Christmas is here!!! Praise the Lord, I have been waiting all year for this season. To be honest last year was a bit of a bummer with the world tanking and going into a world crisis, but this year with local shops opening and opportunities to gather, I’m enjoying this year. For thanksgiving I went to my hometown to visit with family (I really missed my family) and returned to Yorba Linda to find the house with a few Christmas decorations.
Starting in September we have been going through 2 Timothy and preaching to each other in class. We go through the Bible verse by verse and it has been amazing going through the word of God so in depth, I am doing my best to consider it and allow it to continue to change me. It has been a big life adjustment moving to Yorba Linda with many ups and downs, spiritual warfare and spiritual growth, but the Word is truly preparing me for those moments. I’m currently meditating on 2 Timothy 2:2 “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”(NKJV). We can never be perfect but by the grace of Christ we are made perfect by His grace. And this past Sunday, Pastor taught 1 Corinthians 10, verse 13 says “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (NKJV). The Lord always gives us a way out of temptation and never gives us more than we can handle.
A few things that have happened these last couple of months…
For Halloween my friend Nichole and I helped pass out candy in an outreach for Muslim refugees in the community. Nichole had the idea to decorate our car as a Star Wars spaceship and we dressed as Jedi’s. We then passed out candy to children through the Ministry Voice of the Refugee (VOR).
This last month I attended a week long Calvary Chapel’s Pastors and Leaders Conference. As a church we shared with others about the School of Missions in Mexico and for anyone interested in long term missions to give us a call. For the whole week we encountered people, had speakers, worshipped and prayed. It was a powerful week of prayer, servitude, and worship.
At this conference we met and were able to bless a woman from Kenya who came by herself with no money or place to attend the conference. She was well taken care of by the people around her and felt truly blessed once she left. It was a great pleasure to know her and was encouraging to hear her story.
For the week of Thanksgiving my church put on a Church Thanksgiving, I helped serve the food and prepare for that event. I was so blessed to have my dad and brother come down to spend that meal with me and I introduced them to my church community here in Yorba Linda that so I’m privileged to serve. I could use prayer for a friend named Audrey whom I met at Costco. I invited her to the Thanksgiving church event and she came! Please pray for her salvation and that I may have the chance to encounter her again.
Thank you everyone for all of your love and support. To my home town, I think of you often and I pray the Lord Bless you and keep you and shine His grace. To my churches and family, I wouldn’t be here today without wisdom and guidance, support and especially prayers. I am ready to continue on this path that I may pass on the blessings that have been passed down to me. To be strengthened in love and love on others and carry out peace and other fruits of the Spirit. Although God gives and takes away, through it all I hope to remain steadfast in prayer and grace through Jesus Christ. Love you all, please keep in contact with me and I would love to pray for you as well. Would love to hear from you all.
God Bless,
Tori
Praises:
Muslims coming to our Women Christmas Event
Rylan the foster baby our house is taking care of was adopted
God providing my needs, food, housing
Prayer Requests:
Audrey for Salvation
God provide me the strength to overcome temptations now and in the future
I continue to be strengthened by the Lord in Faith and grace in Jesus Christ
Salvation of the people we encounter in Yorba Linda
Missionaries in the 10/40 Window