Cooler Weather... YEAH!

I never know how a day can fly by so quickly!

After Mom left, I called to order boxes for the Philippines. Then I tried to contact people to work on the AC units because our neighbors downstairs are complaining. I am waiting on a quote! I was hoping to wait until next summer... But it might have to be done now. Steel prices have soared, so to make a safety cage and to have a crane to install it will be very costly, not to mention replacing the rusty unit. We will see how this works out!

I did go for a quick run, then Alan and I went out for lunch! YEAH!

I ran errands and then went to help out a sister who is dealing with living with her parents who are 'hoarders'. We got a lot done in two short hours. I have not helped her tackle the kitchen, which she says is going to be a major task.

I got home and Mom was back... Dinner was already cooked. I just needed to heat it up!

I used this evening to prep for my message... and I'm trying to decide what to speak on for November and December.

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Bible Study Started!

What a day!

After sending Mom off, I was off for a run... I could only do an hour... so I just ran a bit faster!

I got back and made sure Isaiah was up. He had to go to MOE to start the job today.

After sending him off, I was in the shower and then headed out to the Carrefour by Costco. It's bigger and I was looking for squeegees for Annie. And the blood mobile was there. I was the first person to donate blood. The free gifts were a tube of toothpaste and a cup of Americano coffee. No squeegee... I rushed home and picked up the Bible study stuff and headed off to school. I had baked banana bread and brought the loaf of German bread. I can't keep that bread here... I eat it lavished with butter. No wonder I gained 15kilos in Germany!

We had only five students, three were newcomers. It was an amazing time... truly Spirit-led. Two newcomers are not yet believers. Please pray for them. And while we were having the Bible study, a group of high schoolers was having a tour. So, we talked with them and shared the banana bread and German bread. It was such a riot! And when I left to go, I asked the LORD about how many gifts I needed to bring? And three was the number... and there were exactly three newcomers. One of the newcomers asked for prayer. So, even though she was not yet a believer, we prayed for her after the study. Amazing!

I rushed to go to RT Mart, still in search of the squeegees. It started to sprinkle. I made it there and found them... well, several kinds... And I bought them! I hope they are the right ones. I then rushed home as Mom was back by 5:10.

I had dinner made, so I only needed to heat it up.

Free night... Alan was at basketball and Isaiah came home after work. 

Daily Lovely Insight:

The Parable of the Mustard Seed from Matthew 13:31-32. That was the focus of our study today!

Do you ever feel small in this big big world? If so, when and how.

How might this parable relate to you?

Seek Him First!

It's Getting Cooler!

That's the good news... I think Fall has arrived... 

So, yes, I did go out for a run. And I made dinner. Then I went to Carrefour to buy some stuff for Annie! I also had a receipt that 'won' 7US$. Alan and I also went to the church to do a bit of cleaning. It was nice to get things more organized!

I spent the morning finishing up my prep for my talk on 10/23. That's not completely done... I need another day or two!

This evening, the gas company sent someone over to check on our gas meter. I had tutoring at 8pm and prayer time at 9:30.

Alan went for a massage.

Isaiah went to visit his high school teachers at Nanhu and had tutoring this evening.

Daily Lovely Insight:

Here is Swindoll's summary of the book of Habakkuk, which I will be sharing as my closing!

Seek Him First!

Teeth Cleaning & Prep Day!

Yes, Isaiah and I had our teeth cleaned. We get two free a year... Isaiah does not have any of his wisdom teeth and Abby has all four of hers. And the right lower one looks compacted but won't be coming up for a while. Her top ones will have room to come straight down. The left side should be ok as well. You might be confused... We were only looking at her x-ray from last year!

I also ordered Mom's meds and got my Bible study materials copied off! Then Isaiah and I finished the translation project and emailed that off! The deadline was today.

Tonight's Bible study was cancelled... I'm glad as I didn't want to ride in the rain... Plus, I'm happy to stay home to read, drinking a mug of hot chocolate! YUMMY!

Daily Lovely Insight:

This description of God penned by Jonathan Edwards some 250 years ago struck me this morning:

What makes Christ glorious is "an admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies." He is both the meek Lamb and the Almighty Lion! Revelation 5:5-6

Seek Him First!

What A Relief!

God is merciful!

My Mom has slept the entire day... She is exhausted!

I ran errands... Alan got home at 11:30 and I went out for a run! The weather was so delightful! Isaiah met up with Vikki and an ex-coworker. In the afternoon, Alan went and played tennis and had dinner with our church friends!

I was home with a very calm sleepy Mom! 

What a relief! I was able to prep for my Thursday Soochow study. I decided to put together my own materials on the Parables of Jesus! I'm quite excited!

I was up early this morning as Isaiah was up from 1am to watch the Chargers game... yes, they won! Then the Padres are in the playoff... So, today was a big sports day for the 'sports fans' in my life!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Matthew 20:6-15

⁶ And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ ⁸ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ ⁹ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. ¹⁰ Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house,¹² saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ ¹³ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. ¹⁵ Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’

When I compare myself with others, it's easy to start complaining! 

The question is: Do I begrudge God's generosity?

Seek Him First!

Super Hyper Mom!

On Saturday, we got home late from Ilan and Yenny had left. Mom started talking at 12:30 am and did not stop until after 4:30am. Needless to say, Isaiah and I did not sleep well. She was able to get her hands free and then undo her diaper. Needless to say, I had a mess to clean up. I asked Yenny and she said she didn't tie them too tightly. What a mistake!

Mom continued to be hyper and was back to stuffing herself when she eats. And she was hallucinating a bit. We left for the Retreat and there was no traffic. Mom talked during the whole drive and was too hyper to stay inside for the worship. Isaiah and I plus another member of our church family wheeled her around the complex. After dinner, she calmed down a bit, so we decided to stay for the evening session.

We left at 10:30 and got home by 11:45. Mom talked during the whole drive back! But she did not talk after going to bed!

It was a very long day!

Daily Lovely Insight:

The Sermon topic was: Our Response to the Passion of Christ! What sacrifice will we bring on a daily basis?

Romans 12:1-2

Seek Him First!

HOP Passion and Sacrifice Retreat

We didn't sleep super well as the door couldn't close so there were bugs... 

We got up and had breakfast. Chinese breakfast, but no eggs!

Then I walked to the meeting auditorium and led the devotion.

Pastor James shared Message 1: The Lukewarm Church.

We had free time this afternoon! I rested and then went for my 10k run. Splendid. Yes, it was raining!

Dinner was at a Chinese restaurant. For lunch, we had pizza!

Then at 10pm, Isaiah and I drove home.

Daily Lovely Insight:

Pastor James used Revelation 3 to talk about our heart. Is Jesus outside of our lives? We are believers, but we have actually kept Jesus out of the authority of our lives. It was a good challenge!

What are we pursuing? God's vision or our own purposes!

Seek Him First!