This is my second Independence Day away from the United States. While last year I didn’t think too much about it, I had only been away a few weeks, this year I have been reflecting a lot on how proud I am to be an American. The more I travel overseas, the more I appreciate America and what it stands for (in my opinion, every American should spend at least 2 weeks in a 3rd world country living with a local family) . This past week I have found myself singing patriotic songs and reciting speeches I learned in the 5th grade, such as the Gettysburg Address and Preamble to the Constitution.

Two words seem to come to mind as I celebrate this holiday, freedom and sacrifice. I hope that every American would appreciate the freedom they have in their nation. I have been to countries torn by civil war and to nations that still feel oppression from their former communist regime, and was humbled to realize that most of the people would have done anything to take my seat on that plane back to America.. They would continue, though, in the only life they have ever known, ruled by fear and oppression and subject to a weak economy that gives them little hope of a good future. Whereas for me, no matter where I go or what I do, I will always be an American. I will always understand what it means to be free and always know how it feels to be able to dream and to hope. There is a greater freedom, though, than what any man or country could give, and that is the freedom we have in Jesus Christ. No longer am I slave to sin and death, but Jesus sacrificed His life so that I could live in freedom.

I also can’t help but think of the sacrifice of others when I think about Independence Day. It has been said that freedom is never free, and I am so thankful for those who have sacrificed so much to make sure that generations to follow would be able to live in freedom. Thank you to every American soldier who has sacrificed to serve their country and fight for freedom. I am humbled by the thought of the many Americans who have sacrificed their lives in the fight for freedom. I was reading Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address yesterday, and was meditating on his words to the people that those who have died will not die in vain, but that we will carry on the fight. I was reminded of Hebrews 11 that lists the saints of whom this world was not worthy, who gave their lives for the Gospel and are now looking to us to finish the race so that they can receive their prize. This Independence Day, let us remember the greater freedom that we are fighting for, and let us sacrifice our own lives to see that generations to come will know the freedom that is in Christ Jesus.

God bless you, and may God bless America!

It was not long into the day before I learned the Easter greeting in Arabic, “El Masiah Kam!”, with the response of “Hakkan Kam!”.  We are saying to each other “The Messiah has risen!”  “Indeed, He is Risen!”.  How exciting to know that we serve a living God, He has indeed risen!  The Easter service was moving as we celebrated new life and victory we have in the resurrection of the Jesus Christ.  Adding to the enthusiasm was the celebration of the ninth birthday of the church.  We are looking forward to what this year and the many more to come are holding for Abundant Life and for the Middle East!

We celebrated Easter with the youth in our weekly Saturday meeting.  The theme was “Living by the Grace of the Cross”.  We had several new people in our meeting, and lives were touched as we celebrated what Jesus did for us on the cross.  We had a great time and I learned a few Lebanese traditions, as well.  The favorite here is to crack eggs.  You take your colored egg and hit someone else’s.  The egg that doesn’t crack is the winner, you keep going until both ends are cracked.  I was out pretty quick, but it was still fun.  It's always a fun and lively time with youth, be sure to check out the pictures.

Our Friday service was a powerful time focusing on the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  The drama team presented an amazing performance depicting Jesus in Gethsemane until His death and finally His resurrection!!!  The team had been working on this presentation since the beginning of the year, and you could tell.  It was excellent, a powerful portrayal of what Jesus went through.  The team then went straight into a song declaring “Worthy is the Lamb!”

Afterwards, Pastor Chady led us through the Last Supper discussing Passover Meal that Jesus shared with His disciples.  The bitter herbs represented all bitterness from our past being removed by the power of the cross.  Then pastor discussed the four cups of wine that are shared during the meal.  Jesus did not drink from the fourth cup, the cup of praise.  This cup He will share with us when He returns, halleluyah!!!  May we live remembering His death and resurrection, and in expectancy of His return!

The week before Easter, we held a praise and worship service every night at Abundant Life Church. On Thursday night, we extended the prayer time until 6 in the morning! This Thursday before Easter is the last night of Jesus before the cross, so this was not an average prayer meeting. Each hour we focused on what Jesus was doing at this same time. We started with the Last Supper and the washing of His disciples feet, and asked Him to also cleanse us, too, this night. Midnight till 3am Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, each hour coming out to His disciples. Three o’clock in the morning was when He was arrested and beaten by the Jews until being brought before Pilate at 6 in the morning. Our meeting ended at 6, but it was not the end of His suffering before His death on the cross.

It was really amazing to sit through the time that Jesus went through His journey to the cross. We read through these events in the Bible so quickly, but to realize how long He had to endure this suffering was eye-opening. How deep His love for us. 

Mother’s Day is earlier in Lebanon, falling on March 21st every year, the first day of Spring.  For our weekly women’s meeting we decided to hold a special event that Wednesday.  It was a great time of as the women of Abundant Life Church were encouraged by teaching, fun and fellowship.

Pro 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Mat 21:9  And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Wow!  Palm Sunday is very exciting at Abundant Life Church.  We gathered at the church at 10 am and then headed off to the streets.  We marched through the streets of Bourj Hammoud, Beirut declaring the triumphal entry of our King!!!  We sang “Hosanna in the Highest” and other songs lifting up the name of Jesus throughout the neighborhoods around the church.  Many people came out of their homes and shops are were taking pictures.  It was an amazing experience to be able to sing and shout praises to our King and proclaim Him Lord over our city!

After eating too much, we headed back to church for the evening service.  I was helping with the kids this weekend.  We taught them a dance to perform in front of the church for Palm Sunday.  The song was "Better than Life",  and danced their hearts out while singing "I can't stop falling in love with You!"  The kids had a great time and the church really enjoyed seeing them dance for Jesus!

It's 2008!  I rang in my first year in lebanon with a big celebration with my church family at Abundant Life.  We rented a facility in another part of Beirut and started the night off with a big dinner (did you expect anything else? It's Lebanon).  Before the New Year arrived, we had time of celebrating in the Lord and I got my first shot at learning the traditional Lebanese dance.  I didn't do too bad, but when the pace picked up I had a little trouble with the footwork.  We spent the last hour of 2007 being encouraged by Pastor to declare that this year will be a year of abundance, restoration and purification as we see the Lord's promises fulfilled in our lives!  We spent time praying for each other and our nation.  Then finally the countdown began, in arabic, for the new year.  we ushered it in with a shout!  Now the party begins!  Many people prepared skits and presentations, among other things.  We celebrated until five in the morning.  After clean-up, we went for breakfast - so we didn't finish until well after sunrise.  It was a great celebration, and my first New Year in Lebanon will definately go down as my most memorable one.

 May you see His promises fulfilled in you life this New Year,

Mary Beth Thoms

Two days after Christmas, there was a speacial community outreach for the children.  It was amazing as over 400 children filled the sanctuary of Abundant Life Church.  There were even children from the families of the Shiite muslims that the church reached out to during the war last summer.  The atmosphere was electric, as you can imagine from the craziness of having so many kids running around.  It was so fun watching the children singing songs and dancing for Jesus.  The story of Christ's birth was shared with them.  The message of salvation was given through the "Wordless Book"  where colors are used to explain that our lives were dark with sin and it is the blood of Jesus that makes us white as snow.  It was a wonderful opportunity to sow God's Word in so many young hearts.

On December 22, we turned our regular weekly youth meeting into a Christmas celebration.  It was a great time with the youth of Abundant Life Church filled with fun games, and of course plenty of food.  Everything in Lebanon involves plenty of food.  The theme for the night was "Rebirth of Hope".  it was inspiring as we focused on the hope that was renewed when our Saviour came to live amoung us, and the hope that is reborn when He comes to live in our hearts.  We were filled with hope for this new year that we will see God do a new thing in the youth of Lebanon.