Busy week both at work and at home. A few new discoveries. A few lessons. Just what we all need. Right?

Pastor Josh preached the first part of "Welcome to the Family." God brings us into His family and calls us to love one another as we love Him. How we have a tendency to allow gossip to color our world and view of others.

Unfortunately, I have done that a couple times in the last year. I've been guilty let someone else's personal feelings color my view of people. People who while I didn't always agree with what they did, I knew they were good and godly people. And for a short time, I viewed them differently. Both times God pointed it out to me rather sharply. Ouch! I'm sorry for listening to the gossip, participating in it, and acting on it. Sorrier for not listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit this last time that it wasn't right and listening anyway.

Pastor B is preaching on "How to Ruin Your Life" today. It's part 3 of the series. How negativity can ruin your life. He talks of how Paul was in prison and didn't let being in prison ruin his life. How Paul could have been negative and angry over being in prison yet he chose to worship God. He wrote the letters to the Corinthians.

Three of the ladies from the choir sang "Anyway" by Martina McBride. What an amazing rendition. I'm glad it's going to be on today's recording of the service. So good, I can't wait to hear it again the second service!

You can spend your whole life building
Something from nothin'
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy
It's hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart
For all the right reasons
In a moment they can choose to walk away
Love 'em anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
Yea - I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singing
A song you believe in
That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway
Yea, sing it anyway
Yeah, yeah!

I sing
I dream
I love anyway

Last night we attended a get together at our friends' home to celebrate a birthday. The birthday girl turned 20 and is from Japan. The Japanese hold a big coming of age celebration when they turn 20. There were around 30 people ranging in age from 11 to 50 at the party. Good food, DDR, ping pong, air hockey, movies and mostly good company. I didn't think I was ever going to get my kids to leave. We finally made it out of the house on the 3rd try at 11:15!!! I'm pretty sure they'd stay there all the time if I gave them the chance. Heh.

I discovered a marvelous coffee shop on Navy Blvd about a mile out the front gate of NAS. It's called Martelli's. The atmosphere was wonderful. The music was Frank Sinatra and some other singers from that era. There was a warmth to the place that made you feel at home. The pictures on the walls were vintage black and white photos of the family. Old cameras and a phonograph were part of the decor. There was actually a decorative fountain in the middle of the room as well. Lovely chess boards on a couple tables so customers could play a game. A few other board games were available as well. Free wi-fi too! The pumpkin patch mocha latte was yummy! A friend of mine told me that he and his wife go there on Sunday after church every now and again for lunch. She told me this morning that the prices are excellent and her kids love the food too. Sounds like something I need to try with Chaz and Breezy.

Got a haircut (or two). Feels like a ton of weight has fallen off my head. Whew!

Work was busy too. One of our "clients" this week was a teacher with a pretty good size "boo-boo" on his leg. He had fallen off his bike a week or so ago and the pedal gouged his leg. Then he fell while playing basketball a couple days later and reopened it. By the time we saw it, it was red and angry looking and most likely infected. He had to have been in some pain. Friday he made a doctor's appointment to get it checked. We'll find out tomorrow how bad it was.

Well, the service is nearly over and this set of DVD's is nearly done. Hafa Adai and Sayonora!

Oh yeah, I realized two weeks ago that I've been divorced for nearly 5 years. For some reason, I thought it was only 3 years. duh.

morning

I've been in a strange mood lately. I'd say it was depression but I know it's not that. I've been healed from that. Yah God!

It's almost like I'm stuck in a rut. Work is good but frustrating. The year is winding down and the kids it seems are losing their minds. We've been busier the last three weeks than during flu season. How messed up is that? Sometimes I think it's time to move on but I stop because I feel God was telling me in December I am right where He wants me. I am working with the kids and there are people around me who need encouraging. Sometimes the positive word that is spoken is the only good words some of these students hear. I'm standing on that.

This past week was our missions conference and it was the AFM conference. I ran powerpoint/worship for it on Tuesday night. The worship was WOW. We're singing a new song lately that is so powerful. When LA Joiner came up to speak, he started out by saying he felt God was saying that song was prophetic for his people. That alot of people are tired and looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. Watching but ready to give up. (I feel that way sometimes lately). He said God was saying for those holding on, the light is coming. The revelation. The breakthrough. Thank you God!

Yesterday, we had a small group get together at our house. Today is the last day of Alpha so we decided to just fellowship. It was good. Three hours of talking about different things God is doing in each of our lives and talk of how we can fall away from Him by our actions and things we thought would never separate us.

Today, pastor spoke of "Leaving Egypt." What things do we need to leave behind in order to move forward with God into the things He has called us to? What is my Egypt? Food, money, the computer. All these things pull me from God.

A friend of mine and I have been discussing a small women's group. Something crafty. Something that lets women be creative and make things that they can share with others. Whether it be a journal, a scrapbook page, a clock, a card. (Oh yeah, my latest clock is at the bottom) There are so many people who need to be encouraged. If we can help that then we're going to.

You Never Let Go - Matt Redman

Even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught
in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming
for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Yes, I can see a light
that is coming
for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end
to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You
still I will praise You

insert foot here....

Located: all of the missing Japanese bowls/dishes.

Foot? I talked to M today. He asked if I was flirting with him. I told him no, if I was I would tell him.

The conversation ends. And as I'm thinking about the conversation afterwards, I realized I wasn't quite truthful. And so...

I called him back. And said...

I may not have been at that point flirting but it has definitely crossed my mind.

And he said...

"I'm flattered." And that was about it.

Insert foot, move over, make room for other foot.

I feel so stupid. What a way to start the new year. I feel like a fool.

And so... worship was good. And pastor stood up to pray afterward and said...

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. Psalm 46:1-2

The sermon is on "New Season." I could use a new season already. I know God is bigger than my mouth. I know He gives grace. I could use an extra dose today.

Found out why my head was spinning the last couple days. A good case of vertigo will do wonders for your perspective!

Church was good this morning. The series title is Kairos.

The average person lives 77 years. 924 months. 4004 weeks. 28105 days. 674520 hours. 40471200 minutes. 242827200 seconds. Time is ticking.

Why am I doing what I'm doing? Who am I becoming?

Pastor used the illustration of juggling. What am I juggling? Are they things that make a difference? Is my schedule full or fulfilling?

I believe I am making a difference but I also see my schedule as full and a lot does not point towards eternity.

He talked of giving my "priorities" the test. The eternity test. The funeral test. The fire test.

Does what I'm doing have a lasting importance? Will someone cry at my funeral? Did I make a difference in anyone's life? What would I take in a fire? What do I consider important enough to take with me and what would I leave behind?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:28-33

Time is a value issue.

Anyway, it was good and I'm hearing it a second time right now. It makes me think. Makes me wonder what changes I can make in my life.