Author: Sarah Bedi

Enjoying the journey unfold as God leads. Currently living in Stockholm enjoying rubbing shoulders with the nations. Learning more about God's heart and compassion.

God created gender

In Sweden, a new word has been created “hen.” This word is to be used to replace him and her, he and she. There is a strong movement with diligence and intentionality to “get rid” of gender. I hope your mind is as baffled as mine.  I love how God introduced human kind into existence in Genesis 1.27.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Gender does not mean inequality. Gender is something God continues to create for purpose and beauty and to reflect who He is. Gender is threatened in Sweden today. Last weekend I got to host a Ladies’ Night. We had ages 16 to 60 and four different countries represented. We took time to get to know each other and just reflect on God’s Word. We need to learn God’s perspective in every way! Please pray that we as women of God can live out biblical femininity in a way that honors God, cultivates freedom and adds to our lives. Please pray for Sweden and probably other places as well where deception clouds the truth of God’s design. May we educate ourselves and live out the truths of who God created us to be. Please pray for the families raising children that will now have gender introduced into every curriculum subject whether it relates or not. Pray for the body of believers that we would live out God’s design as man and as woman in His image.

We believe in the Word of God

2013-09-08 13.05.08This fall one of the churches we work with has a theme of being in the word, studying Ephesians together so that we can strengthen one another from seeking who God is and what His truth says.  This poster is hanging outside the church right in the center of town where ever passer-by can see it. “We believe in the Word of God. We are reading Ephesians this autumn.”

Last weekend, the church had a retreat weekend that took us about 45 minutes outside the city. We had incredible weather and a great time of fellowship and worship. Thoughts were shared about our perspective of God’s Word and our need for God’s Word as well as practical. Sunday we were able to kick off Ephesians 1.1-14 with the truths about what God has done and the incredible gifts that are offered through Jesus Christ. The need to stand in truth and not be swayed by things of this world and culture. There were some who made a decision to walk with Jesus!

Praise God for great kick-off opportunities that have increased fellowship, engaged new people and be centered in truth!

Praise God for hearts that were opened and eyes that could see and receive the truths about Jesus and walk in new life!

Pray for new believers to hunger for God’s word and seek others out to help the grow in their new faith.

Pray for the three teenagers who came to church sunday for a high school project that had no idea what to expect. May the truths of the gospel wrestle within them that they may turn to God.

Pray for the students…there have been 3 fires in the student dorms and many have lost their apartment. Pray for provision and opportunity for the church in Luleå to be hands and feet.

Pray for more opportunities to connect with others!

Kicking off the fall semester

To this day, whenever I warm up on the basketball court, I have the same routine. 5 right-handed lay ups, 5 left-handed lay ups, and then start in front close to the basket. I have to make 5 consecutive shots in before stepping backward until I am at the free throw line. After ten free throws I do I little around the world warming up the shot and getting a feel of the space. Always the same. It prepares me mentally as well physically. The basics never get old when you know a big game is approaching! And I enjoy it!

As we wrapped up LINC, 10 days of focusing on seeking God’s face and deepening our connection with God through prayer and reading the Bible, we have much to praise God for and much to anticipate in moving forward. The students that participated experienced God at new depths and displayed joy and a hunger for more. Getting back to basics is never old! There is an invitation to simplicity to either discover for the first time or rediscover the abundance of joy and hope that is only found in knowing Jesus as Lord. There is an internal motivation and peace in walking in truth and grace being freed from the things of this world that can easily entangle us. It was a gift to have Riverbend Home Groups each pray for a student during these days and can trust that those prayers are being answered!!!  And the semester has just begun!!!

As I look forward to what the next three months will be about, there is a desperation building in seeking God to move and change the spiritual climate of our churches and our city. Meeting with the campus ministry leaders last night, it was a great testimony to hear how being a part of the ministry was the key in maturing in their faith. I am excited to continue to be a part of establishing students and young professionals in their faith, seeing them empowered and equipped in their gift mix, and seeing them own a vision to see their generation reached for Christ!

  • Praise God for the answered prayers during LINC and the break throughs that happened.  Pray for more break throughs as students respond in obedience to seeking God and His truth
  • Praise God for Miranda, who gave up her two-week vacation to come and serve with us.  Pray that God would bless her and allow what she learned here to be lived out in her home town of Batesburg/Leesville
  • Praise God for colored pencils and manuscripts studies where we just got to enjoy reading and understanding His Word in new ways that makes the text so much richer. Pray that students would continue to hunger to know the Word of God and see the truth transform their lives
  • Praise God for you and for all you do and sacrifice to make this ministry happen! May God bless you, your families, your finances as you so willingly give to see the Kingdom of God expand here on earth!