Well it's 5:30 on Friday and I'm about to start a busy weekend! In a little bit I am meeting up with a friend to walk for a bit and take some items down to the Colony Resale to donate. (It's always such a good feeling to get rid of stuff I don't need anymore ... it kind of feels like I'm simplying my life a bit. :)
All day tomorrow I will be at a retreat for the women who are part of my Bible fellowship class at church. I'm so much looking forward to that! It should be great teaching and fellowship ... and great time for girl bonding. :) That ends at 4:00, and then I have my Bible study and will likely go to Pei Wei Asian diner with everyone afterwards. :)
Sunday will be busy, too, with being at church and then later meeting up with some friends for fellowship and games.
As I consider some of the challenges that have come up in my day-to-day life lately, I am reminded that if I just remember that life, really, is all about Jesus, then everything kind of takes its proper place. :-D I want to remember that because there's such freedom on that ... it means I can rest in Him so securely, whether it be concerning a big project at work (thankfully I'm pretty much caught up on those now!) or just things on my mind. There is such rest and freedom in remembering He is in control ... and letting my life be guided by the knowledge that I can securely trust Him. It's been a challenging week in some ways, so it's good and so helpful to remember these things!
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. :-D
Welcome, dear friends! Here you will find an assortment of snippets and reflections ... and hopefully some encouraging quotes from people like John Piper and C.S. Lewis and ... most of all ... the Scriptures. :-) Leave a comment if you'd like - I would love to hear from you! Have a GREAT day.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Reflections and Thoughts on a Thursday
This week is going considerably better than when I last posted! It was interesting; I was talking to a friend from work yesterday as we walked at the nature preserve, and we both talked about how quite a few people here on staff have been having a challenging week. We talked about how it could be spiritual warfare. It's always so good to be reminded of that ... working here at GFA, we are at the forefront of something the Lord is using to powerfully break down spiritual strongholds in Asia, yet how easy it can be for me to forget that! I think sometimes I expect to plod along merrily, not suffering attack from the enemy. Yet it's so true that the enemy is not going to want to stand idly by while strongholds are being broken down in Asia! It can be a sobering thought to think of the enemy's attacks. I am simply human flesh and unable to fight back in myself, but thankfully Jesus Himself dwells within me since I am His redeemed child, and HE is able to fight these attacks. Praise the Lord!
You can keep my friend from church in your prayers as the Lord brings her to mind. Her name is Christina, and I know your prayers will mean so much. I can't even imagine what it would be like to suddenly lose my dad ... especially at such a young age. I am so close to my daddy! Last year we had about a week where we were faced with the reality that we could very well lose him (when he had cancer), and the peace the Lord gave us during that time was unbelievable. Still, though, I was so relieved and grateful when the Lord spared him. My friend and I may never know in this lifetime why the Lord chose to take her dad at this time ... but God is still on His throne and can be trusted just as much as ever. Thank you for your prayers ... asking you all to pray reminds me that I need to be faithful to pray!!
I am looking forward to a relaxing evening and some good times with Jesus ... and enjoying some chicken with sour cream, salsa and black beans that I cooked in my crockpot. :)
You can keep my friend from church in your prayers as the Lord brings her to mind. Her name is Christina, and I know your prayers will mean so much. I can't even imagine what it would be like to suddenly lose my dad ... especially at such a young age. I am so close to my daddy! Last year we had about a week where we were faced with the reality that we could very well lose him (when he had cancer), and the peace the Lord gave us during that time was unbelievable. Still, though, I was so relieved and grateful when the Lord spared him. My friend and I may never know in this lifetime why the Lord chose to take her dad at this time ... but God is still on His throne and can be trusted just as much as ever. Thank you for your prayers ... asking you all to pray reminds me that I need to be faithful to pray!!
I am looking forward to a relaxing evening and some good times with Jesus ... and enjoying some chicken with sour cream, salsa and black beans that I cooked in my crockpot. :)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
A Bit of an Update ...
It has been a bit of a challenging week for me ... just kind of one of those weeks ... then I found out some hard news yesterday about a friend who suddenly lost someone very close to them. I found myself giving them a big hug and praying with them, as they had desired, yet realizing that was, ultimately, all I could do ... I couldn't take away the pain because that's not humanly possible! But I can continue to PRAY for them ...
It's hard sometimes to understand why there are times of such pain in our lives here on earth ... yet I have to trust that in all of it, God loves us, His children, every bit as much and He is still just as much on His throne. These are objective, solid facts. He is, indeed, our solid rock that we can always lean upon in even the biggest storms of our lives ... our sure and lasting foundation. Praise God.
This evening I am spending some time with a friend, walking, and then making a few stops probably, and then looking forward to resting and doing just a bit around the apartment. I also want to spend some good time with the Lord. I am increasingly reminded of how incredibly important it is to have those times with Him ... through them, I often find my whole perspective is turned around.
Just a thought on the three-day weekend ... it included some great times of fellowship and laughter with friends ... whether hanging out at On the Border after church, playing Mafia, or laughing together at how I "growled" at the voice recording on Moviefone as as friend and I called to get the movie showings at the dollar theater. :-D (The only way I can get the voice recording to respond to me is if I speak in this voice that almost sounds like a growl ... otherwise she can't understand my southern accent. :-)) I find myself so grateful for the friends the Lord has given me and the warmth they bring into my life!
It's hard sometimes to understand why there are times of such pain in our lives here on earth ... yet I have to trust that in all of it, God loves us, His children, every bit as much and He is still just as much on His throne. These are objective, solid facts. He is, indeed, our solid rock that we can always lean upon in even the biggest storms of our lives ... our sure and lasting foundation. Praise God.
This evening I am spending some time with a friend, walking, and then making a few stops probably, and then looking forward to resting and doing just a bit around the apartment. I also want to spend some good time with the Lord. I am increasingly reminded of how incredibly important it is to have those times with Him ... through them, I often find my whole perspective is turned around.
Just a thought on the three-day weekend ... it included some great times of fellowship and laughter with friends ... whether hanging out at On the Border after church, playing Mafia, or laughing together at how I "growled" at the voice recording on Moviefone as as friend and I called to get the movie showings at the dollar theater. :-D (The only way I can get the voice recording to respond to me is if I speak in this voice that almost sounds like a growl ... otherwise she can't understand my southern accent. :-)) I find myself so grateful for the friends the Lord has given me and the warmth they bring into my life!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Confessions of a Sweet Tea Queen
Doesn't that sound like the title of a book?! I know I thought it did ... :) So, I did come to the staff picnic today in costume as Sweet Tea Queen. And ... my costume was surprisingly easy to put together. Which is good since I'm not particularly artistic!! It was so cool ... a co-worker told me yesterday that his wife had a tiarra I could use. Then I brought an umbrella I used as a parasol ... kind of like in the southern plantation days. :-) I also had a bright floral patterned purse ... which seems like a southern thing? And around my neck I had a placard that said "Sweet Tea Queen" and included a slogan about saving the world ... one sweet tea at a time. :) I also dressed up like I would imagine a southern belle on a plantation would!
If you'd like to see pictures from the picnic, you can at this link. [This is mainly for you all reading this blog in its original form on vesselsofclay.blogspot.com, since if you're on Facebook you can already access these photos. :)]
I was thinking a bit today about how sometimes I think it would have been fun to live in the days of southern plantations. Don't get me wrong, I know that a lot of things went on that weren't right and were not good things. But I just mean the whole aspect of women dressing up in a feminine way and there being formal balls all the time, and all that ... I think there is something in me that loves that and would have enjoyed those aspects of being born in that era.
Of course in some aspects I'm totally not a girlie girl ... I tend to go pretty much natural in that I've always kept my natural hair color (with the exception of putting some temporary dye in it just for fun, years back ;-) and I generally don't wear much make-up ... and most of the time not at all. It's rare that I paint my nails. And I have always had at least a wee bit of a tomboy side in me, I think ... and I still absolutely love hiking, biking, skating, volleyball, camping ... pretty much anything outdoors.
But there are very girlie sides to me too ... I like to wear a little jewelry, and I like shopping (although thankfully haven't been doing it as often lately :)) and I'm always up for a good chick flick and in fact went and saw one with a rowful of other girls last weekend. :) I also LOVE it when guys are chivalrous and do nice gentleman-ish stuff like open doors for me. I also, like many girls, find it helpful to "have a good cry" every now and then. And I am in a lot of ways sentimental, too, treasuring memories and sometimes remembering people by smells like their perfume and cologne. And while I like to be comfy, there are also times where I love dressing up a bit, just because I feel like it! It's kind of cool to think about how a lot of these things are reflections of how God made me ... they are His handiwork in me ... and the same could be said for all of us in the unique characteristics he has given us as men or women.
Oh, the picnic today was so much fun! I had such a wonderful time and was thinking about how grateful I am for the people I work with ... becasue of the nature of the ministry where we work, it's really more like one big family rather than "co-workers". It's great! I know that there are aspects of working in ministry that can be incredibly challenging, and it's not always easy, but I truly rejoice and thank the Lord for giving me this little taste of heaven on earth! Think about how amazing heaven will be ... as we fellowship with people of "every nation, tongue and tribe" as described in Revelation 5:9.
If you'd like to see pictures from the picnic, you can at this link. [This is mainly for you all reading this blog in its original form on vesselsofclay.blogspot.com, since if you're on Facebook you can already access these photos. :)]
I was thinking a bit today about how sometimes I think it would have been fun to live in the days of southern plantations. Don't get me wrong, I know that a lot of things went on that weren't right and were not good things. But I just mean the whole aspect of women dressing up in a feminine way and there being formal balls all the time, and all that ... I think there is something in me that loves that and would have enjoyed those aspects of being born in that era.
Of course in some aspects I'm totally not a girlie girl ... I tend to go pretty much natural in that I've always kept my natural hair color (with the exception of putting some temporary dye in it just for fun, years back ;-) and I generally don't wear much make-up ... and most of the time not at all. It's rare that I paint my nails. And I have always had at least a wee bit of a tomboy side in me, I think ... and I still absolutely love hiking, biking, skating, volleyball, camping ... pretty much anything outdoors.
But there are very girlie sides to me too ... I like to wear a little jewelry, and I like shopping (although thankfully haven't been doing it as often lately :)) and I'm always up for a good chick flick and in fact went and saw one with a rowful of other girls last weekend. :) I also LOVE it when guys are chivalrous and do nice gentleman-ish stuff like open doors for me. I also, like many girls, find it helpful to "have a good cry" every now and then. And I am in a lot of ways sentimental, too, treasuring memories and sometimes remembering people by smells like their perfume and cologne. And while I like to be comfy, there are also times where I love dressing up a bit, just because I feel like it! It's kind of cool to think about how a lot of these things are reflections of how God made me ... they are His handiwork in me ... and the same could be said for all of us in the unique characteristics he has given us as men or women.
Oh, the picnic today was so much fun! I had such a wonderful time and was thinking about how grateful I am for the people I work with ... becasue of the nature of the ministry where we work, it's really more like one big family rather than "co-workers". It's great! I know that there are aspects of working in ministry that can be incredibly challenging, and it's not always easy, but I truly rejoice and thank the Lord for giving me this little taste of heaven on earth! Think about how amazing heaven will be ... as we fellowship with people of "every nation, tongue and tribe" as described in Revelation 5:9.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Jimmy John's, Starbucks and Sweet Tea Queen
I can hardly believe it's Thursday night?! This week has been going by rather quickly, I think? Tonight I met with some other girls for some Bible study and fellowship. We started at Jimmy John's, then ended up at Starbucks. One of my friends had several Starbucks gift cards and told me she wanted to treat me. That was really sweet of her! :)
As we talked about different themes from the book of Matthew, I was reminded of a great message I heard in community fellowship in downtown Dallas recently, about holding on tightly to Jesus and loosely to the things of this world. I think it's so wonderful that in all of life, whatever may be going on around you all or me, Jesus is a constant refuge and Friend for those who know Him. Praise the Lord! It makes me want to jump for joy. :) I hope today that Jesus is your refuge and strength, a very present help in time of need. :) He is supremely wonderful, and so faithful!
So tomorrow is our GFA staff picnic ... and I'm am thinking about coming dressed as "Sweet Tea Queen." ;) We shall see ... truthfully, I don't think my "costume" would require toooo much planning, but definitely at least a little bit ... especially since I'm not naturally that artistically creative (sigh). I truly have appreciation for artists and graphic designers and the gifts God has blessed them with. :)
Oh yeah ... in case you're wondering why I would dress as Sweet Tea Queen ... we're encouraged to dress up as superheros if we can come up with a costume. So ... I was trying to think of something that would relate to being from the Deep South (since my co-workers love to tease me about that since I'm a minority in that. :-D). So one of my co-workers suggested Sweet Tea Queen. Then I decided that to make it a bit more "superhero-ish", my slogan could be "Saving the World ... One Sweet Tea at a time." And then I would dress as a southern gal on a plantation, since sweet tea is definitely a trademark of the Deep South. :) So ... we'll see if my creative juices get flowing or if I just come dressed my normal self to the picnic tomorrow. :-D Either way ... it should be fun! And a good "end of the week" time of fellowship with people.
Hope you have had a blessed week, resting in Jesus! :)
As we talked about different themes from the book of Matthew, I was reminded of a great message I heard in community fellowship in downtown Dallas recently, about holding on tightly to Jesus and loosely to the things of this world. I think it's so wonderful that in all of life, whatever may be going on around you all or me, Jesus is a constant refuge and Friend for those who know Him. Praise the Lord! It makes me want to jump for joy. :) I hope today that Jesus is your refuge and strength, a very present help in time of need. :) He is supremely wonderful, and so faithful!
So tomorrow is our GFA staff picnic ... and I'm am thinking about coming dressed as "Sweet Tea Queen." ;) We shall see ... truthfully, I don't think my "costume" would require toooo much planning, but definitely at least a little bit ... especially since I'm not naturally that artistically creative (sigh). I truly have appreciation for artists and graphic designers and the gifts God has blessed them with. :)
Oh yeah ... in case you're wondering why I would dress as Sweet Tea Queen ... we're encouraged to dress up as superheros if we can come up with a costume. So ... I was trying to think of something that would relate to being from the Deep South (since my co-workers love to tease me about that since I'm a minority in that. :-D). So one of my co-workers suggested Sweet Tea Queen. Then I decided that to make it a bit more "superhero-ish", my slogan could be "Saving the World ... One Sweet Tea at a time." And then I would dress as a southern gal on a plantation, since sweet tea is definitely a trademark of the Deep South. :) So ... we'll see if my creative juices get flowing or if I just come dressed my normal self to the picnic tomorrow. :-D Either way ... it should be fun! And a good "end of the week" time of fellowship with people.
Hope you have had a blessed week, resting in Jesus! :)
Monday, May 19, 2008
Volleyball, Fellowship and God's Work in Asia
How are you all? : ) All in all, it was a nice weekend filled with some great Bible studies/messages and good times with friends. Yesterday was the annual kickball tournament with my group from church. Although I didn't actually play kickball, I had a blast hanging out with friends and playing VOLLEYBALL! :-D (I am always joking that I can't play "just one game" of volleyball ... that once I start, I'm pretty much in for the long haul ... :-D It's got to my favoritest sport!)
I wanted to pass on this link to you all - feel free to check it out anytime for stories that I hope will be an encouragement for you, to see some of the ways the Lord is working through just one organization in the 10/40 Window. : ) We update it several times a week ... and will also post more news on the situation in Myanmar as we have it!
I wanted to pass on this link to you all - feel free to check it out anytime for stories that I hope will be an encouragement for you, to see some of the ways the Lord is working through just one organization in the 10/40 Window. : ) We update it several times a week ... and will also post more news on the situation in Myanmar as we have it!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Beautiful Sunny Skies, Weekends, and God's Work across the Globe
It is absolutely gorgeous outside as I write this! It is the weekend and I am looking forward to resting, spending extra time in the Word, times of fellowship with good friends, exercise and catching up on errands and stuff. :)
Our prayer meeting here at the ministry on Tuesday was so good ... we heard a story straight from the mission field in Asia that really stood out to me. Some time back, the people in one part of Northeast India suffered and lost so much in heavy floods. Yet ... the person sharing the story talked of how even as they had lost hope in their soil that was destroyed in the floods, they were finding lasting hope in Jesus! It was truly a great reminder to me of the same theme the Lord has been encouraging me with lately ... how even when we go through hard things in an earthly sense, we can rejoice that the Lord is using these things to bring about lasting good. I thank the Lord for the privilege to be part of a ministry that is getting to reach out to the physical and spiritual needs of precious people in the 10/40 Window where many still need to hear His name.
Click here to read an incredible answer to prayer in regards to the situation in Myanmar! The way the Lord is opening the door for GFA to reach out to these precious people is truly a huge answer to prayer ... We can rejoice in this, yet please continue to pray for Myanmar. The situation is quite serious (that is probably an understatement!) and the people have gone through so much. How good it is that we pray to a incredibly amazing God for whom nothing is impossible ... a God who cares for these precious people and desires to see them drawn to Himself even more than we do!
I am continually amazed at the awesome God that we serve ... and what a privilege it is to cry out to Him on behalf of a nation, knowing His heart of compassion and that there is nothing He can't do in their lives! I am grateful to know and serve this God ... aren't you?
[If you are reading this and don't know Jesus ... I would love to share with you more about Him. It would give me so much joy!]
Our prayer meeting here at the ministry on Tuesday was so good ... we heard a story straight from the mission field in Asia that really stood out to me. Some time back, the people in one part of Northeast India suffered and lost so much in heavy floods. Yet ... the person sharing the story talked of how even as they had lost hope in their soil that was destroyed in the floods, they were finding lasting hope in Jesus! It was truly a great reminder to me of the same theme the Lord has been encouraging me with lately ... how even when we go through hard things in an earthly sense, we can rejoice that the Lord is using these things to bring about lasting good. I thank the Lord for the privilege to be part of a ministry that is getting to reach out to the physical and spiritual needs of precious people in the 10/40 Window where many still need to hear His name.
Click here to read an incredible answer to prayer in regards to the situation in Myanmar! The way the Lord is opening the door for GFA to reach out to these precious people is truly a huge answer to prayer ... We can rejoice in this, yet please continue to pray for Myanmar. The situation is quite serious (that is probably an understatement!) and the people have gone through so much. How good it is that we pray to a incredibly amazing God for whom nothing is impossible ... a God who cares for these precious people and desires to see them drawn to Himself even more than we do!
I am continually amazed at the awesome God that we serve ... and what a privilege it is to cry out to Him on behalf of a nation, knowing His heart of compassion and that there is nothing He can't do in their lives! I am grateful to know and serve this God ... aren't you?
[If you are reading this and don't know Jesus ... I would love to share with you more about Him. It would give me so much joy!]
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Pineapple Chicken, Big Orange Cats and Loving Life
Something really neat happened last night. I was walking outside, enjoying the gorgeous weather, in a neighborhood across from the nature preserve. Suddenly I just started prayer-walking for the people in the houses in what was kind of a cul-de-sac. [Praying with my eyes open of course, so I wouldn't run into anything. :-)] Well, I felt like God was leading me to walk further down a main road and pray for a particular house whose lights I could see in the distance. On my way back, I ran into this big, gorgeous orange cat and got to pet it! This may seem like a small thing ... but any of y'all who know me very well probably know that I totally love cats, even though I haven't gotten to own one for quite a while. So ... that was way fun and something I really believe the Lord orchestrated. It really boggles my mind how He cares for even the little details of our lives, and loves to bless us for His glory. :-) He's pretty amazing like that!
I had a really good night, and today has been nice, too ... around 11 this morning, some of us writers went to Panda Express for a super-quick lunch before our afternoon seminar and I ordered the pineapple chicken and fried rice ... yum! :o) I totally loved the seminar, taught by this guy who's basically a ministry marketing specialist and whose book we've been going through, a chapter or so a week. He had so many great insights on how to make our communications more personal to our donors ... definitely stuff I look forward to applying in my writing. The whole topic he shared on is so fascinating to me ... we were in there with him for four hours, but it totally didn't feel like it!
After the seminar I took a quick walk (to stretch my shoulders!) and was thinking about how refreshed I am feeling ... like the Lord is giving me a fresh new start in my day-to-day life ... I realized that elements of my life were feeling routine, but that seems to have totally changed. He has truly refreshed my heart and awakened me again to His heart of joy. Isn't it incredible how He uses trials in our lives to do that ... how we can come through them feeling so alive, renewed? And how He has ministered to me in the midst of this trial and taken away the pain so quickly! In spite of that, I don't want to forget the deeper spiritual truths I have learned through it ... my heart yearns to be just as much abiding in Jesus in the easier times as in the harder ones. :)
Well ... I must go so I can eat some supper before prayer meeting tonight ... but I would love to hear from you if you'd like to share how the Lord is working in your life ... I'm sure many of you have some great stories to share! :)
I had a really good night, and today has been nice, too ... around 11 this morning, some of us writers went to Panda Express for a super-quick lunch before our afternoon seminar and I ordered the pineapple chicken and fried rice ... yum! :o) I totally loved the seminar, taught by this guy who's basically a ministry marketing specialist and whose book we've been going through, a chapter or so a week. He had so many great insights on how to make our communications more personal to our donors ... definitely stuff I look forward to applying in my writing. The whole topic he shared on is so fascinating to me ... we were in there with him for four hours, but it totally didn't feel like it!
After the seminar I took a quick walk (to stretch my shoulders!) and was thinking about how refreshed I am feeling ... like the Lord is giving me a fresh new start in my day-to-day life ... I realized that elements of my life were feeling routine, but that seems to have totally changed. He has truly refreshed my heart and awakened me again to His heart of joy. Isn't it incredible how He uses trials in our lives to do that ... how we can come through them feeling so alive, renewed? And how He has ministered to me in the midst of this trial and taken away the pain so quickly! In spite of that, I don't want to forget the deeper spiritual truths I have learned through it ... my heart yearns to be just as much abiding in Jesus in the easier times as in the harder ones. :)
Well ... I must go so I can eat some supper before prayer meeting tonight ... but I would love to hear from you if you'd like to share how the Lord is working in your life ... I'm sure many of you have some great stories to share! :)
Monday, May 12, 2008
Proverbs, Piper and Pain
So my Facebook status around 2:30 this afternoon read:
" ... fixing to have dental work done ... pray for as quick and painless as possible :)"
I am notably a big sissy when it comes to physical pain ... and so of course I went to the dentist today with at least a bit of trepidation. As I wrote that hurried status update and prayer request, though, I had to inwardly smile, as I thought of how God has been using pain in a really special way lately to draw me closer to Jesus.
I am truly so grateful ... I would not in my natural person, my comfort-seeking flesh, choose beforehand to go through trials. Yet I can already see the beauty of Jesus in this particular one ... I have truly been drawn so close to His side through the hardship and pain. And that which draws me nearer to the heart of Jesus is truly a friend and a welcome gift ... even if hard at times in a temporal, earthly sense.
Some highlights of this past weekend ...
On Friday evening, my friend Ann and I joined a bunch of girls from my church to go see a chick flick ... we filled pretty much a whole row in the theater! :) That was fun ... and it was the cutest movie, too, that I've seen in a while! Then Ann and I went to Chili's and had a great time talking and laughing together. :)
Saturday evening I was able to get together with another group of friends from church. It was so funny, 'cuz originally we were going to play Balderdesh, which I'd brought over. However, we ended up instead just talking for a while about the things of the Lord. So what we ended up doing was so much better than even Balderdash, my favorite game. :-D It was wonderful and refreshing, and one of my friends loaned me a John Piper book about desiring God and finding joy in Him. Such a good book ... and I have been getting so much out of it over these past few days, as well as from some reading in the book of Matthew. I also enjoyed reading again in the Proverbs this morning before work.
I long for more of Jesus ... I love being in His presence. And I don't want that desire He has given me to wane ... I thank the Lord for the special revelations of Him in times of pain, but I want that deep, burning desire for Him to always be fresh in my heart, whether in times of trial or when everything's "going well". :)I don't want to forget Him in the "good times".
Last night I met up with a good friend from work for a time of fellowship together. We ended up spending the whole time singing worship songs and praising God and praying for one another. I was so refreshed and encouraged ... and thought of how truly nothing compares with those wonderful times of being in Jesus' presence!
P.S. Oh yeah ... in case you're wondering ... about the dentist appt. :) Things went incredibly well and very painless ... and my new dentist is sooooo nice (and close to the office). I had to laugh pretty hard when they offered me "laughing gas". They obviously don't know me that well yet, or they would know that I laugh on my own ... and don't need any help with that ... :-) (Any of y'all reading this blog could probably have told them that!) They did, however, numb my mouth, which was definitely a good thing ... :-D
" ... fixing to have dental work done ... pray for as quick and painless as possible :)"
I am notably a big sissy when it comes to physical pain ... and so of course I went to the dentist today with at least a bit of trepidation. As I wrote that hurried status update and prayer request, though, I had to inwardly smile, as I thought of how God has been using pain in a really special way lately to draw me closer to Jesus.
I am truly so grateful ... I would not in my natural person, my comfort-seeking flesh, choose beforehand to go through trials. Yet I can already see the beauty of Jesus in this particular one ... I have truly been drawn so close to His side through the hardship and pain. And that which draws me nearer to the heart of Jesus is truly a friend and a welcome gift ... even if hard at times in a temporal, earthly sense.
Some highlights of this past weekend ...
On Friday evening, my friend Ann and I joined a bunch of girls from my church to go see a chick flick ... we filled pretty much a whole row in the theater! :) That was fun ... and it was the cutest movie, too, that I've seen in a while! Then Ann and I went to Chili's and had a great time talking and laughing together. :)
Saturday evening I was able to get together with another group of friends from church. It was so funny, 'cuz originally we were going to play Balderdesh, which I'd brought over. However, we ended up instead just talking for a while about the things of the Lord. So what we ended up doing was so much better than even Balderdash, my favorite game. :-D It was wonderful and refreshing, and one of my friends loaned me a John Piper book about desiring God and finding joy in Him. Such a good book ... and I have been getting so much out of it over these past few days, as well as from some reading in the book of Matthew. I also enjoyed reading again in the Proverbs this morning before work.
I long for more of Jesus ... I love being in His presence. And I don't want that desire He has given me to wane ... I thank the Lord for the special revelations of Him in times of pain, but I want that deep, burning desire for Him to always be fresh in my heart, whether in times of trial or when everything's "going well". :)I don't want to forget Him in the "good times".
Last night I met up with a good friend from work for a time of fellowship together. We ended up spending the whole time singing worship songs and praising God and praying for one another. I was so refreshed and encouraged ... and thought of how truly nothing compares with those wonderful times of being in Jesus' presence!
P.S. Oh yeah ... in case you're wondering ... about the dentist appt. :) Things went incredibly well and very painless ... and my new dentist is sooooo nice (and close to the office). I had to laugh pretty hard when they offered me "laughing gas". They obviously don't know me that well yet, or they would know that I laugh on my own ... and don't need any help with that ... :-) (Any of y'all reading this blog could probably have told them that!) They did, however, numb my mouth, which was definitely a good thing ... :-D
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Please Pray for Myanmar ...
I'm sure by now you've probably heard about the major cyclone that hit Myanmar (Burma) over the weekend. Our office here has been busy in the aftermath, getting out news reports so people here can be praying and helping the precious people of Myanmar. Here is a report on our website, describing some of the devastation in the words of one who observed it firsthand.
You can also see more on the cyclone at BBCnews.com. Current death toll has risen to more than 22,000. It is hard to think of so many lives lost ... and hard to think of people suffering, whether in Myanmar with this cyclone, or the hard things I've seen dear friends go through here in the States. Yet ... even though I don't have "the answers" to all this heartache, I know that there is a God who does, and that He is just as much in control and full of compassion as always!
I think of how so many times He has used events like tsunami and flooding ... and even Hurricane Katrina a couple of years back ... for people to come to Christ. He is still on His throne and full of infinite compassion, and mighty to save!
Please pray for Myanmar. Pray that many precious survivors, so dear to the Father's heart, would embrace the hope that can be theirs through Jesus.
You can also see more on the cyclone at BBCnews.com. Current death toll has risen to more than 22,000. It is hard to think of so many lives lost ... and hard to think of people suffering, whether in Myanmar with this cyclone, or the hard things I've seen dear friends go through here in the States. Yet ... even though I don't have "the answers" to all this heartache, I know that there is a God who does, and that He is just as much in control and full of compassion as always!
I think of how so many times He has used events like tsunami and flooding ... and even Hurricane Katrina a couple of years back ... for people to come to Christ. He is still on His throne and full of infinite compassion, and mighty to save!
Please pray for Myanmar. Pray that many precious survivors, so dear to the Father's heart, would embrace the hope that can be theirs through Jesus.
Monday, May 05, 2008
If I Could ...
Sometimes I wish I could take away all the pain that anyone dear to me has ever had to go through. I would if I could. :) Of course I can't ... and I realize that in God's perfect and loving sovereignty it's somehow, paradoxically, best that I can't ... For, so often, the trials and pain people go through make them the person in Christ that they are today. In many cases, it is even what turns them toward Christ in the first place. So ... I must accept that God is sovereign and I am not ... and He is in control and works out everything for good, regardless of the earthly pain and sorrow me or those around me may have to experience in our lives.
But for now ... all of you in my life who are close to my heart and experiencing struggles ... please know that I care for you so very much ... and that if I could take away the pain and make it "all better" for you, simply by hugging you ... well, I would. :) I wish I could tell you that everything's going to be alright ... oh, but I CAN ... because of Jesus!
For all who have trusted in Him as Savior, He has promised that everything will work out for our good in the end ... and that He uses the difficult things in our lives to continue to shape us more and more into His image. And ... knowing Him as this incredible Savior, we are promised a perfect home in Heaven with Him, worshipping Him and falling at His wonderful feet for all eternity, in eternal bliss.
So ... maybe I really can hug you and tell you that everything's going to be okay. :)
But for now ... all of you in my life who are close to my heart and experiencing struggles ... please know that I care for you so very much ... and that if I could take away the pain and make it "all better" for you, simply by hugging you ... well, I would. :) I wish I could tell you that everything's going to be alright ... oh, but I CAN ... because of Jesus!
For all who have trusted in Him as Savior, He has promised that everything will work out for our good in the end ... and that He uses the difficult things in our lives to continue to shape us more and more into His image. And ... knowing Him as this incredible Savior, we are promised a perfect home in Heaven with Him, worshipping Him and falling at His wonderful feet for all eternity, in eternal bliss.
So ... maybe I really can hug you and tell you that everything's going to be okay. :)
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