Wanted to give an update:

Can't say much. 
Work was difficult this week.
Situation that needs prayer.
Things are tough.

Lord, give me wisdom and strength.  Guard my words and my actions.  Help me to be wise about the course of action that I take.  Lead me in your ways.  Lead me in your path.  Help me to dwell in your sanctuary and live on your holy hill. Amen.

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.    Psalm 25:21

Yesterday at lunch, the ladies were talking about Valentine's traditions. Then, being the only single lady at the table, they started joking about me being single. MF suggested that I find out if LA (one of the male teachers at school) was dating anyone and we were all laughing about it. He is nice, but shy and, well, it was just kind of a fun conversation that ended amicably. I knew that nothing more would come of it...and had let the matter drop because frankly the one thing I hate is people trying to set me up.

Today, however, I was talking with one of the other ladies and she said, "Well, you won't believe what MF did after lunch yesterday...This didn't end with the conversation." Then she told me that MF had called up the guy on the phone. The conversation went something like this.

MF: "Hey, I'm married, so I am not trying to hit on you...but...are you dating anyone?"
LA: "No"
MF: "Well, you really should think about some of the single teachers here..."
MF: "And you know tomorrow's Valentine's...and a girl likes to go out to dinner on Valentine's"

Apparently, MF told my friend that while she didn't give a direct hint, I was the only single teacher at school. Except then my friend told her I wasn't - so who knows what poor LA heard...and besides seeing as he's rather shy I suspect his face was bright red by the end of the conversation.

SO, my coworkers and I had a great time laughing at this today. I frankly couldn't believe that MF actually called him up. I thought the whole thing was hysterical. SO, to get back at her...since she doesn't work on Wednesday and we had some extra time...
We made a banner that said Msmatchmaking.com and hung it on her wall. Then we got string and hung hearts from the ceiling of her room, put them on the wall, and all over the door. We can't wait to see what she thinks tomorrow when she comes in.

I have to say it was really nice to get to have fun on a holiday that I don't normally celebrate...except with my parents and students. So, I really enjoyed my day...and besides that, I actually got a lot of work done. YEAH. I'll let you know what MF thinks after she sees it tomorrow.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I wrote a little yesterday about Reality Check this past week: I didn't share the whole story, but it's funny how God works and affirms what He has already spoken so here goes.

I recently finished the book Hadassah: One Night with the King based on the life of Esther. It is a fictional account of how she became queen and the parts of the story that are in the Bible are pretty acuarate with the story. However, the first part of the book tells about Esther's preparation to be the queen. She spends 12 months preparing for her "one night with the King". She has never met the King before but this is her one chance. If he doesn't like her or doesn't remember her name than she will never see him again.

As she begins preparing she watches the other girls around her and how self-centered they are. The girls are allowed to keep the jewelery they wear that night so the others take as much as they can and pick the prettiest things. They don the prettiest and fanciest clothes in accordance with their likes and dislikes. They pay no attention whatsoever to what the King would like.

As Esther tries to figure out how to stand out from the other girls, as she ponders why he would choose her over the others, she realizes that she needs to focus on what the King likes rather than what she wants. And so, for the rest of the year, she focuses on the King. She spends time finding out what he likes and what pleases him. She puts aside her will for his will. In this process she falls in love with this man that she has never met.

When her night with the King comes, she enters his room and begins to smile. She isn't frightened like the other girls and this puzzles the King. When asked why she is smiling, she simply replys "because I am happy to be in your presence. I delight in you."

In the past week, God has struck me with the realization that His will for me is to simply delight in His presence. In order to prepare to meet with Him, I need to put aside my will and desires and focus on Him. This morning in church service, the message was on Exodus 19 where God tells the people to spend three days preparing to meet with the Lord at Mount Sinai. The pastor was talking about our preparation to meet God. I just found it interesting in light of what God has been teaching me in terms of preparation to meet with the "King".

After God descends in a cloud, the people are afraid and ask God to talk to Moses instead of them. I remember reading another fictional interpretation of that story and realizing that God wanted to meet with all the people not just Moses and the people where too afraid. I wonder if they had prepared in the manner that they should have (focused on God and not on man) if their response would have been the same.

Lord, as I prepare to meet with You, Help me put aside my will for yours. Help me to focus on You and Your desires and in the process learn to simply delight in You. Amen.

Started to write an update last night, but couldn't figure out how to say all that has been going on this week.

Went to Reality Check on Tuesday night: heard from the Lord...surprise, surprise Go to meet with God and actually meet with Him. (note the sarcasm) Actually, I think there was something about not needing to "go" somewhere to meet with Him.

We talked about delighting in the presence of the Lord and what He says about us...even in our sinfulness and selfish desire. It was a wonderful time of remembering who God is and why I love Him.

This reminder has been with me the rest of the week. I had a situation at work yesterday that just reminds me how much I need the Lord. Things were done, things were said, things did not go as planned. BUT God is still in control and I need to simply delight in Him. He will take care of the situation and the student involved. My love for this student is all that He requires of me - and to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. I just pray that Our love, care and concern will be evident.

Today, my Costa Rica video arrived. I cried as I watched the smiles of the kids and remembered the presence of the Lord that I felt. It made me hear the call again. I just wish I knew what was in store for the future. I think the video coupled with yesterday's difficulty simply renewed my desire to share the love of God with others on the foriegn mission field.

Lord, I pray that your will would be done in the situation at work. I pray that my heart and attitude would be correct and that my actions would demonstrate your desire for the students I teach. I pray that as I consider what you would have me do in the field of foreign missions that my desire would not overshadow Your desire. That my frustration with the things around me would not drive me to move ahead of You. That You would remain the center of my focus and that Your loving care would remain my guide. I ask that You would guide me on the path of righteousness for Your name's sake and lead me in the way everlasting. I ask that You would lead and guide me to where You would have me go. I ask for confirmation of the stirrings in my heart and a definate answer to my prayer as to where next. Thank you for Your provision and grace. Amen.

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God has answered my prayer and confirmed his call to wait, seek His will, and simply delight in His presence. -- 5:30 pm