The name of the Lord, is a strong tower...

The schedule went as detailed yesterday in my blog and then after all that, I came home, crashed for about 30 minutes, got back up and we went out with Pastor T & Misty and the Garlands for Pastor T's birthday. We went to Kobe...and it was good...always good food there but better company. It's the company of a few that I enjoy the most. Many people would never realize, I really don't enjoy crowds. I "do them" because it's necessary. Anybody who is successful in ministry is going to learn how to work the crowd, but it's in the presence of just a few people that I enjoy most. I was really tired after a long day but when the company is good and the conversation enjoyable it is actually a refreshing time that does not make one more tired. After Kobe, we went over and hit Cold Stone Creamery. Can't remember who asked, "do you guys want to stop for ice cream?" and I retorted, "Um, did Trask resign?" (We're A/G, so I didn't want to say, "Is the Pope Catholic?") So just as quick as I said, "Did Trask resign?" Pastor T retorts with, "And did Lindell NOT get it?" We high fived and headed over to Cold Stone. Just another reason I like working with Pastor T. :-)

Coming home tonight...cleaned up the messy kitchen, ironed the clothes for tomorrow...and am winding down reading the Word and the Secrets of the Secret Place. Interesting that this chapter is on enduring. It says, "no matter how tough the slogging gets, we must never give up on our pursuit of God." So far as I begin to read the chapter I'm struck by the fact that it's headed in the direction of not giving up on our relationship with God. It's funny but in my life, my temptation has never really been to give up on my relationship with God but on everything and everyone else. There are many times I'd like to just run away to Boone, NC (I keep threatening to do that in my blogs, you know...) and just spend my days with my lap top writing in solitude. When stuff happens, it takes endurance for me to keep doing everything else but I really don't have an urge to quit on the Lord.

Everyone is different in their hot buttons, their temptations, their struggles. One thing that drives me crazy about some books or seminars (especially self help and along the lines of wives, mothers, women, etc.) is that they stereotype what our struggles are and what we think and what we feel and so often, it isn't the case for everybody. (I know I'm not alone in thinking this - several of my friends feel the same way.) Whereas for instance, they might want their husband to do certain things for them, I do not, or vice versa. We do not all have the same likes or dislikes or ways of doing things. And our struggles are no different. I usually run to God, not away from Him. My struggle is in everything else - enduring what I know He has called me to, even when it is not easy.

So here I sit.

I need a divine appointment.

Bad.

When I begin to feel some of the things I am feeling right now, what it takes for me to get my eyes off of it is to have something grand...an encounter of leading someone across the line of faith, a miracle healing, being able to give something significant to someone that wouldn't otherwise have whatever I just gave them, etc. So this is my goal this week. I'll be looking for it around every corner. :-)

I have journeyed long enough to realize that in anyone's stresses of life, the only sure thing is THE solid rock. Today I'm reading Proverbs 18, in keeping with the day of the month and verse 10 says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe." Verse 16 has always also been one of my favorite verses: "A gift opens the way for the giver, and ushers him into the presence of the great." I believe so strongly in GIVING one's way in or out of a miracle, whatever the case may be. Maybe this is part of my divine appointment to come this week.