I joined my dad for worship at our home church this morning. A high schooler, the daughter of one of my supporters, sang a special. She has a beautiful voice. But more than that, the Lord used the song she sang, Breath of Heaven, to touch my heart.

I was quietly weeping as I was reminded of a sacrifice I may need to make, in view of God's unique calling on my life to serve on behalf of the unreached.

Even though any sacrifice I may make is puny compared to Christ's ultimate denial of self and the horrible pain He suffered for me-- AND I know that if He has me make the sacrifice in this particular instance it will likely mean something better in the future--it doesn't mean it's not still really hard at times.

O Lord, work in me, I pray, that I would cry tears, not of self pity, but rather of weeping for a lost world and people on the other side of it that still need to hear of Your precious gift for them.

Today I received word of a tremendous earthquake and resulting tidal wave, causing the deaths of thousands-- more than 10,000 people, and close to 2,500 in Sri Lanka alone, and 1,600 in India. It broke my heart to think of the many lives lost, just like that--precious souls that may not have had the opportunity to hear about Jesus before they died (Hebrews 9:23).

O, how I wish everyone on this earth would embrace Jesus and His salvation, so that not one person would suffer for eternity in hell. (2 Peter 3:9)

Christmas Day. To think, about 2,000 years ago today, Jesus came to be born in a manger and walk this earth and give His life to atone for sin so we could be saved by putting our trust in Him. How often do I truly grasp the wonder of this? Of His great love for me -- His great gift. How reassuring it is to know that I can trust Him -- no matter what. That His plan is always good and perfect. I love You, Lord. Thank you for coming to this earth ... for loving us so very much. Help me to more and more grasp this wondrous love and live my life in view of it.

Tonight we drove in from my grandmother's, where we were yesterday and today. I got together with my friend Heather and we exchanged gifts. We also went by and saw my cousins for a few minutes, at my aunt's and uncle's house. :o) And I got my combined birthday and Christmas gifts from my parents -- a food processor, a vacuum cleaner, and a crockpot, which I opened last night. I'm very excited about using these things in the new apartment!

Today I drove the nearly 600 miles back home to my parents. :o) It was a long drive, but around lunch time I stopped to see an old friend. We met up at Applebees and ate together. We even shared some yummy brownies and icecream. It was a blast! Too bad we don't live in the same town so we could hang out more. :o) The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful ... I did have some goofy photos taken to use up my roll of film. That was fun!

Tonight was our staff Christmas party. As I looked around at the faces of all the people sitting at round tables throughout the room, I realized just how much they had become like family to me. I was reminded of what a special thing I have.

There were some funny skits that I really enjoyed -- especially an interactive one where we would make donkey noises and say things like "gold, frankencince and myrh" and "no problem" at different points in the Christmas story.

On a more serious note, later in the program we dimmed the lights and were each challenged to think of what it would be like to go through our lives unreached with the Gospel. At first I couldn't grasp or feel this in my heart -- but then I imagined myself being married and then having a child, and that somehow that child was taken from me, and sent to a remote village where he or she would grow up and live to an old age and die, without ever hearing about Jesus. I can't imagine!

I had such a nice weekend. My friend from work and I had such a good lunch on Saturday afternoon. Without even knowing it, she said some things that were so encouraging to what I was specifically going through at the time. From then on, the weekend was great!

The message was good Sunday. The Lord really used last week's message in a powerful way in my life -- I look forward to how He will use this week's. After church, a group of us from our S.S. class went and ate together. Quite fun!

I can't believe it's Friday already. This week has gone by so fast! There have been some struggles throughout it, although some good times, such as really nice fellowship over lunch, as well. I'm sooo looking forward to the weekend.

I'm so thankful for the Lord ... and for friends. Last night I went to a Christmas production with my S.S. class, and we'll all be hanging out for a game night this Saturday. : ) I can't wait! And tomorrow I'm going to lunch with a friend from work. I am so thankful for this close friend and how the Lord provided her at just the right time in my life! What an answer to prayer.

Our move this past weekend went well. I never would have guessed there was so much to the moving process! Preparing and packing definitely involved some long nights with less sleep. But it all came together and my roommate and I could both so much see the Lord's hand at work in the whole process. We want this new season of our lives to glorify Him.

Saturday was the actual day of our move. More than 30 people on staff at the ministry showed up to help us. I noticed something I'd maybe never noticed before. Usually I help with other people's moves, and enjoy it so much, but this time I found myself standing and watching everyone as they got boxes together, made an assembly line out the balcony, and joked and laughed good-naturedly. It was quite fun ... and incredible to watch. Looking back, I felt like I was watching a well-orchestrated symphony. One that had been rehearsed in a general sense, but not the specific piece that was being played. Yet the notes seemed to just flow and come naturally and in their place. More than anything, I think, I so much felt how much people cared for me.

It was a nice time, even if my roommate and I were both pretty tired from staying up late the night before with extended prayer at the ministry and then last-minute packing. It was a pretty day out, and the fellowship was good. The Lord has really been watching out for me, because I very quickly caught up on my fatigue. He even woke me up this morning with an alertness uncharacteristic of me. :o) (especially considering how late I stayed up last night!)

I like the new apartment SO much! It's really cute. :o) It feels homey and peaceful, and there is a gorgeous view outside the back balcony! I'm so excited. :o)

This week has been good ... even if I've been a bit tired. ;o) Not too bad! This morning I have been so much having the Lord's peace ... and a sense of abiding with Him moment by moment. When I was driving in to work, I heard a worship song (Michael W. Smith) that starts out with really pretty instrumentals. I felt my heart fill with love for Jesus, yet at the same time a sadness that lately (past few weeks maybe?) I haven't been spending the time with Him that I know He would love us to spend together. Amazing, isn't it? That the All-Knowing, perfect and complete God of the universe would actually desire to spend time with us. Pinch me, I must be dreaming?