The weekend was so good. I got so much out of the women's retreat and will even be continuing to meet with a couple of the women on a regular basis, to learn from them and grow. I'm so excited! One of them is the woman who spoke. She had it all as far as this world ... but gave it up when she received Jesus. Her whole life now is centered on knowing Him more and pouring out her life into those of other women, especially those younger than her, and she spends two hours with Jesus daily!

I also had a lot of fun fellowshipping with friends from work on Friday evening and Saturday evening. We all sure will miss the interns who aren't coming back - but I know the Lord will continue to go before them. It's been a great year.

Well, pretty soon I may try to run out to the car so I can go home ... since there's finally a break in the rain. :-)

Ever had those moments in life where you just feel kind of weary? Don't get me wrong ... on a number of levels I'm doing well, especially all things considered, with the news about my dad. It's just ... sometimes I've been finding myself feeling stressed out a bit? Or out of sorts maybe?

I don't want to feel that way. :-) I think I need to take to heart Isaiah 40:31, which tells me that as I wait on Him, He will renew my strength. He has strength for every trial, every project, every part of my daily life! How glad I am for that.

And this weekend I'm going to a women's retreat for my young adults class ... not the kind where you stay overnight, but the kind that will be for a couple of hours on Friday, and then start again on Saturday! Anyhow, the lady I was emailing to sign up for it informed me that someone had payed my retreat costs, so I was good to go! That totally made my day ... I was moved beyond words.

Well now I'm going to run downstairs to have some barbeque as part of our intern graduation celebration. YUM. Then I'll probably head home pretty soon so I can get some stuff done and also get some good rest.

God is good.

Today we received some quite encouraging news about my dad, all things considered! There still could be a long road ahead of us, but the prognosis seems to be much better than the other option that it could have been. Of course, whatever the outcome, we know Jesus will carry us. He has been carrying us in His arms in a supernatural way through people's prayers!

I am still doing pretty well, and encouraged in the Lord. Yesterday I got a little discouraged and stressed out, but then the Lord lifted my spirits through a really good message a guest speaker shared with us last night!

We had our "Tuesday night prayer" a day early, on Monday night. :-D Our guest speaker shared on Acts 20:24, the Apostle's declaration of, in essence, "None of these things move me." He was going to Jerusalem, full knowing he could be killed for his Christian faith. Yet he boldly declared that he did not count his life as dear to himself.

The speaker shared how life is like a gym ... the things that come our way or that we go through won't necessarily be easy ... there will be hard times ... but they are all profitable for our training and for our character and growth in Christ! Also, the course God has for each of us in all of this is His perfectly ordained course that He has orchestrated for us. It is a good course, even in those times when it may not emotionally feel like it. Each trial He brings our way is an expression of His perfect love for us ... and an extension of His desire to make us more like Jesus.

How encouraging, and how applicable to my family during this time! I was definitely refreshed through that message.

[On a totally different, somewhat random, yet applicable note, I went to Panda Express with my dear friend Shareen yesterday and was pleasantly surprised that they had a delicious new entry ... thai chicken. The company was nice, too - I think the Lord arranged us running into each other around lunchtime so we could fellowship together over lunch that day when I needed special encouragement, and it was also good to be able to spend some time together before she heads back home for a little while to raise support. The Lord is good.]

God continues to show Himself so faithful. I think of Romans 8:31 ... if we know Jesus, truly we have nothing to fear.

I just got back from lunch at Taco Bueno with KT, a good friend from work. I enjoyed out time together, sharing with one another how we've been encouraged through Bible studies and stories about the persecuted Church. I was telling her how I really am feeling the Lord prepared my mom and I for the news about my dad's health, with the stories we've been reading about the persecuted Church around the world! It really helps put things into perspective.

It honestly feels like the Lord has been totally carrying me in His arms, giving me peace and contentment ... and it seems, incredibly, He has been doing the same for my parents in the midst of this. I thank all of you who have been praying ... and please don't stop, because the Lord is using your prayers in a way that is out of this world.

The tests brought some news that was not the easiest ... and yet over and over again the Lord has proved Himself faithful to us in every circumstance.

I have been blessed and ministered to by my parents' example in all of this. Truly, their trust is in the LORD.

Please pray for us as the Lord leads. God is always so good to us. No matter what.

I am waiting to hear news about my daddy's health. Please, please pray. I know many of you are. I know no matter what, God is in control. His love for me is constant ... and not based on my circumstances. God is good.

I was able to get my groceries with no further run-ins with rain, and last night I made the first of my dishes, chicken fajita skillet. :o) I was very happy with how it turned out! (If anyone would like the recipe, let me know and I'd be happy to send it to you ... it's a bunch of fun and easy to make!)

Today during lunch, a group of us from the office ventured to Chick-fila for their Cow Appreciation Day. Because we courageously wore cow-patterned clothes and a cow mask, we received free combo meals! It was good fun. :o)

I'm looking forward to meeting up with a good friend from work tomorrow, to make pizza at her apartment and visit and pray for one another. It will be a nice way to start the weekend.

My writing projects are going well. I just finished a web story about a beggar who came to know Jesus, through an outreach of GFA Compassion Services, before being killed that very day in an auto accident. I'm so thankful she knew the Savior!

There are times lately that the "battle" (Ephesians 6) feels maybe particularly intense. But I am finding lately that I get so incredibly encouraged by stories from the mission field ... especially, lately, some stories of the underground church I've been reading in Hearts Afire, a book someone gave me published by Voice of the Martyrs.

Last night I had the opportunity to share, during prayer meeting, some stories that have especially touched my heart, from the work in Asia that we all get to part of here at GFA. An amazing thing happened ... It was my hope that people would be encouraged through these stories, as I have been, yet I also found that I was so encouraged myself through the time of getting to share. I guess, for one thing, sometimes it strengthens us and encourages us in our faith as believers, when we verbalize to others some of the ways the Lord has ministered to us at just the right moment. :-)

On a totally different and somewhat random note, I really looking forward to trying out these new recipes ...
1) Chicken fajita skillet
2) Chicken tortilla soup
3) Hawaian chicken

hmmmm ... which means I probably should get to the grocery store, now that the rain has cleared. :-) Maybe I can even get a nice walk in before I get my groceries!

So this is my 533rd post - what do you know! :-D

I have been pretty busy lately and not been able to post as often as I'd like. But things overall are relatively good, and God has been teaching me much. I am being reminded that HE is my security, my sufficiency ... something I know full well on an intellectual, objective level, but oh how it can be a challenge at times to remember on an everyday heart level. ;-) [I'm sure all of you reading this blog can relate!!!]

Yet I am learning so much from the Lord, and that's surely a good thing. I am often reminded that He is far more concerned with my character than my comfort. I am grateful, for in my natural flesh, I would be much more inclined to choose my comfort. :-) How grateful I am for a God who allows challenges and trials in my day-to-day life --things He uses to draw me closer to HIM, which is ultimately what I want most anyhow. Boy, oh boy, is HE good and faithful to me. :o) Praise the Lord.

Well, I am off to make a couple stops and run some errands, and work a bit on some writing projects. :o) It's a beautiful day outside!

Celebrate Freedom was muddy but definitely a good time! I ended up hanging out at the GFA booth a lot of the time, having a bunch of fun helping to give out free books. :-D Jules and I also went and enjoyed some of the concert for a few minutes - and visited a cool booth that had $5 Christian t-shirts. :o) She got one with the different names for Jesus, and I got a bright pink one with the verse about loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. (I wasn't even thinking about it at the time, but that's exactly what my Bible study is in the unit I'm starting! Pretty cool :o))

Tomorrow is all-night prayer at the office. I'm looking forward to that! At 1:01 a.m. I'll be sharing, too, about the Maldives. Beautiful place with gorgeous waters and coral reefs ... but the people need Jesus. I am so glad there is nothing HE can't do ... I was reading in my Bible study recently the verse in James about Elijah being a normal human being just like us, yet how powerfully the Lord used his prayers. When he prayed, it didn't rain for three years!!!

I marvel at the privilege to know and serve a God for whom nothing is impossible. And at His incredible patience with me, and His grace.