Expanding Intelligence

Since reading expands the mind and increases intelligence here's my attempt at reading for 2013.  I know it's not so great but this does not include textbooks, newspapers, magazines and such.   This is purely for the fun of it reading.   :-) 

1. A Year of Biblical Womanhood:  How a liberated woman found herself sitting on her roff, covering her head and calling her husband master - By Rachel Held Evens
2. Be Committed:  Doing God's will whatever the cost.  (An old Testament Study of Ruth and Esther) By Warren W. Wiersbe
3. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide  - By Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
4. Speaking of Jesus: The Art of Not Evangelism - By Carl Medearis
5. Joey's Story - By Ruth Ann Stelfox
6. Adopted -  By Becky McGurrin
7. The God's at War - By Kyle Idleman
8. Orphan Justice - By Johnny Carr
9. The Exodus Road: One woman's Journey into Sex Trafficking and Rescue - By Laura Parker
10. Human Trafficking:  A real life point of view of Sex Slavery in Thailand from the Front Lines - By Abraham Falls
11. Secret Shadow - By Lareen Plett
12. God in a Brothel:  An Undercover Journey into Sex Trafficking and Rescue - By Daniel Walker
13. Amy Carmichael - By Janet and Geoff Benge
14. George Mueller - By Janet & Geoff Benge

Then there is also the Audio books - You see, it's not exactly safe to drive and read but I can listen.  

1. Roots (Audio Book) By Alex Haley
2. Radical (Audio Book) - By David Platt
3. Pilgrims Progress (Audio Book) By John Bunyon
4. Radical Idea (Audio Book) By David Platt

I find myself drawn to reading about human trafficking, orphans, and radical living.  I read the books, I become informed, now how can I speak of Jesus to the hurting?   How can I be Jesus to the hurting? What is my part in bringing justice and freedom to the slaves?   How can I spare help the children to avoid a lifetime of scars and pain?

Moving Forward (while reflecting back) + Seeing who's the GREATEST!

The Year 2014 is upon us!

Looking back at 2013 it can tend to feel as if I haven't made much progress.   I still long for the warm weather of SE Asia.  I miss my friends there and long for a heart to heart talk with some of them. I miss using the Lao language. I miss the feelings of belonging and fulfillment that came from a productive day of teaching, interacting with students and staff or simply making some headway on new curriculum.  I MISS THAT!  Aren't those feelings of loss suppose to lessen and life in America become normal? 

2013 started a new beginning for me.   A time of adjusting to the cold weather, finding a new job, finding new friends, and trying to find a place to belong and fulfillment in a new life.

Looking back at 2013 and what do I see -  
God is amazing!  So many details he's worked out for me.    Little teeny, tiny details that can often seem almost to small to even take to him - he cares! 

Here's a few of the many:

• Searching for a job - discouraged/tears/ feeling that in Laos there is no lack of work so what in the world am I doing here, applying several places to no avail. Praying for a job where I actually feel needed - and behold on just the right day at just the right time I find just the right job!  
• Looking for a place to live - Classes start June 10 and needing a place by then/finding the perfect place and making up my mind just a day or two too late, not once but twice/ and then finding yet another place.  This place must really be the PERFECT place for it has worked out nicely! 
• Searching for job #2 near my new home and school - applying many places/searching out places/making phone calls/ feeling discouraged one Friday morning as I finally break down and decide to drop off my application at a fast food restaurant.   And then on my way 'just happening' to see and stop at one last motel along the way.   I never did make it to that restaurant.  I had a job the very next day.   
• But - for the aforementioned job I needed a plain black skirt - Dreading the search/these things can be a pain to find when you actually need them/knowing I might be all over town before the day is out in search of the skirt but /saying a prayer before entering the first store.  Amazingly walking out of the very same store with the black skirt!   Does God care about little things?   I THINK SO!!!
• Waking up sad/longing for the good old friend to have a good talk/tears/missing/dreading my evening out with a new friend whom I don't know well.  God used that new friend to really bless me above and beyond my expectations!  
• Someone to bless me by paying 3 months of rent! 
• Helping me pass (with good grades) 7 classes!  I am humbled!  God gave me a brain and abilities, God have me this opportunity to learn He expects me to use it!  

 Have I made progress?  It is a little hard to say.  I'm still cold a lot.  I still miss my friends.  I still often feel like I haven't really found my place to fit in and be fulfilled in America.

But who's to say what is true progress.   What I really want is to know Jesus better.  I've really been thinking about what my relationship with him means and what walking/living/being in the Spirit really means. 

So for 2014 - My desire is to continue learning to know Jesus - continue being led in very real ways by the Holy Spirit.

I'm excited about how He will work in 2014!