Thanksgiving Eve

Tonight, you pushed my buttons.  You went into one of your ranting and cleaning modes. You do this once in a while. I know that our lives have gotten so hectic and stressful that its only a matter of time before you go onto another episode of ranting and cleaning. Previously, I joke about it with the kids, "Oh_oh there goes Daddy again" but tonight?  It's Thanksgiving eve!  My time is just as squeezed tight as yours. I was happy to have the coming 4 days off. I was happy that we both got off at 5 today and that we both have tomorrow off.  I can't believe you took that away by behaving that way.  But I can't let that happen. I'm suppose to be a good example. I'm supposed to be Christ-like. I'm supposed to react calmly and respond gently.  But I can't do that. Not by myself.  Not on my own.  God I need you.  Lord, I need to be filled with your holy spirit to guide me in reacting the proper way. In saying the right things. To be loving towards my husband especially when his ways are unloving. Help me Lord. How do I go into Thanksgiving day this way.  My heart is heavy.  My pride is thick. I think he needs to say sorry but he won't do that unless I point it out. Help me Lord. Soften my heart. Lift this burden off my shoulders. Give me peace tonight and a new attitude when I wake up. 

I'm writing this down before I forget. Yesterday, I felt the presence of God. I had an emotionally stressful week at work. Finally, it was Friday. I left work relieved, but immediately, my mind was off to the things I had to do and errands I had to run before the 6:30 small group meeting. But all of that stopped. It was stopped by dead stop traffic on Montague Expwy. "Great!" I thought. I get to listen to my cd. That morning, I found my WOW worship cd from a box that was stored in the storage. I grabbed it on the way out the door excited to hear it again after a long time.

So sitting in traffic, still thinking about the work week, my errands, and how late I was gonna be to the meeting, I felt myself begin to let go. While the cd played in the background, I suddenly felt embraced by Jesus. I felt such warmth and incredible comfort. It was the nicest feeling. He knew exactly what I needed, when I needed it. In my situation, nothing else Nothing else could have comforted me from the situation I'm in. I feel like God was there with me each and everyday of that stressful week at work.

Not One is Upright

"Not one is upright" is the title of Jeremiah 5 in the NIV. It talks of not a single citizen of Israel is righteous. God is upset and fed up wih them for their unfaithfulness. So in v 10, he says "to ravage them, but do not destroy them completely." I think about the times when I have been unfaithful to God. When things are going well in my life, I forget to make God a part of my daily life. Suddenly, I'll get sick and I can't go to work. At home and in bed or on the sofa, I would read my bible or just pray. I don't think that God punished me with the flu, but since I wasn't reading the bible and praying on my own, he allowed me to be in a position where I am forced to spend time with him.
To punish the people of Israel, he brought foreigners to their own land and take everything they have to send them a strong message so that they will turn towards him and away from the foreign Gods.

Graduation

Last night was the completion of CASA training. Aaahhh! Not sighing for relief but exclaiming for that feeling that for the first time in a long time, I was finally doing something I like and something that actually matters. When training started, I wasn't sure if I could really complete the program. Working full time, driving to San Mateo twice a week and tending to my family used up most of my energy. I really liked what I was learning, but focusing, staying alert and attentive for 3 hours was soo challenging. But Alas, I did it! God gave me the energy, the means and a supportive husband. THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Lord bless this election day

Today is election day. Lord, many voters have done all they can to gather info about each candidate. They read, researched and listened to all the news reports to help them select the best candidate. Lord, the economy is in turmoil, the country is in a depression and we need the next leader to get us out of it. Lord I pray for your hand in the election. But whoever it will be, I pray that he will turn to you in making every decision for you are the leader of ALL nations. You have the most experience. You are the one who cares about the people. Lord, thank you for allowing us to live in this rich nation. Help us Lord to help one another.