Today has been such a good day. The Lord did something wonderful -- something that I have been praying for. I feel so encouraged. He is doing great things in my life and teaching me so much. It really helps to put the intensity of the battle into perspective -- it's worth it to me if I come through on the other side and can see how He is shaping me to be more like Him. His love -- and the love and grace He pours out to me through His people -- are mind boggling.

My left shoulder and lower neck area hurt quite a bit this afternoon. Not fun. It's feeling better now, though.

I think it's been a while since I've had a resident walker update! (You know -- the guy that enjoys walking by our building. We don't mind -- in fact, it's fun to watch -- we can practically tell time by his walks, they are often so regular! :o))

So here goes ...

I was taking a walk -- so was the resident walker! He waved in a very friendly manner from across the street, cupped his hands over his mouth, and bellowed out, "Beautiful day out, isn't it?!" I yelled back, "Yes, it's gorgeous!" He gave thumbs up signs with both hands, which I returned. Then he got out his keys and proceeded to enter the side of his building, and I continued on my walk. This all happened about 1:35 this afternoon.

We will continue to bring coverage of our resident walker as we remember.

On a more serious note, life has been going relatively well, and I feel like the Lord has really done a work in my heart. There are still things that don't make sense to me, but I am so thankful for how HE has been shaping me to have more of His perspective.

What a beautiful day.

I slept in today -- but not on purpose. I was pretty bummed out when I woke up and saw the light streaming in and then realized I'd missed Sunday school and the church service was about to start! :o( (My alarm was set but I never heard it go off?! Strange?!)

Despite that, I've had a very nice day! I met up with my S.S. class to eat at The Cornery Bakery after church got out. Soon after that, I headed out to the park and met up with a group of other young people at the ministry to play sand volleyball! That was such a blast. :o) We'll have to do that more often!

I brought Web Dog -- figured he would enjoy the fresh air. And I sure enjoyed driving him around with his big head and smiling face hanging out the passenger's side window, and seeing the really fun, surprised looks on people's faces. :o)

After we played bunches of sand volleyball (so much fun!), I went home and put on my tennies (sand volleyball is best with bare feet so I wore sandals there :o)), I went walking at the nice concrete trail down the street. There were quite a few people out there enjoying the beautiful day.

The weekend has been so very nice.

Wow.

Today was such a good day.

I needed that. :o) Or, at least, felt like I did! I am so thankful ... yet at the same time am trying to take each moment as it comes -- to take things in even stride and be prepared for whatever the next moment holds, whether good or bad.

It's good to be here. It's good to be alive. I'm so glad to have had a nice day after kind of a rough week, and at the same time I don't want to forget or waver in the things the Lord is teaching me.

Looking forward to the weekend.

Encouraging breakthroughs.

As I was driving last night to church, listening to a message shared by our ministry's president, the Lord gave me a breakthrough!

I was powerfully reminded that I can will (deliberately choose) to look at my hard times from the Lord's perspective and not let them faze me, even when my heart and emotions cry out otherwise. I want to be able to say like the Apostle Paul, "None of these things move me."

A devotional I read the other day mentioned an interesting fact -- The Apostle Paul said "None of these things move me." He never said "None of these things hurt me." He hurt deeply. Yet he had such an incredible perspective.

In my weak human flesh I would love for all suffering and struggle to come to an end tomorrow. No, today. : ) Yet I am learning one step at a time to seek His contentment and perspective for however long He chooses to have me go through such things.

And I am having a nice afternoon and feeling encouraged. So thankful for that! :o)

Rough times.

I really need to feel Jesus' arms around me. To know that He is here with me, holding Me. Of course I realize that on a purely objective level. How much harder it can be to feel that on a heart level -- especially in the valleys. Truly He loves His children SO much, though.

I have had little moments of feeling to some measure that He is carrying me. Last night He gave me a neat devotional from Streams in the Desert. Someone wrote of a dream involving three women. They all were praying. The first woman received tender words of love from her Savior as He walked by. The second woman received a pat of approval. The third? Nothing -- He simply passed her by.

As the story goes as told in the devotional, the Lord came to the person having the dream and explained that, contrary to what they were thinking, the third woman--the one He seemed to ignore--had not grieved Him. Rather, she had the deepest faith to where she could handle the silence -- "I am training her through quick and drastic ways for the highest and holiest of service. She knows Me so intimately, and trusts Me so completely, that she no longer depends on outward signs to know of My approval. She is not dismayed or discouraged by any circumstances I arrange for her to encounter. She trusts Me when common sense, reason, and even every subtle instinct of the natural heart would rebel, knowing that I am preparing her for eternity, and realizing that the understanding of what I do will come later."

That was reassuring to me as I thought of how these hard times and struggles are not necessarily a bad sign -- but rather evidence that I have grown in my Christian walk. At the same time, too, though, I found myself saying, "Lord! I am not worthy. I do not have the strength. Give me the feeling that Your arms are around me, carrying me."

(There are many more good devotions in Streams in the Desert about trials. I'll try to write some more in here soon.)

Whew! Almost another whole week has gone by, and not another posting from me. :o) I will try to do better next time, I promise? :oD It is kinda challenging, though, when the only computer I am able to post from now is at work.

Today is actually my first day back in the office after being sick Thursday and Friday of last week. And throughout the weekend. Though I don't look or sound quite my usual self, I feel SO much better today. What a nice feeling. :o)

It was SO good to see somewhere else other than the walls of my apartment. Don't get my wrong -- I love my apartment -- It's just, it is awfully nice to be able to finally get out again. ;oD To celebrate, for lunch I used one of my Chick-fila coupons for free chicken soup, and even got some waffle fries (and a Coke) to go with. :o)

Anyhow -- It truly does feel like the enemy has been attacking me in quite a few ways lately. Physically, in my thought life, spiritually, etc. Yet it is kind of comforting -- If I weren't headed in the right direction, he wouldn't bother trying to discourage me.

I was kind of sad I had to miss the Superbowl with my S.S. class yesterday. I had planned to go, but of course got sick. Yet I knew by faith that the Lord had to have a purpose in it. Saturday night I was reading in Psalm 84 and having some sweet time with the Lord. What a refreshing breeze in the middle of a spiritual dry spell!

It's incredible how the Lord does it -- I felt it on my heart to write something in my journal about nesting in Him (from Psalm 84). Of course, due to a combination of being sick, tired and just plain lazy, I didn't at first get up to go to the other side of the room and retrieve the aforesaid journal. But when I wanted to go to the kitchen for more food, I decided to also detour into the living room to grab the journal. And would you know? I never did get around to journaling about nesting -- but I journaled about a gazillion other things. As I read my last journal entry, from December 2004, I was reminded of something really encouraging the Lord had done in my life--of His provision. So I thanked Him for that and, well, you get the picture. :o) It was a refreshing and renewing time.

Well, I've been back in Texas for about a week now, and still trying to figure out how to get "back into the swing of things" -- or maybe "into the swing of things" in the first place? :o) Do you ever feel like you don't have enough time to do everything in your life that you would like to or needs to be done? I feel that way much of the time. LOL.

I think a big thing is priorities. Putting first those jewels--the things that are most important and needed. Then focus and discipline in spending my time more wisely. This past weekend in my Sunday school class, I was convicted of my need to be much more consistent in my times with the Lord. So, taking the advice our teacher gave us, I set appointments with the Lord. I must admit the first one was set rather tentatively, especially as I'm not a morning person in any shape or form. :o)

But sure enough, I popped out of bed and shuffled over to the living room at 6:50 yesterday morning -- then at 7:30 this morning. I didn't necessarily "feel" like I was in the Lord's presence, but seeking Him diligently is so much more than just a feeling--the feelings won't always come right away, but yet perseverance in seeking is so important. Oh, how I long to be so close to Him--to spend much time in His wonderful presence, just resting at His feet.

I catch glimpses of what that is like--I want it to be a constant in my life. Each day. Each moment. Through Him it is possible.