Joy

I think I'm happy. I don't remember the last time I was, but I know it's been awhile because the feeling was so strangely and vaguely familiar, it took me a few moments to recognize it. But I think that's what it is. I was driving home from a very full day when it hit me.

Sunday I was up and out by 8:30am, driving to Monson Community UMC, where our Kenyan mission team was aging to share a little before the Bishop preached. It is also the church that my best friend's father is the pastor of. I hadn't been there in years. It was a good morning, and Pastor Tim is totally being used by God in that appointment. It was the best small church experience I have had yet. The Bishop preached a very powerful sermon on the power of our tongue. If we speak carelessly, the enemy can use our words against us. We must be careful what we say, and not to speak ill into existence. We need to speak truth and avoid negative talk. It makes me think of how my friend used to pray for a "hard life." At the time I was like, "what are you thinking!" Life is hard enough without asking for trouble. He has had a really hard time the last two years, and although God has grown him a lot, I doubt he will ever pray for that again. I feel like he was inviting the enemy in and asking him to mess things up. What he thought he was asking was to have meaning in life, and not to just sail along. Yikes! Words are very powerful! Only God can renew and restore the mess that came my friends way. And He is.

The Bishop went on to say, "If God would give his only son for us, he will not withhold from us." He encouraged us to speak positively, and "see things through the eyes of God." He continued with a challenge when he added, "You will never live a positive life with a negative mind." He challenged us to weigh our thoughts before speaking them and encouraged us to be quiet, saying that it is not expensive to keep your mouth closed. Do not even breathe negative thoughts, or the enemy will use it against you. He concluded the sermon by saying, "Valleys will come, but they are not our destiny." Thank You Bishop Owino!

I think it may have been when he mentioned that valleys are not God's destiny for us, that I realized that I am starting to crawl out of the valley I have lived in for the last year and a half. It was a great morning service and maybe that was when the joy started to return.

Following the second service, we, the Kenya team, plus Karen and her family went out to eat. I had a really great time, and I stayed there hours chatting with a few after most of the people left. Then, I drove over to my best friend Jessi's house for a party. We ate cheese, drank wine, looked at candles and laughed a lot! After the party broke up, another friend and I stayed at Jessi's and talked til almost midnight. It was after dropping my friend off at her house, and heading home myself that I realized I was happy. I had a good day among so many average days at best.

Last week, God really answered some prayers. He gave me a "yes, but not right now" kind of answer, but I am thankful for that. At least he is speaking to me. And by now, I know how to wait. He tells me he has the best for me, and I'll only receive it in the fullest form if I trust and obey him. And I have some things in the works for the future too. I'm praying about a lot right now, and have a lot of hope. God is moving in my life, and I am welcoming any intervening he would like to do. I totally trust him... With everything.

I am speaking blessings over this week, and this month and this year, and I'm expecting them! "But we are hoping for something we do not have yet, and we are waiting for it patiently." Romans 8:25

This is a good week. I can already tell. :)
Laura