Joy

Good morning to all who are reading this! I just wanted to share with you a feeling I had the other day--something absolutely wonderful. Late Thursday afternoon, I got an IM from a friend I work with by the name of David. David is a gentle, funny and kind soul, whose love for His creator is evident in the way he interacts with people. He's in a different area of the company, but directly works in the Design area, so it wasn't out of the ordinary to hear from him, although it's normally me IM'ing him for something, not the other way around. I assumed that he had a question or something about a design I was working on, but before he could ask his question, I preempted him with one of my own--asking him how his recent trip to Aruba with his wife (kids were at home with the grandparents)..we chatted about that and then I asked him what he needed (after apologizing for preempting him). He said he didn't need anything & just wanted to know how I was. Told him I was fine...work was getting better (and it is)...thanks for asking and all..He then told me that the other day, God put it on his heart to pray for me and that he didn't know whys, so was something going on? Now, mind you, I'd had my normal ups and downs, a big "discussion" with Don over something that in hindsight I realize that I overreacted about, but not a specific thing came to mind. I told him that there wasn't anything major that I knew I needed, other than what I'd been praying for daily: a continual awareness of God's presence in my life, not just in the morning when I pray to him in the parking lot at work, or at night when I have a sleepy, half-prayed prayer but a pervasive, conscious awareness. He admitted that he needed the same thing, and we agreed to pray for each other to achieve that very thing.

After our conversation ended (during which I thanked him what must have been a thousand times), I sat back, a little stunned and a lot overwhelmed with a feeling of joy I hadn't felt in a while. Ever since I was told by a wonderful lady by the name of Sue Youngs on my pilgrim Walk on the Walk to Emmaus, that she had been praying specifically for me, a total stranger, in the days and weeks leading up to the Walk, any time someone has mentioned that they have prayed for me, I am blown away. It is one of the most indescribable, blanketing, comforting feelings I have ever felt, and I make it a point to tell others when I pray for them. I am sometimes concerned that others will question my motives as to why I'm telling them--I'm not telling them so that they'll be impressed with me, or thankful, or beholden, or anything--I assume that they'll have the same reaction that I did when being told. (if I am wrong on this assumptions, please let me know).

I am thankful for everything that God has given me, and I praise Him for bringing wonderful people into my life. Perhaps it's through interactions with these blessings that He's reminding me of His presence (Eureka moment!) and I've just missed the message! Talk about walking around with blinders on or seeing only what my feeble human eyes can see! I vow that I will strive to see every person as His representatives (for lack of a better word) which will enable me to focus on glorifying Him and not just get caught up in the immediate demands of this temporary life.

Praise You, Father God, for loving me. Thank You for loving me enough to open my eyes to You, and I rest in the thought that You are always with me, even when I fail to realize it. May Your blessings rain down on those reading this, and I lift each of them up to You so that they too may know just how much You love them. May they feel joy, too, at the knowledge that they have been lifted up in prayer.

With much joy and love in her heart,
Laura

Catch up

Forgive the lapse in posts, please. I pray that your Christmas was full of many of God's blessings, and that you have found what He knows you need with the coming of the new year.

We had a wonderful Christmas, as my mother-in-law and her husband came in from Kentucky on Christmas Eve, and stayed through the early morning hours of January 4th. Don & I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary on the 4th. 12 years. Whoa!

Don got me several books for Christmas, one of which is the The Christmas Sweater. What a wonderful blessing...what a wonderful lesson for me to start wearing waterproof mascara. I cried like I hadn't cried in a while (and for me, that's a lot). Although sad, it has a wonderful message. I highly recommend it.

A good friend of mine, Patty, lent me a book called The Shack. I finished the book earlier this afternoon, and cried like I hadn't in a while. :) It was a different kind of cry, however. This book is so wonderful, full of sorrow but so full of wonderment and amazement at God's overflowing love that my heart has been touched in a way that it may never be the same. It's an amazing book, one that I'm tempted to go buy for myself so I can refer to it again and again.

2009 has started off with much promise for me. Our new pastor, Kevin, started on 1/11. He is an amazing preacher, full of Christ and enthusiasm. What a breath of life for our church! His first sermon was entitled "The Centrality of Christ" in which he explained that Jesus is the boss of our church, regardless of who thinks is or should be.

I've been asked to be a Lay Director for the Walk to Emmaus in April, 2010. What an honor and blessing and scary thing this will be! It will be a major test of my ability to relinquish control and rely solely on God. I welcome any prayers and advice you can give me!

I will try to keep my blog up better than I did in the latter part of the year. Thank you for your patience with me, as well as your thoughts and prayers.

May you always feel His presence.
Laura