God often uses Life to work upon us like the tide on sea pebbles. We see this in the lives that have crossed our path these last few years. The tide of life comes in bringing new people, it goes out and takes them away, but eventually the tide swings back and brings them back with it...but this time its a bit different. The pebbles (and people) can be a bit smoother this time. It's the process of refinement. Of getting worn down, but better.
We recently had a visit from a long time friend Carl M. About 4 years ago Carl joined a CCBCE short-term team to serve here in Nitra. Since that encounter the Spirit has orchestrated in "mysterious ways" that Carl has visited Nitra at "random" but key times to minister to the believers here. Often times these moments of serving were on the heels of personal crisis, but in it all God's grace was covering Carl & his family during these times.
Well, on this visit Carl was in hot pursuit of meeting long lost relatives in Poland in hopes of making a claim to Polish citizenship. All of this is part of a larger desire to return to Europe to serve Jesus here. Please keep Carl & his family in your prayers as they wait patiently for the Spirit to unfold His plans for their lives and ministry.
Yet, in-between running around Poland, God really used Carl to once again speak into the lives of believers here in Nitra. Carl preached/ on the Thursday night study about finding abundant life in Jesus Christ. The teaching was very direct and heartfelt. On this particular Bible study we combined two groups together, so there were quite a few people we where unknown to us. Fortunately God knew everyone there and why they were there. Well, 1/2 way through the teaching a lady gets up and leaves the room, shortly followed by two others. We don’t know them or why they left. At the end of the study they come back and announce that the 1st lady, Maria, just accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord in the other room! Apparently, the conviction of the Word on how before Jesus we are dead in our sins was enough to open her eyes to the need for God. Praise God for this testimony! This was a pleasant surprise for us as this doesn’t usually happen on a typical meeting.
Aside from the good teaching, we had many sweet times of fellowship with Carl during his short stay. It’s great to see what God is working in this guy’s life. Life is sometimes rough, but God is using it to refine. And the results are amazing!
Again, please keep Carl and his family in your prayers as they seek to step out into God’s calling upon their lives.
BTW - the boys had a blast with Carl. They have got this thing for beards. Its a cool novelty for them. I would try it out myself, but Ivetka would kill me!
