Hi. It's me again.

I'm writing in here more often now. :o) Today I went to lunch with some friends from work. That was nice.

I didn't stay the whole time because I came home to write an emergency email that would point to an urgent story for prayer. The Lord really went before me and brought everything together! (Be sure to check out the story, which my supervisor wrote, and pray for this impoverished area that is going through so much.)

I also heard from some supporters that they would like to be on my email list I'm putting together. I enjoy hearing from my supporters!

It's been a busy day. I just now got back to my desk after helping the young people (teenagers) clean in the building. My cleaning partner and I had such a good time of fellowship as we prayed for each other at the end.

It's a beautiful day out there. I'm about to head out and ... I don't know what. Probably go back to my apartment to rest for a bit, then maybe go walking. I know that later tonight I need to work for a while on my SEND! articles which are due very soon! I pray the Lord goes before me and brings everything together like He did this afternoon.

This workday went by fast! It is so pretty outside. If you read the post below, you'll see that I'm doing MUCH better than I was last week -- YAY! :o))))

This afternoon as I was reading a Christian magazine article, possible source material for a Dalit article I'm working on for SEND!, I felt like I got a glimpse into another world. The article mentioned thousands of people gathering every Sunday in a field in an area of India, traveling to get there by foot, bicycle, or whatever other means of transportation they could find. And they carried in sick people on cots and chairs, voicing their cries for help ... and listening to the message that Jesus loves them ... that they are cherished by their benevolent Creator.

One thing that spoke to me was the deep hunger for God's Word. When the missionaries came in with New Testaments and other Christian literature, the rush of the people was so great that at one point the missionaries were cornered into their vehicle. Outreach team members then began proclaiming the message of God's love to those who had gathered, as they handed people their own copy of God's Word.

Incredible. When I hear stories like that, I am transported into another world. A world that doesn't revolve around me. A world where the Word of God is living and active, alive and fresh. A world where "other things" suddenly don't seem to matter so much ... they start to pale in comparison. Lord, help me to live in that world.

Now I'm going home to have some time with the Lord. I'm going to read in Romans 12:9-21, the passage from yesterday's message at church. A while back, when I was meditating on the sermon passage throughout the week, the Lord spoke to my heart so much -- so I plan to start doing that again. :o)

WOW. I'm doing SO much better. In fact, I'm probably doing great. :o) I'm so very thankful.

I ended up having such a nice weekend. On Saturday some of us from the office helped move a co-worker into the apartment she and her husband-to-be will share after they get married next weekend. And after that, three of us gals ended up taking an impromptu trip to three different malls. At the second mall, we also ate at Chick-fila. Such a blast! I ended up with a sarong skirt, a couple of headbands and a pair of blue open-back Keds. Early birthday presents, I told them. :oD

Yesterday was Sunday school and lots of fun laughs in class. :O) Then after church we all went to eat at Luigi's. Then my friend Mellie and I announced that we were going to see a movie at the dollar theater, and several others joined us. That was fun!

I also had a nice walk at the nature preserve later that day, and a really good talk with my parents. :O) And some yummy lettuce wraps, and I re-watched part of a fun movie.

I'm feeling probably slightly better.

The Lord allowed for me to meet up briefly today with Emily, another woman at the ministry. She listened and encouraged and prayed for me. I feel comfortable sharing things with her, which is such a blessing.

Even though she's married with five children, I can sense in her voice and expression that she remembers what it's like to be a single woman, having various struggles and desires and seeking to be right where God wants her to be.

Ever feel like you just "can't quite get it all together"? (I talked to a couple of single gals, friends of mine from the ministry, over lunch today, and they totally agreed that they've been there!) I've been kind of feeling that way a lot lately ... like, where does all the time go? And why am I so tired all the time? (Probably in big part because I was sick last week) And when I try to sit down and spend time with the Lord, why is it so hard to focus? Probably a big part of it is the spiritual battle.

When I was talking to Emily today, she said, "Your heart to please Him is beautiful. And your heart is what He desires, and then everything else will follow." Loosely paraphrased, but the basic point of what she was saying. I needed to hear those words of encouragement today.

I know I have a long way to go, but He has given me a heart to seek Him. For that I am so thankful. And He doesn't give up on me. I just need to trust Him.

Well, this month is my month to help clean the building, so I'm going to go work on some things so I can leave a little early tomorrow after work, to go see Shakespeare in the Park with some friends from church. :o) That should be fun.

It's Wednesday.

And it's a beautiful day out there. But it hasn't been the easiest week. I've been unusually tired, still recovering from being sick, and have had kind of a weak stomach.

More than that, though, I'm having some confusing thoughts. I so much desire the Lord's peace! And according to His Word --which is absolutely TRUE-- it is attainable!

I came across verse during lunch yesterday:

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
--Isaiah 58:11

I didn't see the last sentence of the verse until later -- but isn't it cool? The whole image is such a nice one. That's how I want to be -- "...like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail". Right now I feel like I'm kind of GRASPING ... wanting to be at that point but just not quite there at the moment, and not quite sure how to get there? Help me, Lord. I know You are able!

Okay.

I'm back, and no, I didn't get to dress up like a cow for Cow Appreciation Day last Friday. So much for my public debut. Maybe next year. :o)

I got sick and was disappointed because I had to cancel not only those plans, but also everything else I had planned for the weekend. But I think the Lord taught me something about surrender through it? I had some rough days, especially with being worn out physically and major spiritual attacks on my emotions. But Friday night I did have some good time with the Lord.

And yesterday was nice -- I was able to make it to church, and to hang out with my S.S. friends at Bennigan's afterwards. Of course one buddy teased me saying I should wear my costume to church next week. :o) We're all going to Shakespeare in the Park this weekend -- that should be fun!

Today? I've been kind of like a zombie ... well, especially in the morning. See, with sleeping so much during the day, I've had trouble getting to sleep the last couple nights. I slept very little Saturday night, even though I was tired. But this afternoon has been so much better and I was able to focus more on things at work. That was a blessing!

Pray for sleep. At the right times.

So this is my 246th post. Pretty cool.

As I sit up here in my desk at the office, I have a beautiful view of houses, trees, apartments, and even buildings on the horizon -- framed by glorious big, open sky.

Today was a good day. I had the opportunity to go eat lunch with a friend from the office, Karene.

The weekend was good, too! Friday was extended prayer here at the ministry ... I left at 12:30 after helping to clean up, because I was soooooo tired and my left shoulder had been hurting.
That day both our 3rd Quarter SEND! and 2004 Annual Report appeared in our mailboxes at work, which was pretty exciting! I had the opportunity to write the radio and Muslim outreach features for SEND! this time around -- you can check them out in our latest issue at www.gfa.org/send. :o) It's my heart's desire that the hearts of many be touched as they read these stories!

Saturday during the day I didn't do much except do laundry, pick up a little, and take a one-hour nap. Then that night I met up with several others in my S.S. class to see The Pacifier at the dollar theater.

Wanna know something funny? Friday I am dressing up in a cow costume and actually making a public appearance ... twice. Hey, it's for a good cause (see www.chickfila.com), plus the fact that I'm just about ALWAYS up for free food, especially when it's Chick-fila. :o)

There will be people and cameras to witness my costume debut.

Another nice weekend.

It was a very memorable 4th of July holiday!

On Friday I went to a pool party at my Sunday school teacher's house. We all had so much fun hanging out and laughing, and splashing in the water!

Saturday I slept in and did stuff around the apartment. Then Sunday I hung out again with my S.S. class.

And Monday? Some coworkers and I went to a church event complete with hot dogs, sno cones, cotton candy and an inflatable "waterslide". :o)

So it was a very nice weekend!