Yeah! Got my new laptop.

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

My new computer came today and I’m typing away on it. I’m so excited about having it b/c well, doesn’t new stuff just make you feel new yourself. I know that sounded rather cheesy and maybe weird but I’ve thought about this new piece of equipment ever since I’ve started shopping around for one. I want to write books and I’ve started the process and owning a laptop will now help me to get going more with what I’ve already started. So, yeah I’m weird b/c I think having a new laptop makes me feel ‘new’. Some people feel this way about a new car or new home or new clothes. I feel this way about a laptop b/c I’ve got some great projects (that will glorify Jesus) I would like to complete with the use of this thing.

I’ve discovered a new author who is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Her name is Michelle McKinney Hammond. I was at the grocery store with my mom after the movie we went to and I picked up a strangely titled book that Ms. Hammond wrote and I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t bring enough money with me and I went home trying not to think of the book but the more I tried not to think about it, the more the book was on my mind and I had to have it. I checked at the library first to see if they had a copy and they didn’t have the particular book I had picked up at the grocery store but they had several of her books. My mom told me she had read one of her books and she liked it. Well by 10 Wednesday night I couldn’t stand it anymore, I had to have that book, I went to the store and bought it. Then yesterday I picked up from the library a couple of other books by the same author. She is an excellent Christian writer and I aspire to do the same type of ministry that she is involved doing.

The book I bought by Michelle McKinney Hammond has me smiling at my decision to not put myself out there to date. The book is centered around finding the man that you want to be found by. (I know how do I do that if I don’t date!) The name of the book is How to be Found By the Man You’ve Been Looking For. It is centered around the Biblical story of Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi. Naomi’s 2 sons were named Mahlon which means “sickly” and Chilion which means “wasting away”. “It is time to take control of our lives, ladies, and guard our hearts so we do not grow sickly and waste away after enduring disappointment after disappointment.” I decided as I was divorcing, 2 years ago, that I would not date b/c my children deserved to have my undivided attention b/c they were hurt and suffering from the absence of their father in their daily life. 3 children, are you kidding?! How did I have time to shower myself much less go date?! Anyway, after about almost a year, I decided to date. That was last summer and OMGosh!!!!! It was a nightmare and maybe b/c I have high standards not to mention I want a man who loves my Jesus as much or more than I do. 3 men over a period of 3 months, 2 of them only got 1 date and the third was one of my good friends from high school. I did have a lot of fun with him but he definitely didn’t believe like I did about my God and His son. It was heart tugging to let him go but I told God that I wouldn’t compromise my beliefs for any man.

So I thought about my “new” blogspot topic and I did entertain a dating blog but…..I’m still laughing hang on, WHEW! Okay, see I start college classes in about 10 days and I don’t have time to date right now. And I’m not up for it right now. Sure, if a great guy came along, I’d give him my time and pray that he understands that I’m busy. I guess my take on dating after being married twice, one ending in his untimely death and the other ending in a type of spiritual death for me, is that if God wants to bless me with a wonderful person to be my companion….it will happen without my help. I know I have to be willing to be ‘out there’ (so to speak) to be in the ‘know’ but I don’t have to try so hard. I see women day after day, night after night tripping all over themselves just to be with a man. That is sooo not me and any of my friends reading this know about how much I put myself out there to be noticed. And noticed I get anyway without trying so…..(no I’m not bragging, it’s the truth).

Now, my BFF, Andrea aka Sunshine knows the deepest, darkest secrets of my heart. And she will tell you that I am crazy about a couple of people in my life. BUT….I’m learning to let go and let God with any person that has been in my past either for a while or briefly. Andrea won’t tell you who I’m crazy about and neither will she give you details of how I gush about anyone. A girl has to have something to dream about at night so yes I do like men. I just don’t see the need to put myself out there or fall all over myself to be noticed by my heart’s desire. The Lord will do what He has planned as long as I follow Him and His will for my life, even when that plan doesn’t have who I thought it might have in it. I will follow God’s lead.

So for a blog I’ve decided to follow another friend or acquaintance of mine. She has picked a number of ladies to pray for, for a month. And I’ve decided to do that and I’ve gotten several books from the library on the subject of prayer. The first one explores the topic of When God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayer, which is a book written by Jerry Sittser. With the 7 ladies I’ve picked to pray for I’m purchasing a $1 notebook to write in and it will be filled with my prayers to God, letters from me to them, and answers from God through me to them. My BFF is one of my 7 and my mother is another. I’ve made a list of what I’m specifically praying for each week starting August 24th. So I challenge my followers to pick a few people to pray for, for 30 days and see what happens. At the end of the 30 days time of prayer, I plan on fasting in prayer for them.

All this came to me yesterday when I asked God to change my heart toward prayer. My prayer time has become a little stale and I want it to be exciting and new. The word new doesn’t mean it replaces the old. Webster says that new is of recent origin, production, purchase, etc; having but lately come or been brought into being. Also of a kind now existing or appearing for the first time or now become known. So if you feel a little stuck in your prayer time or with your growth with God try prayer, a new approach to prayer might be what helps. I know I’m looking forward to offering up petitions on behalf of someone besides myself. I was getting a little bit selfish with my shallow “please gimme” prayers to God. I know God is gonna bless the 7 women I choose to lift up daily in prayer. And in the process I may find something I never knew was there the entire time.