DAY 3

Today was the beginning of an interesting weekend...going to North Carolina with my boss and her daughter. It definitely had the potential for fun, but also the potential for disaster. Although this day was not completely full of disaster, I believe that in God's sovereign plan he allowed me to meet some very interesting people and engage in conversations about God and His truths.

After the strenuous prodding of getting my boss and her daughter to the airport on time, God's plan quickly took us in a direction we all did not want to go....we missed our plane. Not such a usual disaster that would leave you in a state of desperation, but on this Friday it was said that it snowed in 49 of the 50 states. Not the ideal weather conditions for traveling the country. We waited, hoping to catch the next plane on stan-by, but there was no room in that inn. So instead of waiting 4 hours to hop on the next plane, my boss decided to go home and get some things done.

In my job, I often get to do things I am not accustomed to do because of my financial situation...aka, I get to do really cool things that cost money. For me, riding in a taxi is super cool, and definitely costs more money than my budget allows. Our taxi driver happened to be from Somalia, a country in Africa enduring much turmoil over the past 20+ years. We began talking about his home his family, and of course his religion. He is a muslim, very interested in learning more about other religions, and seemed very open and willing to share his beliefs. I shared with him what I believed about the Bible, it's truths and about our Savior, Jesus. He enjoyed learning and listening and even wished to learn more. He told me he was very interested to learn more about what I believed, but still seemed to try to convert me to his beliefs. He was strongly convicted and striving to believe and live by a lie. It hurt to talk to him, knowing that he was being so deceived. I know I cannot convert anyone or change anyone's heart, it's just my job to share what I know to be true, to share the only way to eternal life, to knowing God. Please pray for Nor, he is willing to learn. Pray he not just learns the truth, but that he falls in love with our God and Savior.

As we arrived back at the airport to hopefully board the next available plane, I stood in line with the myriads of people trying to get back home, or to their next destination. The Lord allowed me to talk to an episcopal priest. As I listened to this man, I was burdened for him. Here was a man, a priest, someone who was in the line of work leading people into the throne room of God, yet because of the way he talked about God, his lifestyle, and various controversial subjects, I began to question his claims of faith. True, I cannot by any means know his heart, but I do believe that we are to be representations of God; that we are to stand for what he stands for, and know where he stands on how he wants us to live our lives. Can you believe and trust in God, yet completely neglect his standard for life? How can you partake of this eternal life on earth without living with the gospel infiltrating every area of your life? Pray for Father Kelley, that he hungers and thirsts for the truth of the gospel, and leads people in the way of everlasting life.