationships, failed financial decisions, failed leadership calls—and we will wonder if we will repeat those patterns and if they are indicators to go out and look for comfort again.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moving from comfort to courage will… <strong>cause us to doubt the author of the calling on our life.</strong></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moving from comfort to courage will… <strong>cause us to be jealous of your supporters/teammates</strong>. They seem to be perfectly content with their lives. We will wonder if we are some sort of crazy person that has a unhealthy propensity to live on the edge.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moving from comfort to courage will… <strong>cause us to look for the easy way out.</strong></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moving from comfort to courage will… <strong>cause us to feel weak in the knees</strong>—a good indicator that we should stop standing up and get ON our knees.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moving from comfort to courage will… <strong>cause others to question us.</strong> We will be misunderstood, questioned, and perhaps even seen as foolish.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As we've finished these first two months, we remember to listen to Him tell us to settle down, to trust and to release every one of these fears into the everlasting arms. It is impossible to invite others into a life of obedience if we are unable to live it ourselves—so today we will be strong and courageous in Him.</span></div>
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Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-7459209719455633742013-08-07T22:56:00.001-07:002013-08-07T22:56:56.310-07:00Where God Has Planted Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTIMTuY-PkMaDT-32HqWBfAqVDL7oXWICu4LjNJSJtG_4XQxfaCQg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTIMTuY-PkMaDT-32HqWBfAqVDL7oXWICu4LjNJSJtG_4XQxfaCQg" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
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I am planted, physically, in Beijing.<br />
I am determined to make this feel like home for the next year.<br />
I am desiring to embrace China's culture.<br />
I am exactly where my Father has purposed me,<br />
and with all my flesh I want to please Him!<br />
<br />
I am planted, emotionally, in contentment.<br />
I am asking the Father to keep me firm in this soil.<br />
I am learning everyday to "take every thought captive to obey Christ".<br />
I am exactly where my Father has purposed me<br />
and with all my emotions I want to please Him!<br />
<br />
I am planted, spiritually, in a guarded position of hope.<br />
I am relying on the Holy Spirit to supernaturally work this in me each day.<br />
I am thinking on, "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,<br />
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, any excellence,<br />
anything worthy".<br />
I am EXACTLY where my Father has purposed me,<br />
and with all of my spirit I want to please Him!<br />
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Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-27968066869370501182013-07-02T12:04:00.001-07:002013-07-02T12:14:18.126-07:00Gifts from Glenn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I have been so blessed to be able to see our children<br />
and their families before I move :)<br />
One of the things of love most about my husband,<br />
is his tender heart towards me.<br />
He loves his children and granddaughter also,<br />
very much...but he knows it is different for a mom.<br />
He knew how much it would bless me to take two<br />
visits before I left. These two things will make it<br />
much easier for me in the "homesickness" department.<br />
<br />
I am so relational and I thrive being around folks I love.<br />
Obviously, after the Father and Glenn<br />
would be my children and their families. <br />
So what a wonderful touch to my heart when Glenn<br />
told me that I needed to go see them before we left!<br />
<br />
The last month has been a whirlwind with<br />
leaving my job that I really enjoyed :) <br />
Saying goodbye to friends and being<br />
commissioned to "go" at church. <br />
Along with that was a memorable trip to<br />
CA where Dan and Cara totally spoiled me with<br />
their hospitality :) I am in KS now and instead of<br />
beaching it, bike riding and sharing coffee and<br />
conversation....I am playing Candy Land, Playdoh,<br />
stickers, painting, kitchen and house! LOL <br />
<br />
I am praising Father for<br />
these days! He is stirring up His<br />
Will for us these last weeks and although<br />
we will be sad to leave many, we both<br />
feel we are getting very anxious to go! <br />
His desire has become ours, and that is beautiful! <br />
We are asking for wisdom and courage,<br />
the same that He gave to Paul. <br />
Knowing that He will give us both!<br />
<br />
He is our ROCK!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-35230451314318685392013-05-25T12:02:00.003-07:002013-05-25T12:02:30.307-07:00OUR CHINA GOD STORY<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just about every day I think about some part of God's plan for getting us to China and each</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">time I think, "God, I still am in awe of what you have done!" "How did all this happen"? I think back to about five years or so ago when I slowly His plan began to unfold and smile in my heart. Our church had a missionary preach one Sunday and Glenn and I both sensed the Holy Spirit speaking to us. As we both shared with one another, neither one of us were quite sure what He meant yet. Glenn knew, however, that he was to finish his schooling to get his undergrad and while he was doing that I began to search for missions availability for us. God presented "The Finisher's Project" to us and we knew from researching them that God was clearly pointing us in this direction. Over time, we began waiting until they would have a weekend conference in our area and in March 2011 we attended. The conference was wonderful and we received God's confirmation that we were definitely on the path He was calling us to. There were many mission agencies represented at the conference, but we were drawn repeatedly to English Language Institute China (ELIC). When we returned and began to seek God on this, He led us to go on ELIC's annual vision trip in October 2011. Previous to this trip, Glenn and I both shared that we seriously doubted that God was asking us to go there more long term, but we thought it would be great to see China. When we arrived there, we were astounded! God not only gave us a love for the Chinese, but confirmed over and over again that, yes, this is where He was calling us to. We were sad to leave, but we knew that we would return. Since then, God has confirmed so clearly His call for us to China. He has raised our support to go, He has sold our home, He has given us Chinese friends, He has given us a love for learning the language and He has given us the supernatural ability to "let go" of things here. We love our country and all of our family and friends here. It will be hard to leave all that we are used to, but we love our Lord so much more and He is the one that deserves our all! We are blessed and honored to go to China to join others in making Jesus famous!! This is a window of an amazing opportunity for us and we are going to SNAG IT!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-21471002689460717192013-04-23T06:03:00.001-07:002013-04-23T06:03:02.429-07:00Fastened Face<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As a follower of Jesus </div>
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I have many privileges</div>
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I can scarcely take them all in.</div>
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Each one is my birthright</div>
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and the most delightful of all</div>
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is Beholding Jesus.</div>
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Being in God's Word</div>
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and cultivating the truest</div>
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riches of beholding and</div>
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knowing Jesus.</div>
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I come with a cry in my heart</div>
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to see Him and to know Him!</div>
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I come to gaze upon the majesty</div>
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and mystery of the altogether</div>
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Lovely One.</div>
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My heart cries out, </div>
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"I want to know You, Lord!</div>
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I want to behold You in Your Scriptures.</div>
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I want to know You and the fullness of</div>
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Your power!</div>
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Manifest Yourself to me in Your Word"</div>
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To know more of Him requires revelation,</div>
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and revelation requires meditation in His Word.</div>
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2Cor.3:18 "But we all, with unveiled face,</div>
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beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, </div>
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are being transformed <b>into the same image</b> from</div>
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glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord"</div>
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How I long to behold Him! I have a certain kind of envy of the living creatures who do not turn</div>
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from facing straight ahead no matter where they go. Whether they go up or down, left or right, forward or backwards, their faces are constantly facing straight forward at the throne! This is how I want to</div>
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live my life! That no matter where I go and what I do, my face might be fastened upon the throne</div>
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and beholding the radiance of my beloved Lord.</div>
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I am forever fascinated with the adventure of growing in the knowledge of Him who died for me!</div>
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<br />Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076447013842070214.post-51109964932241542102013-04-16T16:35:00.001-07:002013-04-16T16:35:24.305-07:00IN LOVE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I AM IN LOVE!</div>
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I am clinging to the Cross of my Beloved.</div>
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I am RANSOMED,</div>
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BOUGHT with a price.</div>
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The MOST PRECIOUS price of God's ONLY Son</div>
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who came to die the most horrible death</div>
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so that I may live</div>
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FOREVER!</div>
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HOW can anyone NOT fall in love with the ONE</div>
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that not only is their creator,</div>
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but the ONE</div>
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who created LOVE!</div>
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<br />Erin Niedergallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11342947337376355228noreply@blogger.com0