Iced tea, crazy neighbor, great friends and getting my head screwed on straight...

...and I really didn't start my day until 11:30.

This is vacation, people. Ha

I have learned to make iced tea...well, not with ice...but it is cold and refreshing and it is always available. It started as my backup since the water boiler thingy broke when Melissa and Sarah left (I think it misses them); but it is actually better than hot tea. Considering the hot weather I think I won on that one. :)Just use my little steripen and I have some goodness now!!

My mom ALWAYS makes my day when she calls me - even if it is twice. Ha. I just want her to talk because I feel soooooo out of the loop with everything back home. Plus, I don't like talking on the phone...anyone who knows me, knows I would rather text three pages than talk for 30 seconds. :)
What really helped my day today was hearing Sarah D on skype!! Boy, nothing like a familiar voice to make you feel loved. We only worked together for two and a half months, but I miss her as if we worked years together. I just pray and hope the LORD leads her back to ECM in Gulu.

Here in Gulu, I am getting to know a very strange and odd neighbor, Denis. I don't think he thinks I know what I am doing....I think he thinks I will just be a push over...ha. Little does he know. All I have to say is PG for Robert. He might not be the BEST landlord but he sure is a great and decent guy. I appreciate him. Definitely need some boudaries with this neighbor guy....Robert will help....PG.

It rained for a bit this afternoon - weird. December and it is raining, not snowing. At this time of year I always enjoy reading the scripture verse from Isaiah 1:18-20 "Come, let us talk this over. Even if your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow..." It makes me excited to see God's Word in practice during the winter. It gives me hope...cuz instead of bumming about the cold and the snow, I see God's opportunity to cover all the dead grasses, leaves, bare trees, and such and cover it with dignity...with a beautiful layer of cleansingness. Oh do I enjoy that!! I can just sit in my big window with some coffee and the meows and just bask in God's goodness....
so to see rain at this time of year made me laugh. I should find a verse that gives hope and glory in rain....

See the past few days have been a bit of struggle, hence, not too many blogs. I have been feeling somewhat lonely and bored. Maybe a bit homesick, too. I tried praying it off, sleeping it off, reading it off, being outside it off...ok, that didn't make sense...but you get what I mean. The past few years, holidays have been hard for me. This year, I wasn't sure really how I was going to be. I mean so much growth has happened and so much forward momentum in God's kingdom I really didn't know if Satan was going to creep up or whatnot. I felt like saying "Bring it!" but then I thought just by being here, so far away, my actions were saying it. Anyways, God is still mighty and still provides comfort. He lead me to His Word..somewhere and somehow a place I never thought He would use....Esther.

This study is good. I've enjoyed it. As I told Anna, it isn't deep, but it is good. Well, I have to retract that...it is deep....when it hits somewhere you were just trying to figure out....it hits deep. Of course, it isn't anything new but the timing was wise! I am at the point of when Haman was returning from Queen Esther's banquet she held for him and the King's behalf. It was just them - what a privilege! And Queen Esther just invited them both again for the next night! Well, Haman, in his big self, headed home to boast to his wife and friends but as he left the king's gate he saw Mordecai again refusing to respect him...and he swelled with anger. The dude just came back from a lavish banquet at the Queen's place and invited to go again the next day and he was still getting upset over Mordecai not bowing down to him!! See, Haman WANTED and DESIRED Mordecai's respect over anything else....why? Just because he wanted it. Since Mordecai refused to bow down and worship anyone but God, Haman tricked the King to declare a mass genocide of all Jews in Persia. So now Esther, per her uncle Mordecai, is trying to convince her husband, the king, to change it....but just not yet. So, anyhow...let's look at Haman....

He should have been on cloud nine and nothing should have been able to touch him. However, his attitude and ties to Mordecai's respect or lack of respect for him just ate him away. If he had favor of the king and now the queen, why in the world should he care about a regular gate guard?

Ok, application time.

Who do I have favor from? My family, some friends...most importantly, God. Boy oh boy have I found favor and still am trying to figure out why. (Ever get like that?) I HAVE FAVOR FROM GOD! Why would I want or desire favor from anyone else? WHY?!

I believe we all have some sort of mental strongholds, bondages to someone at some point in our life. I can testify to that. It comes up when we want something or need something from a person; or they stopped being there like they used to, maybe they actually defied the relationship rules. However, I have noticed a great indicator if someone is a stronghold in your life is how you are emotionally responsive to them. If you respond to anything good or bad to their actions, words, or whatnot, in a fashion that you normally would not respond towards anyone else and it is more of an emotional roller coaster...then place $10 on the table and bet that there is your stronghold person. (Not that I think betting is ok....just saying.) Now, hear me roar here: this person, this stronghold, should NOT be blamed for distracting and interupting your normal emotional state, good or bad...it is what you are allowing them to do to your state...you are giving control over.

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ..." ~ 2 Corinthians 10:5

For me, I looked at this statement and filled it in (per the study by Beth Moore "Esther")
Lord, I wanted (or felt I needed) the person to...

I read it. I looked at myself. I analyzed what I needed...what I wanted.
I answered the question.

I realized God is the only one I should look to....to answer any and all questions.

Can I get an AMEN?!

I've heard this question many a times...always said I got it...but really?? Now, I GETIT....

so next new vocabulary:
GETIT
means - I get what God is saying and will change myself to reflect HIS desires.
Used in the context of: "I GETIT God wants me to desire no one but Him."

And then....I live it...