com?mu?ni?ca?tion ( P ) Pronunciation Key (k-myn-kshn) n.
1.The act of communicating; transmission.
2.The exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior.
Interpersonal rapport.

The whole e-mail, blogging, text messenging, instant-messenger, and chat room scene. . . . Is this a superficial or real form of communication?

By definition, it is a form of communication. . .Yet, there are all the normal things that are usually obvious that we miss because of this form of communication: body language, tone, expression, and the such. Is it possible that we may get along with someone perfectly fine or even really well in an on-line setting but we might be at each other's throats if we met them in person? Is it possible that you can't truly get to know someone without seeing their expressions and the such or even know their smell?

There is a definite positive side of it all . . . Sometimes it is easier to witness to someone you have never seen. . . It also gives you time to think and respond with prayer. .. I also get to see the different depths of my friends that I don't always get to see otherwise. . . Sometimes it is easier to type something than to say it outloud.

There are some things that we all know from each other by just our first impression of them. . . without a face to face encounter, that whole step is missed and it leaves us with preconceived ideas and notions about the other person. Is this fair? Can they be correct? I really just don't know how I feel on this matter.

I really wish I had comments, because I really want to know what people think. . .

Sometimes I am amazed at God's goodness. . . Sometimes I forget to even notice His overwhelming goodness. . . I wonder why. . . Is it the busyness around me or even within? Is it the different things that I put as a priority in my life? Although I love all the things that make me busy. . . . it is definitely good to be able to rest at times.

LORD. . . . .
Help me not miss the beauty of Your creation.
Help me not miss the small things in people's lives.
Help me not miss the things You have called me to do.
Help me not miss the promises You have given.
Help me not miss the simeple things of love that You do.
Help me not miss the gifts that You have given.
Help me not miss the beauty You have put in each person.
Help me not miss the rest that You give.
Help me not miss the peace You try to give - and I don't receive.
Help me not miss the strength You give to meet my needs.
Help me not miss Your greatness, beauty, mercy, grace. . . .

I need Your grace.
I desire Your mercy.
I love Your character.
I hope in Your promises.
I long for Your love.
I hunger for Your word.

I need Your strength.
I desire You.
I love Your goodness.
I hope in Your beauty.
I long for Your guidance.
I hunger for Your Spirit.

Thank You my God and my Lord, the all in all in my life. Thank You for what You give to me every second of every day. For this I thank You and I love You. Your are more precious than words can ever try to explain. . . . . .

Sometimes I don't know if I can handle the things around me. I see the hurt that these people are going through and have gone through and I ache. My chest hurts and feels bruised, my heart is beating faster and I am in physical pain for what I have seen people at work go through. Michael has had a horrible life and if I had went through all of that. . . I wonder if I could believe at all. . . . would I be an atheist if I had his life? Does God just have His hand on some of us more than He does on others? I don't know, but Lord, please heal him for all of the things he has been through. I know he says that he is okay, but I just don't know how he could be. I know he is a strong person, but please Lord, help him become vulnerable to you. Touch his heart, touch his life, comfort and heal him. Give him the hope only you can give and be with him throughout this day. I love You Lord, and I ask You to touch him today.

As for Megan, she is going through so much as well Lord. Please continue to work with her and help her not being comfortable with the decision she has made in the past in regards to her current situation. Continue to help her and show her that You can be her strength and source. You can be her provider for all of her physical, emotional, and personal needs. Oh Lord, be with her in the decisions she has - please Lord, help her make the one You would desire for her.

Thank you Lord for wanting to take on all of my burdens as well as the burdens of others. I lift myself up to You and ask You to continue to give me the words to say, the compassion to comfort, and the wisdom to share. Use me and take control of all these situation. Thank You for Your goodness and the amount of love that You give to me. I am so glad that I have a God that is too good to imagine. . . . Thank You Lord. I love You.

Abraham

Sometimes there are youth that seem like their walks are stagnant. Then - there comes a slight change. Abraham has always stood by his friends and talked during worship and the lesson. Yet, Sunday, they brought friends and yet, he went up a few feet in front of them and stood by himself during worship. He focused on God and set himself apart from his comfort zone. The, during the lesson, he was by himself again, and he was intently listening to Obie as he was teaching and giving examples. I saw the posture of his spirit and the hunger in his eyes, and God was moving, teaching, and working within his life. Praise you Lord for the ways that You are molding Abraham. May You continue to work within his life and increase his hunger and thirst for You.

Sometimes the Lord does more than we can imagine. Sometimes He uses us despite of ourselves, our abilities, and our weaknesses. God is so good.

From time to time I wonder, am I being a light in my workplace? Do others see Jesus in me? Why do I work at Insight? Is this really where God wants me? Am I a true imitator of Christ?

Then, there are days like a few weeks ago. Megan asks, "So, have you always believed in God and gone to church?" Which, when translated into Christianese is "Tell me your testimony". That was awesome.

Then, there are days like last Friday. Jason and Megan are talking about how much I know the two of them and about the two of them. Jason is worried that I know too much about him. Then Megan says to him, "Hannah does not know everything about either of us. I would never tell her everything because then she would not like either one of us." To them, my opinion of them matters. Why? Yet, they know my character. They know that I do not cuss and that I would not used the Lord's name in vain. It's to the point that if she overhears me say something that sounds like it, Megan questions what I said. Thank you Lord that she knows what I desire my character to be.

Then, there are days like today that still shock overwhelm me and my understanding. I still want to pinch and slap myself and know that it is real. I have befriended this guy named Michael lately. Not very many people like him, but for some reason, our personalities click - maybe because we are both open books. He saw the Passion of the Christ this past weekend, and that began our day long conversation about our belief/ lack of belief in God. Throughout the time I have spend getting to know him, I could not figure out where his beliefs lie. Today I found out. He is an atheist. He was a baptist until the age of 17 or 18 where he lost all his faith. Today we talked about Jesus being 100% God and 100% human, the trinity, and the neverending debate of creation vs evolution. He shared his heart with me, the things that effected his paradigm, and he was completely vulnerable. In our conversation, he said things like "spoken like a true Christian" "I try to learn as much as I can" "I believe Jesus Christ existed, I always have" "when I had found out what had happened, it effectively killed any faith I had left" finally "well its nice to communicate with a person that isn't as much of a religious fanatic as most. that's cool that you feel the way you do and I respect that entirely. I just wanted to say that I enjoyed this very much." Wow - you mean an atheist enjoyed talking about Christianity and God ALL day long?

Lord, please continue to soften Michael's heart. Please heal him and his family through all of the emotional and spiritual scars that they have. Show him that You exist and that You desire to poor Your love into his life. Provide for him the evidence he needs to know that You Jesus are the Son of God and You are God and the Creator of this world.
Lord, I also want to pray for Megan and Jason. Continue to help them through all of their problems. Continue to allow them to trust me and confide in me. Use me in any way You seem fitting. Thank You Lord for my job and the opportunities that You have given me. You are truly an amazing God and when You do the things You do, I can barely contain myself and not stand up and scream, rejoices that You are a God that moves in peoples lives. Continue to guide them in their steps and the hard predictaments that they are in. Thank You for the love that You have for them and myself. I love You for when You use me and when I feel like I am not being used. I give You glory for everything You have been doing. I praise You Lord, please help me praise You with every aspect of my life.