*Whack*

Tonight was a slap in the face for me.

There's a worship song we often sing that reminds me of India. Every time I hear it I can see the people's faces. It causes moisture to build up in my eyes. It makes my hurt stir. But tonight was different.

When I started singing the words something else happened. A realization. And it wasn't pretty.

August 2006 I went on a missions trip to India. When we were there, I promised people I would pray for them. I made a commitment to myself to pray for the women church planters there - the women I love.

I broke that promise. And what makes it worse is that I didn't even realize it until now.

How often do we have the best of intentions - our heart is in the right place, and there is no doubt that this time will be different. And how many of those times do we actually follow through?

I've made a conscious effort over the last year that when people ask me to pray for them, or something going on in their lives, I pray right then - before I get a chance to get distracted or forget. With diligence, I have improved. But it never once occurred to me to think about the people in the past that I have made a commitment to pray for.

Tonight, one simple song reminded me of all the people and things I've always meant to pray for - that I have added to some "mental list" - but never did.

Maybe it's time to put my new habits to use to make good on my old commitments...

Quality

Unfortunately, when you utilize YouTube, you lose quality. It's a great tool, and I personally am a huge fan of YouTube. It's easy to pass on, anyone can watch it, it's great. But there is that one downfall. The quality.

So if you caught GCC Plays Simon (from my last post) on YouTube, check it out on our Media Player. The difference is astounding. (Plus you can make it bigger by selecting 2X or FS)

Watch it and tell me you can't see how much cooler it is :)

GCC Does Simon

Curious how GCC celebrates Easter? Check it out here. OR catch a small glimpse on YouTube of GCC playing our own version of the 80's game SIMON. What can I say, who doesn't love glowsticks?! (I gotta say though, YouTube just doesn't do it justice...)

Randomness

I've been "blog-silent" for a few weeks now (who knew!?!) because life has been overwhelming. It's not for lack of ideas - I've had plenty spinning through my head - unfortunately life has gotten in the way of my blogging.


So today, I give you, randomness.

Friday I had on flip-flops. Today I got pelted in the face by sleet. It hurt.

Why is it that when you have a diabetic staying at your house that suddenly all you want is a donut?

There's a new Walmart. It's only two miles away. I've been there twice in six days. It still has that "new store" look.

I started experiencing stress headaches last week. They suck. I don't recommend them.

I'm so addicted to LOST I ended up burning 1,000 calories at the gym yesterday so I could get farther in my show.

I've been watching a lot of old movies lately. I love their subtle humor.

Microsoft Outlook has ruined my typing - it automatically fixes all my errors. I've had to use the backspace a lot already in this post.

Soon after I posted this - I was eating toast at work while talking to a co-worker. She started laughing. When I asked why, she told me because I threw away my last bite. I didn't even realize I did it.

I tried forcing myself to eat toast differently - outside in - it didn't taste as good. I'm back to my old, strange ways. Hey - don't judge.

Not on my wish list:

Love this

When you least expect it...

Two full days last week were spent in a conference room talking about data structure. A few of us from our team got together with a bonafide "data guru" (not his official title, but hey, that's what he was!) I know; sounds boring, sounds tedious, sounds tiring. And it could have been. But more than anything it was insightful, it was refreshing, it was encouraging. I came away with a lighter heart...and a brain packed so full of information I couldn't even begin to process. (Of course I was sick at the same time, so that could have been why as well...)

Today I started really thinking about last week. About what I learned. And it suddenly occured to me. I learned a lot more than data structure, than the best way to use our system. I learned some things about life too. Guess you just never know when or how God might teach you something...or remind you of things you already knew.

Maybe sometimes your instincts are right, and you just need to dig a little further. Sometimes you just need to trust yourself.

Don't be afraid of the unknown.

If you think there must be an easier way, there just might be.

Ask the right questions.

Don't assume anything.

Just because something has always been done one way, doesn't mean it's right.

Sometimes you know more than you realize.

Some changes aren't as big as you may think.

Others are.

Sometimes you just need to ask for help. You don't have to do everything on your own.

A little extra work now, may save you time later. Sometimes you need to think ahead before moving forward.

While it may be possible to do something, and be seemingly effectively, that doesn't mean it's right. You never know how one thing may effect another.

Everyone has a story.

God has a plan bigger than all of us.