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.]