A Perfect Day of Rest!

I needed today... and the LORD knew!

I booked a massage at 9:30 and then went to Costco!

I was home by 12:45 and after putting everything away, I had a light lunch, cooked some chicken, and took a nap!

I thought maybe an hour... but I had a full two hours!

Amazing! I was so sound asleep... 

By the time I got up, I had only 90 minutes before Mom was home... but I did have a free evening. The day was so hot, so when it cooled down, I walked down to buy soy bean milk!

I'm going to book another massage this week... and Wednesday is a holiday! James and Emma are here, so we will have dinner together! I will only have tutoring on Tuesday as well as my Bible study in the morning!

God provided this week for recovery! He is so good to be... 

Daily Lovely Insight:

The Retreat Focus: Matthew 11:28-30 --

Seek Him First!

TIRED!

Well... this has been a long day... 

I wanted to go back to bed, but instead, I did a load of laundry and helped the complex as we had no janitorial service today! The recycling area gets very pilled up with boxes and trash! I got the guard to go down to help me!

I then got busy with Mom Care!

Church was at 2:30 but praise the Lord as I didn't have to translate! AMAZING! Isaiah did a great job!

Angel is here... and another friend came... This new friend I invited talks so loud... she was blowing out my ear drums! Or maybe I was just tired... 

We helped with clean up and then was home by 7:30. All I wanted to do was to go to bed, but I had to take care of Mom... 

I did call and will go for a massage tomorrow! Isaiah said it's the lactic acid that's building up!

James and Emma will be arriving in Taipei. Another family will be here by Tuesday. We are having lots of visitors in the month of April and May!

Daily Lovely Insight:

The theme in today's testimonies seemed to be: don't limit God! 

Isaiah 55:8-9

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The Lord Did It!

I arrived in Taitung on Friday around 4pm and we dropped off our bags and caught the shuttle to the Challenge Village where we signed in and got our bib and package! Wow... those who join Triathlon have money. That's what I've come to think as the bikes that these people have can cost up to 30,000US$! So, security for the bike area is really stringent.  

Erik, the biker, finally arrived. He was on a business trip in Guangzhou and flew into Kaohsiung where his wife and daughter met up with him. They then drove down to Taitung! So, the Team Relay went to run a few errands together and then we went out to dinner, while the rest of the gang hung out. The hotel we're at had an hour of buffet snacks and the food was so delicious!

We all went to our room by 10pm and unpacked. I didn't sleep until quite late and I was up at 3:15am. So, I had about four hours of sleep. I went down to the lobby and because of the Challenge, they had a small breakfast buffet set up. I got two hard boiled eggs, a banana and made my own coffee and sat and had my time with God... delightful! When that finished, the people were coming into the lobby. We left at 4:45 as the swim started at 6am, but we had to drop off things before 5:30. 

I've never joined one of these and the organization of these kinds of events is just astounding! 

After our swimmer went in, we walked to the relay tent. Isaiah Go was out in an hour... 3rd! Erik took off! He was planning to finish in 5:30 hours, biking 180km. Astounding! 

We headed back to the hotel and I rested for an hour. I didn't feel like eating... 

We were out again at 11am. The weather looked so perfect... I was praying!

Erik was back by 1:15 and we transition. I took off... I trotted off... I had set a few goals... I reached one: to finish and still be able to walk! The rest of my goals, I did not! It got hot and the sun came out. Earlier, the forecast said thunder showers... but nothing! So, I had wanted to run 21 without walking into aid stations. But I only sustained that up to the 18th kilometer! From then on, every other aid station I walked and got cold water or juice or Coca Cola! I won't give you the blow by blow description, but I finished in 4:41:00! We as a team came in 6th for the Mixed Category and 11th overall for the 226th! Astounding! Thank you for praying!

We are the 2-4-6 HOP Team. Can you guess why?

We got our towel and our shirt and our medal and our backpack and the snacks... and we took pictures and then John and Kathryn brought me back to the hotel while they went out to dinner! I had to take a shower, pack things up and walk about 300meters to the train station! I had the eight o'clock train to catch to head back up to Taipei.

I was home by 1:15! And then I worked to get the house back in order and put my stuff away. I walked in and the house smelled like diapers because the helper didn't wrap them up in a plastic bag before tossing them into the trash can!

I finally went to bed at 2:35 and was up by 5:31am!

Church today... And I will blog more later!

Daily Lovely Insight:

The Lord is indeed my strength and my shield! 

Throughout the run, I prayed and I talked to people and I thanked all the volunteers. When my legs were feeling weak, I trusted God to carry me and He did!

Seek Him First!

I Call the Sabbath A Delight!

I was up early... and yes, it was raining... I love the smell of that rain!

I went out for a short 5k. I will do the same tomorrow!

Then it was Mom care... After she left, I read and finished a book. I set the iRobots to roam... and I just sat with my coffee. I'd get up from time to time to get a snack or check my cell phone... several things needed my immediate attention... I answered them and went back to reading!

I had a nice salad for lunch and then at 2pm, I turned on the WiFi and checked my emails and changed the wallpaper on my lap top to a picture of Heidelberg! SO NICE!

Last night, we went to bed late after Family Time and Prayer Time because Alan finally got it finished! We booked Abby's ticket to Taipei... June 13th she leaves and arrives on June 15th! She departs on July 4th and arrives back by July 6th! She will have 19 days here! I think I will have to start looking for coupons if she wants her hair done... or we want to eat out... and I will need to get a helper to watch Mom while we go off on day trips. I'm sure she will want to get together with her friends... so we will see. She's already scheduled to share at HOP on June 30th for part of the sermon time! It's Outreach Sunday, so that worked out perfectly! 

I went for a walk down to the convenience store to pay two bills and cooked so that Mom's meals are ready for Friday night and Saturday all day!

I probably won't be blogging tomorrow... but I will blog on Saturday, April 27th! 

Daily Lovely Insight: 

I just listened to this song from the Salvation Army, I'll Go In the Strength of the Lord. Here's the lyrics:

1 I'll go in the strength of the Lord,
in paths he has marked for my feet:
I'll follow the light of his word,
nor shrink from the dangers I meet.
His presence my steps shall attend,
his fullness my wants shall supply;
on him, till my journey shall end,
my unwavering faith will rely.

Refrain:
I'll go, I'll go, I'll go in the strength,
I'll go in the strength of the Lord.
I'll go, I'll go, I'll go in the strength,
I'll go in the strength of the Lord.

2 I'll go in the strength of the Lord,
to work he appoints me to do;
in joy which his smile doth afford
my soul shall its vigor renew.
His wisdom shall guard me from harm,
his power my sufficiency prove;
I'll trust his omnipotent arm,
and prove his unchangeable love. [Refrain]

3 I'll go in the strength of the Lord,
to conflicts which faith will require;
his grace, as my shield and reward,
my courage and zeal shall inspire.
Since he gives the word of command
to meet and encounter the foe,
with his sword of truth in my hand
to suffer and triumph I'll go. [Refrain]

I'll go in the strength of the Lord.

A great song for this weekend!

Seek Him First!

Rainy Day... I Love It!

Yes, the sound of the down pour was music to my ears. I got Mom off and again helped with the recycling truck!

When that was finished, I was home to prep for my Soochow Bible study. I wanted to review the past three lessons as we were off for Midterm Week. 

I didn't have to tutor! YEAH! The student had a field trip! That gave me time to run in the afternoon when I got home from my Bible study!

I ran 8k again... 

The helper picked up Mom and heated up her dinner which gave me time to take a shower. I trimmed my hair! I think I missed a spot, so I will have to fix it tomorrow!

I had Family Time at 8pm and Prayer Time at 9:30.

Alan has been working on booking Abby's flight! I hope to have news tomorrow!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Another Productive Day!

I was up early and the sound of the down pour just cheered my heart. I went out for 8k!

Then it was Mom Care and after she took off, I did some housework before going to the old house to drop things off!

Our complex has a new janitor. Praise Jesus! This guy is older, but he actually is doing the cleaning and not just talking about it! I gave him some bleach and showed him where the brushes, etc. are located!

I had a nice lunch and took a nap! I could have napped the whole afternoon, but there were things to get done. I put in a load of laundry. I set the iRobot to roam. I had tutoring at 3:30! The day seemed to have gone by way too fast.

Tonight I had my evening Bible study!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Here are the discussion questions related to my talk last Sunday. Pick one and write your answer in the comment section!

April 21, 2024

Acts of the Holy Spirit - The Gifts

I Cor. 12:8-10

Romans 12:3-8

Ephesians 4:11-13

1: Since this past Sunday, have you experienced the Holy Spirit, and how did this affect you, your family and friends? 

2: What are the spiritual gifts? How do you see the different spiritual gifts functioning/being used in our church?

3: How can you encourage spiritual growth and maturity in our church based on Ephesians 4:11-13?

4: What practical steps can we take to ensure that everyone in our church feels valued and significant?

5: How can we foster a greater sense of interdependence within our Christian communities?

If time permits, read 1 Cor. 12:6, & 13-14, I Cor. 13:4-8, Ephesians  4:8, and 1 Peter 4:9.  How do these verses add to your understanding of the acts of the Holy Spirit?

Seek Him First!

A More Relaxing Monday!

I didn't have to tutor this afternoon and my training is under an hour! 

I did do a load of Mom's laundry. I did clean up the house. I did cook! I did work on my talk for May 26th. But overall, it was a more relaxing Monday! 

I had prayer time at 4pm and then Mom was back.

This evening, we again went to the old house to drop off a mini oven and some other stuff! Isaiah had basketball, so we couldn't have Family Time. Hopefully, we will do that on Wednesday evening at 7:30, Taiwan time. We are still looking at getting Abby's ticket for June. Annie was very kind to offer her points, but the flight would route through the US and it would take just as long! So, we're going to just buy a round trip ticket from Vitoria to Taipei! I found one with British Airway and Eva Air... 2300US$! 

Daily Lovely Insight:

In preparing for May 26th, I am looking at how the Spirit helps us through interceding for us with groaning... And one article I read was quite encouraging... God is not far off, but He helps us. He knows us and He takes on our burdens. And He intercedes according to the will of God. That's a promise you can count on!

Seek Him First!