The pox

Well, we've got the pox. The chicken pox that is. Not me...I had them when I was seven. My niece. Who will be seven in a few days. Who is quarrantined for seven days.

**Edit: The oldest and the middle kids have the pox. I've suggested that we mingle the youngest with the older two and just get this thing over with. ARGHHHHHHHHHH!

Itchy.
Calamine lotion.
Chicken jokes.
Cabin fever.
Thank God for the Nintendo DS.

Oh yeah. We asked the doctor. We're not contagious. Only the pocky one is.

A close friend of my family--the man who introduced my mom and dad on the blind date that led to marriage four weeks later--had a stroke last night. His right side is non-functional, and he is unable to speak. Please pray for healing for him. I've seen God work a miracle already this week. So, I buh-lieve.

Thanks!

Snapper soup

There are times when I am ultra-sensitive, and then there are times when I am ulra-dense. One of my best friends shared something with me, and I thought, "Ok."

I guess that I still think that I, and all of my close friends, are immortal. A regular band of superheroes. Yesterday, for the first time in my life, it occured to me that we are not.

And then I went into turtle mode. You know. A strong exterior, but my insides were snapper soup.

Last night, I prayed from the depths of my soul for my friend. Deep gut prayers that only God could possibly understand. I know a few things. I know that by His stripes, she is healed. I know that nothing is impossible for God. I know that with the faith of a fennel, I mean mustard seed, mountains can be moved.

I know that there are only two things that I can do for her right now. I know that I can pray for her, because God hears my prayers. And I know that I can be a friend to her...learn how to be the friend that she needs me to be right now, for such a time as this.

On prayer

Last night, I learned a valuable lesson...again.

As long as I can remember, I've enjoyed prayer. I love to win; I love going to battle. I relish having the opportunity to link arms with the Creator of the Universe to do His work here on earth.

But then bad teaching happened. And prayer turned into a club. A club into which you had to be invited; a club that required a class involving a book that, to this day, makes me feel all queasy (in a bad way, NOT a good way.)

Since the bad teaching, I've had some trouble in the prayer department. I've gone from storming the gates of Heaven for an answer to blandly asking God to do whatever. "You know, God, whatever Your will is will be fine for me," she said in a apathetic tone, afraid that her prayers were falling on deaf ears.

But then last night happened. I've been asking God for something, and last night He wanted specifics. It's not unheard of that God would want to know more details. There were so many instances in the Bible where people would come up to Jesus, and He would ask, "Well, what do you want? What can I do for you?" Jesus asked the lame man at the gate, "What do you want?" The man said he wanted to walk. So Jesus told him to walk. How about the woman with the issue of blood? She reached for the hem of Jesus' garment. He felt her touch the hem of His garment, and He told her that her faith had made her well. I could go on and on. The point is, Jesus wants us to be specific. Perhaps so that we can see the answer to our prayer, we can recognize it.

However, if I pray specifically without recognizing the sovereignty of God, without acknowledging that His timing and His will are perfect, I am praying a misguided prayer. I have the potential to become angry and jaded.

Prayer is conversation with God. God created us for relationship with Himself. Since He's not physically walking around my house with me, I have to pray to be in contact with Him.

So, I'm relearning what prayer is and what prayer is not. I have to learn the time for specifics and the time for praying for God to do as He wants in a situation. And that, my friends, is why I love prayer. It is not cut and dry. But it is.

Closure

Something is breaking loose. I can't explain it naturally or logically. I sense it; I see it; I smell it; I feel it. I sound so televangelist as I write these things, but it's true.

Since I've returned to NJ, I've seen so many doors. Doors with the potential of opening. Before I left, I could only see brick walls. Like the girl in Labyrinth, I did not see the openings in the walls.

For a few weeks prior to my homecoming in June, and for a month and a half after, I sent out over 100 resumes. Literally. With the avalanche of rejection, I gave up. I decided that to work with Beverly at her salon and that would be it.

Returning home from New England, I decided that it was time to put myself out there again, in the job market, that is. Apathy is not my friend. So, I sent out a bunch of resumes, a few of which really peaked my interest.

So far, I've set up two definite interviews. One is for a job that I would love. The other is for a job that it way too far. I'm going to interview with them so I can tell myself that I once interviewed for a professional sports team. I'm a goober and I love that about me.

The common thread that I've noticed is closure. I officially closed the door in MA. That season of my life is put to rest.

I'm back to the point where I can pray for The River. I don't know if I will ever be able to dissociate myself from the abuses that are occuring--both seen and unseen--but I know that I am able, only through God's strength, to pray.

Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

I don't want to wound anyone in the crossfire. I want to storm the gates of hell and watch the devil squirm like the worm he is.

Pray

A contact that I've made in Voorhees Township called me today. She was supposed to compile a list for us of kids who need Christmas presents. Her husband has been having medical issues and will be getting tests for the next two days.

Please pray for God's healing for this man, and please pray that God will show His face to this woman and her husband.

Thanks!