Tonight a group of us went to Julie's apartment for her birthday party. We had banana splits and played a fun word game, where one person looks up an unfamiliar word in the dictionary and writes the definition down. Everyone else then submits their made-up definitions, and the object is to recognize the correct one when it is read. It's my favorite game, with Scattergories probably coming in second place. :o)

These next two months will be very busy for me. As I was sharing prayer requests with my roommates, I mentioned that it's not a matter of whether the Lord will work out all the details. Rather, it's a matter of trusting Him to work everything out. Somehow that thought is so comforting to me. I don't have to worry about anything. I can trust Him in all things!

It's the end of the week, and I am tired. Lately God has been putting many things on my heart on behalf of the lost world. I know I will need His strength, and am so thankful that He is ever faithful to supply it in just the right measure. (Philippians 4:13)

The Lord has been arranging circumstances in my life lately in such a way as to drive me to dependence on Him and Him alone. I feel He has taught me so much in just the past week. It's not always easy, but I am so thankful for the refining process He is bringing about in my life. And my times with the Lord have been so sweet, as I've been reminded that I am utterly helpless without Him.

Lately I've been reminded of how utterly in need I am of God's grace. In my fallen humanity, even my warmest thought is so cold compared with the thoughts of His heart. Words I write in my natural state are tainted with sin and empty. To touch lives for His kingdom, the words I write must come from His heart. I am in desperate need of His breath as I work on stories. A GFA missionary sharing the Gospel in Asia said it well: "Unless God's grace is upon me, I can do nothing." I ask the Lord to give me the words for each story. I so much desire to reflect His heart of deep compassion for a lost world.

Jeremiah 17:9 talks of how wicked and deceitful our hearts are. I can totally relate. How thankful I am that when I come to God with my wrong attitudes, trusting Him to change them by giving me a piece of His perspective, He is so faithful to do so. We are frail and wretched in our human flesh, and so in need of His grace. How heartily I must agree with the apostle Paul, who said, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:24) Praise God, though, that it doesn't end there! Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:57, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." That's not all! Philippians 1:6 tells us the Lord is utterly faithful to complete that which He started in us. All glory to God!

Today was a good day at the office. The Lord enabled me to write several stories and do some important correspondence. I also enjoyed "the little things", such as chatting with friends when they took breaks to come by the web room and see me, or "chair racing" with a neighboring coworker. (I must say, he did have a slight advantage since there was a big yellow cord in my way. :o)

This was one of those absolutely gorgeous days where you just want to be outside the whole time, enjoying the breeze and warm sunshine. I went driving this afternoon with my windows rolled down and then biked for a little bit.

Tonight was our Sunday night service at GFA. Afterwards I talked with friends and then got to go hang out with some others at someone's apartment. :o)

We had a guest speaker at the service tonight, a pastor here in the West who has linked his life with GFA and the harvest in Asia. One thing he said especially stood out to me. At some point in his life, he had the idea of native missions on his heart, and then he heard of GFA. He told our staff he is so thankful to us for joining his hand with those of the native missionaries on the field.

Today was a good day. One of my roommates and I had fun hanging out and eating at Chick-fila with some coupons. I did some stuff around the apartment and took a short walk. Tomorrow I get to go to church and fellowship with a coworker and friend. :o)

For some reason I can't figure out, today felt like a Thursday to me, and yesterday felt like a Friday. Tonight the web team was invited to our coordinator's home for mud pie--quite a yummy concoction, made with Oreo cookies, mint chocolate chip ice cream and whipped cream. It was a fun evening of games, laughter and hearing people tell funny stories. :o) I sure do appreciate and enjoy the extended family I get to be a part of here on staff. I am looking forward to the rest of this weekend.

Tonight I had the privilege of encouraging a young woman in California who is taking a Max Missions Trip. We were able to pray together over the phone. I'm so thankful for her and for others like her, such as Katie, a woman from Washington state who has taken two "trips". This is what she told us: "One single Max Missions Trip will probably be more eternally significant than any other thing I will do for the rest of my life." I thank God for these precious people who are willing to give of their time to see Asian villages reached with the Good News.

Those of us in the western world can link our lives to the harvest in Asia, right where we are. I'm thrilled to be a part of this. At the same time, I know I need His strength each day to carry out the things He has put on my heart to do on behalf of the lost world. But what better way is there to spend life? I can think of no greater joy than letting ourselves be used as His willing vessels for the furtherance of His kingdom. Even as I say this, I marvel at God's grace that He would use someone like me--an ordinary person, marred with sin and shortcomings. Yet He does use us as we give of ourselves to Him, the best we know how. Praise be to God!

At our ladies meeting last week we were challenged to give an extra 30 minutes of our time each day on behalf of the lost world. Each night I've been doing this and by God's grace hope to continue. He has been filling my heart with such a joy and peace during my prayer times! Tonight as I spent time with the Lord, I believe He put on my heart the desire to be radically sold out for His sake and that of the lost world He died for ... to, like the apostle Paul, not count my life as dear unto me.

The incredible paradox is that as we die to ourselves--our own desires, dreams and ambitions--for the sake of Christ and the lost world, He blesses us with His abundant life flowing through us. And we don't have to worry about ourselves any longer! Psalm 84:11 tells us that "no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." What an encouraging thing to remember! This doesn't mean the road will always be easy, but He will be with us each step of the way and we can trust Him in everything. I can trust Him for all the details of my trips this spring--as well as for anything else in the future--and His plan is perfect and the very best.

Today at work wasn't nearly as productive as it could've been. But I have tomorrow and the rest of the week! My desire is to live each moment with a deliberate sense of purpose from the Lord. When it comes right down to it, I think that's how all of us as Christians want to live when we realize that only what's done for Him will last for eternity. Everything else is temporal and fleeting.

The Lord reminded me tonight of something incredible He did in my life during the summer of 2000. One Saturday morning I was driving back to my college town to play a game of paintball with a Bible study group. I was excited! Paintball was something I'd been wanting to try for a while. But something different was in store for me that day.

Driving on the interstate, I suddenly started swerving and had trouble staying in my lane. I later saw that a really big piece of treading had come off my tire. I ended up swerving quite a bit more, slowing down, and traveling quite a ways on the rough gravel shoulder before finally coming to a halt. I marveled at the Lord's protection, and still do. The incident so easily could've happened right down the road, where there was a long bridge over water. And just seconds before, I was surrounded by cars I could very well have collided with. Soon after this, I heard of someone traveling on the same interstate who also lost control of the car when some of his tire treading came off. He died.

The Lord miraculously protected me! I often wondered during my college years what the Lord wanted me to do with my "postgraduate" life, and when He would show me. I remember being so thankful that day for how He preserved me. It was such a wonderful reminder that He has a special purpose for my life. Although that was long before God called me to serve here at GFA, it is one of the many ways in which He paved the way. Thank You, Lord!

I had such a good day today. It was productive but also relaxing. The evenings at staff families' houses this weekend have been FUN! One of my roommates and I chatted and walked around our apartment complex when we got home tonight. I enjoyed our time together so much, and it was neat hearing how the Lord has been working in her life. I'm very thankful for the community the Lord has blessed the three of us with as we pray together and share our lives with one another. We've each been called to serve here, and it's a privilege to be able to encourage each other in the daily carrying out of that call.

Tonight I got my hair cut. Then I chatted with one of my roommates before she went to bed and prayed with the other one when she came home. Now I'm sitting in my room, blogging. I'm excited about this weekend ... This Friday night I've been invited along with some others to visit and play games at a staff family's house. And Saturday a bunch of us are getting to go to the home of another family for fellowship, chicken fajitas (yum!), and a Hallmark movie.

Tomorrow night I'll be one of the hostesses for our monthly ladies meeting. I've heard it's not too hard ... that we just bring a decoration and fun drink (such as lemonade) and set up and then clean up afterwards. :o) I've been enjoying the fellowship with these special women.

I don't know about you, but I am challenged as I read Philippians 1:12. Even in the face of incredible suffering, the apostle Paul esteemed the furtherance of the Gospel as incomparably greater than his comfort here on earth. What a way to live this life!

As I am tired, I have a feeling this day's blog entry will be shorter than most. Tonight I ate some delicious enchilada casserole with a really nice family on staff and then got to go iceskating with a group. Considering I hadn't been in a while, four falls didn't seem all that bad. :c) We went to Wendy's afterwards for Frosties and fellowship. I am so glad we were able to ride with one of our friends on staff, because I'm still not quite used to some of these big city roads. :o) I sure do look forward to church in the morning.

It's such a treat getting to write in here before going to bed. :o) I don't always get around to it, but when I do, it's really fun. This afternoon at the office felt fast-paced and rather exciting, as I worked on various web stories, researched statistics and printed my newsletters.

I ate lunch with one of my roommates at Atlanta Bread Company. It was a special time of talking about what the Lord is doing in our lives and how glad we are that we get to be here. Tonight my roommates, Susan, and I saw a movie together at the dollar theater. I treasure these outings. Many nights during the week we get to pray together, and I am so encouraged by both the fellowship and how God answers our prayers. This is such an example to me of what is talked about in Matthew 18:20.

As a web writer with Gospel for Asia, I have the privilege of telling the stories of some of our supporters. Meet Gabriel, a 5-year-old in Georgia with a compassion and burden for churches in Asia.

Two precious children in Washington state recently received several of our videos for free at a garage sale. They watched them that night and, at the ages of 6 and 8, decided they each wanted to support a missionary. They couldn't wait to get their missionaries' pictures and testimonies in the mail. Their parents are so excited and wrote that the children pray for their missionaries every day.

Through the tender hearts of these children, two more unreached Asian villages will get to hear the Gospel. Praise God! Dear friend, if the Lord lays it on your heart to partner with a native missionary for just $30 a month, I'd love to hear about it. I thank God for you!

Tonight we had our Tuesday night prayer meeting at the office ... yet another wonderful evening. :o) It has been such a blessing getting to know the family here. The closer I grow to the others the Lord has called to serve here, the more I am filled with His love for these precious brothers and sisters in the faith. That goes along with my prayer for the year, that I would have the love of Christ for each and every person I come in contact with.

I am so excited I get to be here. Thank you so very much, dear friends and supporters, for your partnership with me as we labor together for His kingdom! "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now..." (Philippians 1:3-5). I know I don't deserve it, but the Lord has blessed me beyond measure and taught me SO much since bringing me here a little more than a year ago. May He get all the glory.

I enjoyed church this morning, especially the worship. I couldn't help smiling as we sang this song, one of my favorites:

I'm trading my sorrows,
I'm trading my shame.
I'm laying them down, for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain.
I'm laying them down, for the joy of the Lord.

Ever since this new year began, I've had such a sense of renewal and fresh zeal for where the Lord has me. It's an adventure, and I'm enjoying the ride and look forward to seeing what He will do next. It gives me joy to know that whatever this new year holds, He is with me each step of the way. Thank You, Lord. I love You!

Monday I returned from my Christmas trip back home. It's good to be back. At the same time, I had such a special time of catching up with family, longtime friends, precious supporters, and the congregations of my hometown church and college church. God is indeed so good to me ... Not only has He called me to stand in the gap for the millions in Asia who have never heard of Jesus, but He has also provided me a dear group of people to link their lives with me and share in the harvest. Praise God! I am so happy. :o)

I had a wonderful evening of fellowship with a few other women here on staff. One of them is still raising support to come and join us. I enjoyed getting to know her and look forward to having her with us soon. It's always inspiring to hear testimonies of the people God has brought on staff. Everyone has such a unique story of His grace and provision in their lives. It's exciting to think back on how He totally paved the way for me to come here. Our lives are truly in His hands ... this is indeed the safest place they could ever be. Thank You, Jesus!