Growing

• My roommate's seeds are sprouting in the pantry window.
• The care and friendship of my dear ESL students, Tammy and Lesley.
• I gave glory to God for my able-body and walked to work.
  
• My heart found rest in prayer and the Word this morning.
• I was not swallowed up as I deserved.
  

the race set before us

I am on a brief visit to my hometown and crying out to God in praise and thanks for his design:

• Thank you for God-given endurance for my first race in 12 years.
  
• You have proven to me today that the goal of unity is more satisfying than a personal record.
• I love that you made the perishable wreath to point to an imperishable one, and the things on earth as a shadow of what is to come.
  
• Praise you that you care about the issues of my heart, even when I don't know how to talk with family about them.
• I am safe and free with the sweet friends in the Lord who care for my soul.
  

little victories

Ever thankful this past week for Holy Week devotions and hymns of sorrow and praise, for house shows and lonely songs, for moments to look and breathe and see the Lamb of God.

• that the Holy Spirit is faithfully committed to my sanctification
• for Thayne who helped me fix my tax problems in the 11th hour
• that the Lord is protecting me
  
• for sunshine and salad
  
• for a friend who helped me remember that conflict is a good thing
  

glorious gospel

A long weary day of seeing the gospel go out and being a part of it.

• slides from a trip of one of my pastors recently took to Asia
• introducing two people I know to each other at the Info Booth
• Nong Shim Shin Ramyun
• the bridge diagram on a scrap of paper for a Taiwanese friend
• seeing Jesus touch lepers and forgive sins and heal diseases and die for me
  

carried along

Thank you Jesus.

• Melissa and Mike ministered to me, carried me along, and fought for me.
• Lilia licked the frosting off of four Thomas the Train cupcakes while we weren't looking.
• I ran 5 miles ... my goal for the day and the farthest I've run in years.
• My roommate Lydia made two meals for me. This lifted my spirit.
  
• "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life" (John 3:14-15). Amen, let me look to you and believe.
  

5 more

Working on getting into a rhythm, so I can start looking for these things. Thank You ...

• I had work to do today I cared about
  
• the McAlpines home as a haven for lunch
• The promise of Isaiah 42:3, "a bruised reed he will not break,
  and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
  he will faithfully bring forth justice."
• that I quickly moved from feeling low to visiting with friends
• memories of reading a good book
  

5 things

An experiment in gratitude: 5 things of the day

• I ate breakfast
  
• the sun was shining as I walked into work on time
• someone I respect affirmed me
  
• my friend Jessica brought me a sandwich for lunch
• I listened to "What Wondrous Love Is This" while driving on 35W