Grace Notes

Radiant Purity Conferences

Radiant Purity Conference, Chugiak, Alaska

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Here are a few more pictures from the conference! We really appreciated the hospitality of the Crossings church where the conference was held.

Since we flew here, we couldn’t bring a harp or easel. But the families here found both! The Lord provides. [smile]

One major challenge about this conference was that my brother Stephen was not here to run sound. Although Stephen thoroughly trained us in how to use our smaller easy-to-transport soundboard before we left, I think we were all a bit surprised at how difficult it was without having him there to fix all the little issues that arise. Thankfully, yesterday we found a good price on tickets so he is flying here tomorrow to help with the next conference. (We are very, VERY happy about that. [smile] )

As we were sharing reports over dinner after the conference, there was the usual combination of tears, laughter, and thankful reflection. Many of the attendees indicated that they were planning to go home and do a better job being open with their parents. We pray they follow through with their decision.

The last few days since the conference we’ve been enjoying a combination of many Alaskan activities which I’ll write about soon.

Miscellaneous

Little Hello from Chugiak, Alaska

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Due to someone’s spontaneous idea, we have a little greeting to share with you from our sightseeing adventure on Thursday at Peter’s Creek Inlet in Chugiak, Alaska. The Radiant Purity Conference went very well yesterday and I will be posting more about that soon!

Bright Lights Conferences

Outdoors Alaska!

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Yesterday we enjoyed our first experience of outdoors Alaska… the fresh air, bald eagle, moose tracks, ice chunks floating down the river … along with a special time of getting to know the three sweet families who came hiking with us! (And their dogs.[smile]!) It was a beautiful afternoon. We also had a really encouraging study of 2 Timothy 1 in the morning and a very special time of sharing in the evening. Praise the Lord! Thanks for all who are praying for us. The Radiant Purity Conference starts tonight.

The stream close to the Vassers house, where half of our group is staying. Pictured above is Danielle Sobie (right) with some of the Vasser children

Rachel Vasser and me

After Bekah taught teachers training last night, the conversation erupted into a really sweet time of sharing and fellowship with the other Alaskan girls who came to help lead the conference. It is so special to be here because the girls here have much less like-minded fellowship.

People in Alaska obviously don’t get as much opportunity to attend Christian conferences and fellowship with other believers since they are so far away, which makes it even more exciting to be doing a conference up here.

Please pray that the Lord would work in mighty ways tonight, that each one of us would continue to embrace the Truth that sets us free, and that Jesus would be the core of everything taught and shown!

“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” Psalm 90:1

Witnessing Stories

OFF!

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Well… our fall travels have begun!

This pic was taken a few hours ago in the Des Moines airport and now we’re in the Minneapolis airport. More leaders will be joining us in Alaska later tonight. The first Bright Lights conferences starts this weekend.

One especially neat contact from today: a man helped us carry luggage down some stairs because the escalator was broken. Afterward Sarah gave him a tract and he said “Thanks–I’ll read it on my next flight.” Sarah had explained to him how we were headed to Alaska to run a Christian conference for young ladies. He told her, “Yeah, I gathered that from your conversation in the airport.”

You see, Lilly had been sharing with me about favorite authors, some articles from Spurgeon that had really blessed her about loving the Lord, etc. We didn’t realize this man was listening, but it was a good reminder to us that there are often more opportunities than we know because there are many ears around us all the time. 🙂

Miscellaneous/Thoughts/Witnessing Stories

Homemade Tracts

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I met these special young ladies last summer in Texas during a Bright Lights conference. I wanted to post this video, hoping their idea is one that some of the rest of you Bright Lights out there may want to try!

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Bright Lights Conferences/Miscellaneous

“Where two or three are gathered… (via Skype) …”

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This morning we had a wonderful sharing / prayer time, via skype group call, with our team of five Americans who are going to Singapore and Malaysia next month (Sarah and myself, Bekah, Nickie and Dani), and two good friends in Singapore (Jolynn and Carolyn) who are helping to plan the conferences on that end.

It was a blessing to “meet” with Dani in Ohio along with our friends in Singapore, and it was a big encouragement to share thoughts, needs, struggles, desires, and goals. We are anticipating great things for this upcoming trip. We would really appreciate your prayers as well, remembering that “Prayer is not preparation for the work, it is the work” – Oswald Chambers

We’ll be gone for about seven weeks, starting in Alaska, then going to Singapore and Malaysia and Australia … coming home just a little before Christmas.

If you live in Alaska, Singapore, Malaysia, or Australia and would be interested in attending, you can register here.

“O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still” (Psalm 83:1).

Bright Lights Conferences/Singapore and Malaysia

Memories from Malaysia, 2008

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We are excited to be going to Singapore and Malaysia again this fall! This video brings back special memories from one of our conferences there back in 2008.

All over the world young ladies are seeking to be bright lights for the Lord! Please join us in prayer that the Lord would be at work in the hearts of many young ladies in SE Asia and do wonderful things for His glory. We will also be running some conferences in Australia.

“O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord.”
Psalm 117

Miscellaneous

Carl Kerby in Cedar Rapids

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This past weekend Carl Kerby was in town speaking at a few different churches.

I’ve been challenged and encouraged by Mr. Kerby’s ministry numerous times in the past several years. If you’ve attended a Bright Lights Radiant Purity Conference in the last year or so, you’ve seen the video clip that we show about Noah’s Ark. That video was produced by Carl along with theveracityproject.com and it is only one of a series. There are several other very interesting, fast-paced, highly educational 4-5 minute videos, all sold together on a DVD called Debunked. These sell very quickly at Bright Lights conferences because people like the Noah’s Ark Debunked clip so much.

Lunch time at the youth/family conference on Saturday. The young people were enthusiastic and enjoyed Carl’s messages. Even the youngest in the group remained attentive and engaged all day long. If Carl is ever in your area make sure you go and bring a car load of friends. See his schedule here.

Beside Carl’s seven sessions last weekend, he gave about fifteen more “sessions” in between as we bombarded him with questions [smile]. On Sunday afternoon Nate and Ashley Day (who organized the youth conference and initiated the whole weekend) joined us for lunch along with other friends.

A prayer of mine has been that the Lord would give me more opportunities to spend time with wise people so I can glean from their wisdom (Proverbs 13:20). Being with Mr. Kerby this weekend was definitely an answer to that prayer. [smile]

For more about Carl’s ministry, see Reasons for Hope.

“And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:13-15).

Witnessing Stories

Farmers’ Market Adventures

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Last Saturday we went to a farmers market to share the gospel. We prayed that the Lord would lead us to the right people. One girl we talked with had nearly died in a car accident several years back. Brad (a friend we were witnessing with) asked her, “If you would have died, would you have gone to Heaven or Hell?” This really opened up the conversation with her and her boyfriend. She responded with serious interest to the gospel message.

Another guy named Andrew explained that he just got saved last year. He was with some unsaved friends that he had been trying to witness to, and he really appreciated the help in sharing the gospel with them! He said, “Just last night we had a long talk/debate about these things!” Andrew explained that he has been trying to share his faith, but he doesn’t know very many other people who do. He said, “It’s so encouraging meeting you.”

It is a beautiful thing to pray and then watch the Lord answer with those short interactions that are of eternal significance — explaining the greatest news in the world … one conversation at a time.

Deut 31:6 says: “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” This was written to Israel as they were preparing to go into the promised land. We serve the same God Who also sends us to conquer but in a different way.