Too Blessed

This weekend, Tim and I went to Snyder and had a lovely wedding shower thrown for us.  The ladies who put it together made everything look so beautiful and we felt truly special.  And after all the dust had cleared from all the events revolving around the wedding, we have come to realized that people have been so generous toward us and we are truly in need of nothing.  I know that we have been blessed extensively by so many people... in fact, I feel like I have been too blessed!  We are so grateful for the love and support that has been shown to us.

Song of Solomon 1-4
I have heard two interpretations of this book.  One is that this is a description of love between a man and a woman who are getting married.  The other it that this is a metaphor for Christ and His bride, the Church.  I understand that we are the bride of Christ, but the language used in this book does not seem to fit that description to me.  The two people (the man and the woman) speaking to each other in this book talk of their admiration and affections for each other with very specific language about appearance and longing.  It is beautifully written and shows how wonderful love can be in the bounds of marriage.

2 Corinthians 8:16-24
Paul is sending Titus to Corinth and lets them know he is coming.  But not only does he tell them Titus is on his way, but Paul speaks very highly of him.  It must have been so encouraging for Titus to hear that Paul saw good things in him.  I know when someone I respect and see as an example (especially spiritually) has something good to say about me, I am so thankful to hear that they can see Christ working in me!

Psalm 50
God does not desire physical sacrifices because the whole earth and everything in it are His.  He does not tell us if He is hungry, because he does not need us to feed him.  What he desires is a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Proverbs 22:22-23
The Lord will take care of the poor.

Indonesia-
West and East Lesser Sunda Islands-
The West is largely Muslim.  There are two churches on the island, but young people do not participate because they must be Muslim to marry.  The East is largely Christian, but has influences that keep the people from truly experiencing the love and power of Jesus.