Just Thinking

The title of this entry is taken from the Ravi Zacharias's ministries magazine title, which I've been reading.  There were a couple of really good quotes that are worth noting:

• "Imagine leadership without character, business without ethics and science without human values - in short, freedom without virtue.   Os Guinness argues that while the laws of the land may provide external restraints on behavior, freedom requires virtue, which in turn requires faith."    I recently heard another speaker, Andy Stanley, I think it was, say something along the same lines; and it struck me as profound at that time also.
• "In fertile places, we don't sense the need for God as much as we do in the desert where need is desperately apparent.  Mysteriously, God's presence becomes palpable in the desolation.  God's power is made apparent in our weakness."  This reminds me  of what my pastor has been preaching on, with the Holy Spirit being the Living Water which quenches our thirst in the desert of life.  More so, it reminds me of the 2 Corinth 12:9 verse in which it says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

More than just the magazine from which these quotes came from, the title actually sums up what I wanted to write about.... just some things that I've been thinking about.  This weekend, I was able to see God's Hand working in various areas of my life.   It's not that any of these occurrences were majorly astounding, but, it encouraged me to see God involved in the little details that enhance the joys in life.

In my time with God before church on Sunday, I had asked God to teach me to pray, which was my theme this year.   And, it was funny to hear my pastor say that God has been leading him to teach a new series on PRAYER.

I had also prayed about my loneliness and once again reaffirmed that I had placed my singleness on the altar, giving it to God.   But, He still brought someone to make the effort to walk off the platform in the sanctuary right before church to come over to me just to give me a hug.  It was special and met a need that day.

After church, I had my annual birthday celebration with my small group leaders's anniversary.  We had dinner and then watched "The Inheritance" DVD that I gave them.  It was neat to see that at the end, it said that the two main characters lived "Happily Ever After", which was perfect as an anniversary gift, and was also the theme at their 50th anniversary party four years ago.   They gave me some lavendar sachets, which have been giving my clothes a really nice fragrance.

I thank God for loving and encouraging me.  Even from the studies in Nehemiah, He has motivated me to study more diligently.  I have also decided to read the Bible through again; and I am using the one that orders the readings chronologically.