Worried Sick

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Announcement:  Baptism Service THIS Sunday, November 3rd at 1:30pm at New Life Church
I want to really encourage you to consider coming to this, even if you don't live in Ann Arbor.  It is such a beautiful display of God's redemptive power and love for His children.

Reflection:


Alright I'm going to be really honest: the last few weeks have been pretty hard.  Between going through some of my own emotional turmoil as well as a lot of conflict with a lot of different people lets just say my anxiety levels were running a bit high.  I had gotten to the point where I was sick to my stomach, not really eating, not really sleeping and had a headache for almost 5 days.  Yup.  Anxiety.  Much of it has since subsided, but today I was thinking about anxiety and how it is not of God.  I looked up some versus and read a devotional about anxiety.  In James 1: 5-6 it says "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."  I don't know if you guys caught it but God hates doubt.  Many times when we are gripped by anxiety we are living in doubt.  Doubt that what you are wishing for will happen, that you are worth someone's attention, that you can get everything done, that you are good enough, etc.  

The thing is, God tells us completely differently.  We don't have to be ruled by our feelings.  He asks us to simply have faith and trust that he has a plan so regardless of how we feel, we can KNOW without a doubt that God is trustworthy.  He asks us to pray boldly in faith that he will provide.  He doesn't say that it won't be scary, that we don't have to risk, or that it will be easy, but he does promise that the payoff is worth the risk.  Even though the past few weeks have been painful, I have been more dependent on the Lord, sought him more deeply, and felt him closer than I have in a while.  He desires my dependence so he can care for me the way only he knows I need to be cared for.  What can you trust God with today in spite of fear and doubt?

New Life News:


I am admittedly a few weeks behind, but I wanted to let you guys know about the retreat we recently had.  Hundreds of students from New Life Church as well as some of our sister churches spent a weekend in Grass Lake at FaHoLo.  They spent time playing football, building community, having quit times with the Lord, and listening to talks by pastors from all different churches.  I love these retreats, and we have seen God move in amazing ways.  I personally had a girl that was attending my small group accept Christ last year at this retreat!  Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Spending time with God.

Worshiping together in the auditorium.


La Libertad News:

If I remember correctly in my last update the healthcare system was effective shut down in El Salvador.  I was worried about my friend Claudia's father who was receiving radiation treatments for his cancer.  Praise God and thank you for your prayers because he was able to receive his treatments.  I just checked in with Claudia to get an update on how he is doing so please continue to pray.  

I recently had dinner with some friends to dream and scheme about what we will be doing in the upcoming year and it was so good for my soul.  We talked a lot about the opportunities I will have to envision students to serve along side our brothers and sisters in La Libertad, and to keep more open lines of communication. 

Lastly I wanted to share this picture with you.  It is a picture of the youth group at the church in La Libertad.  These kids love the Lord so enthusiastically and donate so much of their time doing everything from singing in the worship band to playing with the kids in the nutrition center to translating for mission groups.  They are so great and I wanted to share it with you :)


I hope you are all doing well.  As always please contact me with any prayer requests, or just to say hello!

Standing in Awe of our assurance in Christ,

Sigourney

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