Today, we have a very special guest blogger! My, wonderful, amazing, wife Meg has been gracious enough to share her Urbana experience. We hope you enjoy!
From Meg:
Between December 27th and January 1st,
around 16,000 college students flooded the streets of downtown St. Louis for
InterVarsity’s missions conference, Urbana. Urbana happens every 3 years and
each time we see thousands of students commit their lives to following Jesus
into whatever and wherever He calls them. This year students received the
“Great Invitation” as they studied the book of Luke and heard Jesus’ call to
join him and welcome others into his banquet. Just 6 years ago I attended
Urbana as a student. I remember
committing there to follow Jesus into a summer Urban Project that summer in St.
Louis. I had no idea that saying yes then would lead to many yeses to
follow.
This Urbana I served as a Bible Study Assistant for bible
study in the mornings and then had the honor of serving on the prayer team for
the International Student’s Track in the afternoon. There we prayed with
students as they received healing for pain from their past and sought God for
his plan for their future. Little did I know just how much I still need Jesus
to speak to me & heal me.
I love, love, LOVE hospitality and constantly find myself
wanting to host and care for people. Yet, there are moments where I feel like
if I put myself out there too much I will be taken advantage of. Sure enough this came up at Urbana. I asked a
friend to pray with me about it. God often speaks to me through images. This
time as we prayed I had them image of me preparing madly for a banquet. Jesus
then came up to me, took my hand and had me turn around to see all of the
people at the banquet. They were smiling and enjoying it which made me happy
yet I longed to join the banquet myself. I saw Jesus invite me over to the
table to sit down with him at the banquet table. I felt joy and peace knowing
that I too am invited to participate in the banquet of God. God is the one that
has already prepared the best banquet – communion where we remember that he has
done it all – offering his body broken for us and his blood, poured out in our
place.
When I thought more about it, this image applies to all
areas of life – as a wife, staff worker, friend, family member. I am not just
invited to serve but I am also invited to join the feast. With this image in
mind I believe God is freeing me up to more fully enjoy life with him and
inviting others to join in his feast. I am excited to see how God uses this
image to shape my life as a wife and as we do ministry together this semester.
Please Pray for:
- - Adam and me to continually join the Lord at His
banquet table as we seek to invite others to be a part of it.
- -
For new Students arriving in the next few weeks.
Please pray for God to connect us with new international students who are ready
to join God’s mission on campus.
- -
For Adam and me to grow in our love of the Lord
and for one another as we grow more in our marriage.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam (and Meg)
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