It's funny how most of the time when I go and serve or make a very focused attempt at ministering to someone, I think I end up coming away from the encounter more blessed than the person to whom I was trying to minister. For example, today I was at a convalescent home with some other people. Our goal was just to go and talk to the elderly that were there, share some scripture with them, and to just hang out with them. I met this one lady, Claudia. Claudia had been brought up in the church, but she shared with me that she felt like she had to be a certain "type" of Christian in order to please God. She believed that she had to work for her salvation. And, it was really neat to be able to share with her the immeasurable freedom of a fully atoning grace.

God pressed it upon my heart to just chat with her. Boy, did He bless our conversation. Claudia was so willing to share about her life and her struggles. When I asked her how her day had been, she responded, "Oh, darling, today has been wonderful. With a world that is so full of trials and tribulations, how can my day not be wonderful? I am blessed." Wow. What an attitude and perspective!! God's been teaching me a lot about what it means to face each day with great anticipation and hope. He's teaching me to be grateful that I get to wake up in the morning and see His creation.

I didn't really get to talk to anyone else while we were at the convalescent home because I really wanted to get to know Claudia. She kept asking me to tell her about myself. One of the most encouraging things that happened was when I got a chance to pray with her. We had barely talked for five minutes, and the Spirit was nudging me to be bold and to just ask if I could pray for her. When I asked her if she had specific things she wanted me to pray for, she simply said, "Ask for His blessings and ask that I would be grateful." So simple. So honest.

Praise God for the ways He works. I totally wasn't going to go to the home today. I was planning on going home for the day to see my family. But, plans changed. God arranged for me to be able to stay in Berkeley. He even arranged rides and stuff for me so that I could take a break from driving. And for this opportunity I am grateful. I had had a really rough, dry week spiritually. It's been tough settling into a new rhythm of working life. And, honestly, I have pushed God into a corner and put Him on hold. And then, the weekend comes, and He draws me to Himself. And while I haven't gotten a chance to think through/pray through some bigger issues, God spurs me to go and serve and to minister. And in doing so, I get a taste of Him that quenches my thirst. It makes me long for Him deeply. This taste of God makes me yearn to be rooted in His Word. It has convicted me of my lack of discipline this past week.

What a difference a day makes. Yes, so cliche, but, whatever. HBS on Friday was ok. I just wasn't fully there. I had been walking on my own, without God the entire week. I found myself hardened toward Him. I went back and restudied Mark 14 (the passage from Friday) this morning. And the passage came alive. God became real and vibrant to me.

Ok, so this wasn't really a "thought." I have other thoughts that I want to process. But, for now, you just get to hear an update on me.