The Past Week...

The past week has been one of those, "why did time fly so fast and did I do all of that?" type weeks.
For starters, Kate came up to visit me. I think we both needed that time of fellowship and just enjoying being daughters of the greatest Father.
We went places I have really not been to since I was about 9. You would think that growing up here in NY, I would have been to more places. The city was always an anxiety attack waiting to happen for me though.
Even when we drove there last weekend, I remember Kate and I almost getting killed several times by flying cars and unafraid pedestrians of the city. We went to the wax museum and so many other places including a Broadway show :)
The timing was great. One more week and I think I would have gone crazy. I do believe I talked Kate's ear off the whole time she was here. Not about one specific thing either. I am the most random person!! Kate is too haha ;)
I miss getting encouraged daily by brothers and sisters in Christ. I forgot what it was like until Kate came to visit.
Why is it so hard to just listen to each other when you are in the place you are most comfortable? I think the more you stay away from the place you are most comfortable....the more you realize what you .... the real you is all about. Can I spend the same amount of time reading the word if I were in that "comfort zone" as I do since being up here? I ask myself that question along with tons of others daily.
I am certainly a people watcher. I see the way people treat one another up here. No different than back in Raleigh. In fact it's the same, but the accents are much different. It is however, different than some third world country. I see children fighting over games and new sneakers and even what t.v. show is the best. We adults are no better. We just argue and fight over more expensive gadgets and they somehow mean less to us than the child's teddy bear. They see it as the center of comfort. We see it as something like a "feel good for now" thing until the next thing comes along so we have less time really focusing on what the real issue is.
My friend Gaby had a baby a few weeks ago. I went to the hospital to see her before she had the c-section and prayed with her and her husband. After little Julian was born, I went to visit again. It was then I figured out, one of the most important things God had been trying to teach me all along. Holding Julian, I stared down at the smallest 5 lb. baby I think I have ever seen or held. There was no cry, no fidgeting. He was just breathing the fast little breaths babies take. He was so patient. Comotion, was all around him and he was just peacefully lying in the palms of my hands breathing and so darn calm. We are first and foremost created in His image. I began to see how much work was being done within me and in how patient Julian was being at that moment, this little miracle I was holding....showed me how patient God is with each of His children. I remembered that day I held Julian, when the week started not to go the way I would have liked it to go.
Seeing Kate was so encouraging! I laughed like I hadn't in a long time. It felt good to hang out and just let go, have fun and soak up the things we were taught throughout the weekend.
I dropped Kate off at the airport and my roller coaster of a week was not to end on such a pleasant note. This was God reminding me that just as David had been preparing himself everyday in the field watching the sheep with his "slingshot" practice. Though he didn't know it, he was preparing for the day he would meet Goliath. Without even knowing it! Isn’t it great how God does that? YES would be the answer :)
I somehow let my guard down. It happens, we all do at one point or some points I should say. Things happen and that is our reminder. That's God saying, "HELLO!", "Don't you go thinking I've left you! Turn to me cause I’m right here!"
When we don't turn to Him, but doubt it is our flesh...the temptation and the free will to deliberately do what we want to do getting in the way of what we need to keep reminding ourselves everyday. This is not our home! God loves us so much! The way that is right seems dull, but it's not. It's an awesome ride. Better than any one you've ever been on. I dare you to test it against any ride at an amusement park ;)
In all that has been going on, I see that the Lord has given me more wisdom than I had. By the work of the Holy Spirit, convicting and reminding me, everyday of whom I belong to. I have begun to peel off the old and see the new God has brought to light as I am molded into what He has created me to be. He’s awesome and I am blessed!!