DOES ANYBODY CARE ABOUT THURSDAY?

Does anybody care that it is thursday? I don't know why I asked that question. It is not an important one, but I still asked it anyway. It is just like does anybody care about the deaths of people they don't really know. You would hope they would to some degree, but most of the time we don't it is sad to say. The finality of death is so unreal sometimes, because I guess we have watched to much televison over the years and we know that it is not reality tv. As a person of the Christian faith, I am supposed to be concerned about my fellow man, but I don't do a good job of it sometimes. I try to pray for the needs, problems, and concerns of people I work with and meet just in everyday life, but I don't always remember to. I read in one of E. M. Bounds books that "to pray is the most important thing we can do". I can help people in physical ways with words, actions, and showing of concern and that is great and everything, but if I really want to help them I would pray for them first and then help them in tangible ways. Because if there really is a God and I believe there is, then I should pray like there really is one and that He is listening to our words and requests and that He is more than able to be a help in a time of a person's need. I don't think it just some act of fantasy, but something that is needed and very important. God help me to pray like I really believed it works and that I could learn to pray without ceasing like it tells us in scripture.

IT'S WEDNESDAY, SO I'M HALFWAY THERE.

I love wednesdays, because they are a highpoint since it lets me know that I am halfway throught my week. Working this shift gives one a different perspective on things. You become nocturnal in your lifestyle and your family is the one who suffers the most from this. I am very blessed that my family tries very hard to make it work. But it does free me up to take my son to college, since he doesn't drive. Even though it gets old sometimes, I will keep working it as long as I have to. I hope that somehow I could work a different shift someday. Sometimes I feel like I can't do it much longer, but I will as long as God gives me strength. I don't always understand His ways, but I can trust Him. I just keep praying that He will sustain and keep me as I continue on this path.

THURSDAY, THURSDAY

THURSDAY HAS ARRIVED AND I AM GRATEFUL TO HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR AGAIN WITH MY CRAZY SCHEDULE. I HAVE COMPLETED MY INCOME TAX RETURN FOR 2005 AND WILL BE PLACING IT IN THE MAIL TODAY. IT WASN'T TOO BAD THIS YEAR AS FAR AS COMPLETION TIME. FROM THE TIME I SAT DOWN IN THE FRONT OF THE COMPUTER UNTIL I CLICKED PRINT IT WAS ABOUT 2 HOURS. I AM AMAZED AT WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED WITH WHAT OUR COMBINED INCOME WAS. IT WAS ASTOUNDING TO SEE HOW THE LORD WORKED ON OUR BEHALF. HOPEFULLY 2006 WILL BE A GREAT YEAR AS WELL. TO THINK BACK ABOUT HOW OUR SON RECEIVED A COMBINED 4 SCHOLARSHIPS WHICH ENABLED HIM TO ATTEND A PRIVATE COLLEGE AND RECEIVE BACK MONEY AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER WAS TRULY, TRULY AMAZING. AND TO THINK ABOUT HOW THE LORD BROUGHT A PERSON IN OUR PATH THAT ENABLED HIM TO RECEIVE 1 ON HIS SCHOLARSHIPS WHICH PAID FOR ABOUT 1/2 OF HIS TUITION WAS TOTALLY SURPRISING SINCE WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THE PERSON, BUT MY FATHER JUST HAPPENED TO MEET HIM AND TOLD HIM ABOUT OUR SON. IT JUST SHOWS HOW MUCH THE LORD CARES ABOUT EVERY DETAIL OF OUR LIVES AND HE DOES REALLY ORDER OUT STEPS.

IT'S ONLY THURSDAY

ANOTHER THURSDAY HAS ARRIVED AND SOMEHOW I MADE IT THERE. ON WEDNESDAY, AFTER TAKING MY SON TO SCHOOL I WAS VERY SLEEPY DRIVING HOME AFTER HAVING WORKED ALL NIGHT. THEN AFTER PICKING HIM UP FROM SCHOOL, I TOOK HIM TO THE LIBRARY. THERE AT THE BIKE RACK SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO STEAL A BIKE BY CUTTING THRU THE CHAIN THAT WAS LOCKING IT TO THE RACK. I YELLED TO HIM, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING." HE THEN STOPPED AND LOOKED UP AND PAUSED. I THEN YELLED, "THAT'S WRONG, YOU KNOW THAT'S WRONG." AND THEN HE TOOK OFF RUNNING THRU THE PARKING LOT WITH HIS TOOL OF THE TRADE STILL IN HAND. THAT WAS MY GOOD CITIZEN MOVE FOR THE DAY I THOUGHT. LATER, WHEN I WAS TELLING MY WIFE ABOUT IT, SHE ASKED I VERY LOGICAL QUESTION, "WHAT IF HE HAD HAD A GUN?" I SAID, "HMMMM." I TOLD THE SECURITY GUARDS INSIDE THE LIBRARY ABOUT IT, BUT I DID'T GET A MEDAL OR ANYTHING.

another friday

Another friday has arrived and somehow I made it to this point with God's help.
Our city is full of activity trying to help evacuees from Katrina with housing, food,
and acts of kindness. People are starting to enroll their children in various schools.
One positive outcome of this situation is the momentary cooperation it has brought
to our local leaders. Hopefully that spirit will linger for awhile. The company I am
employed by has been a major help to the Red Cross by transporting relief supplies
to the Gulf Region. I can't imagine what the people are thinking and feeling who
have survived the hurricane. I pray that somehow I could be of some help to
someone.