God of This City

Today was Good Friday.  A time to remember what Easter is all about and think about the sacrifice made on our behalf.  I read the story of Jesus' betrayal and crucifixion to my boys tonight before bed.  I was amazed at how much Jack understands, he kept interrupting to tell Noah (with much enthusiasm) how important this story is...he would say "Ya Noah, Jesus died for our sins!!".  I love to hear him evangelizing to his brother!  Usually he's evangelizing about Star Wars (yes, I've labeled him a 'Star Wars Evangelist', that's how intense his love is for the Force).  Anyway, it blessed my heart to dye our eggs today and read this story with those two guys.  They're just precious. 

So much of the time we are complaining about living in the city.  I feel trapped most of the time, wishing my kids could grow up in the country like I did.  I hate our inversion in the wintertime (especially this year, yuck!) and I hate that our neighbors are just feet away from us at all times.  I hate that we have to drive to our sledding hill, and even then it's a city park.  BUT, for all the things I love to complain about, this city is pretty amazing when I stop and think about it.  We are only 15 minutes from 4 fantastic ski hills and anywhere you go in the city you have an amazing view of the mountains.  We lack for nothing when it comes to shopping or amenities and over the years I've really grown to love my neighbors and friends, especially at our wonderful church. 

Today while I was driving, the song "God Of This City" by Chris Tomlin came on.  Every time I hear that song I am so inspired by our unique position here and I really do believe that God is planning great things for this city.  Where there is great adversity to the Truth of the gospel God is at work and the battle is waging.  The culture here is so different and many people want nothing to do with this place becuase of it.   But as my husband likes to say, these people are just non-believers who like to talk about God.  I admire so many things about the LDS organization.  Like the other day when my neighborhood held a gathering at the local ward to organize and talk about disaster preparedness.  One of the women who was helping to put it on asked me to do the opening prayer and I was assuming hardly anyone would show up.  I was shocked however when there were close to 100 people there!  We really do live in a community and the reason we know each other enough to organize this way is largely to the credit of our local ward.  It was also kind of fun to be able to stand up and pray to my God for our neighborhood in their church! 

We've been so discouraged at times when thinking of how to break through to the culture here, it's like they are in chains and just need freedom.  They're so steeped in the culture and heritage that it means risking everything if they leave 'the church'.  But, I am inspired by how many people I acutally know who have taken that risk and are willing to pay the price for the freedom of the Gospel.  One of my MOPS friends recently left a polygamous marriage, listening to her is like watching God paint a picture of redemption right in front of me.  Just another day in the life of a missionary in Utah!  Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for my sins.  Thank you for paying the price for me and for this city.  I know great things are in store for this place and I thank you for putting us right smack dab in the middle of this culture!