Day out with my camera

I love fall.

An ant's perspective.

He was standing at the gate. I think he wanted out.

My favorite bridge in the whole world.

I love this city! (Photo taken by a friend)

Another mountain conquered

On the 13th of June I took and passed my UK driving test! I think I was more nervous taking the test now then when I was 16 in the States. Ironically, I was wearing my David Crowder Band Collision T-shirt (generously given to me second hand by a wonderful friend). I hadn't even noticed this but a woman in the test centre waiting room pointed this out to me. Thankfully, there were no collisions :)

Pomp and Pageantry

I had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the contagious excitement of the Royal Wedding. I couldn't believe the sheer number of people who turned up but also the feeling of camaraderie in the crowds as we all shared a moment in history together. A friend of mine posted this on facebook:

"What a breathtaking day. Amazing to think the Royal Wedding of King Jesus will be even more beautiful. God's so good for giving us a glimpse of it through days like this."

Amen and Amen!

I loved the Union Jack cowboy hats!

Screens in Green Park

Can you spot Kate in this photo?

The Ritz

Walking down the middle of Picadilly Street

Picadilly Circus

Kingston and Richmond...at the encouragement of a friend.

So I haven't posted in a while and I have heard a few comments from friends. So here goes...some of my latest pics around town. Kingston had a fair for St. George's Day and I just couldn't resist taking pictures of the dancing kids. So cute! The pics of the Thames are from Richmond Hill. Beautiful area.

 

Why are we not running toward this?

Last week I was in Paris helping out with an orientation for new volunteers who will be in different cities in Europe for a semester. One of the talks that I gave was about God's heart for the nations. I really wanted the volunteers to see that God has really had a heart for all the nations from Genesis straight through to Revelation. It isn't just in Matthew with the great commission that the Word demonstrates this. At any rate, one of the scriptures that I shared with them was Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." I talked about how our sharing is really ushering in God's Kingdom and bringing Jesus back.

Now fast forward to yesterday. I attended a women's conference at my church about how to reach the nations as women. The main speaker focused on Psalm 96 for our reason and challenge to share but she also pulled in Matthew 24:14 as well. Again, the same verse that I used in my talk a week earlier but this time the impact of that verse really struck me (don't you love it when that happens, a real aha moment). She said the same thing I did, that our sharing helps to bring Jesus back, but she also added that our sharing helps to end suffering and sorrow because that is what will happen upon His return. Now I know that there is an appointed time when Jesus will return and God alone knows that date. However, do you hear what I am saying here?! Scratch that, what the Word is saying here. Our sharing will bring Jesus back! Our sharing will put an end to tears and pain and sadness and disease. It will be the world right again and Jesus will sit on His rightful throne as ruler of the world. This world, this life as we know it with sin and shame and all the hurts and confusion will be finished. The end will come. All the nations will hear and then the end will come.

Why are we not running toward this? Why are we so complacent to tell others about our God? Do we love this world too much? Waiting for something to occur here in this life? Do we want a few more years to toil away? Are we too content with how things are? Are we really that afraid of rejection that we would hold off the Glory of the End a bit longer? I can say yes at some point to all of these things but when this verse really hit me and the implications of  our sharing hit me I realized all of those thoughts are ludicrous (and I don't mean the rapper). Even as I write this I know that I don't share as much as I want to or should and I know tomorrow will go by with so many missed opportunities. However, I pray that I keep this realization in my heart. That I need to share so that others can experience this end with great joy at seeing their Saviour return but also knowing that sharing helps His return come quickly and it will end so much brokenness that just wasn't meant to be.

"And this gospel will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14

Christmas picture updates. Yes, I know it is January.

This is the snow that created mass travel chaos in London.

Some of my Christmas decorations.

My tree!

The following pictures are of my trip to Germany for Christmas and some of the amazing views I had whilst hiking.

Kandern, Germany