6.30am Breakfast. Bike. Chains, squeak. Pedal. Coffee. Sweat.
8.00am City. Downtown. Library. Upstairs. Dust. Plastic wrap, tape. Laughter. Music. Dancing. Sleepy.
11.00am Bike. Coffee part 2. Pedal.
12.00pm Lunch, table, squeak. Friends. Laughter. Full tummy. Pick up laundry.
1.10pm Pedal. Sweat more. Dodge traffic. Trauma hospital. Missing limbs. Sweet smiles. Bashfulness. Cards. Papercut. Hole puncher. Sticky tape. Chinese Checkers. Kiwis. Anne. Serenity. Humility. Joy.
4.30pm Pedal. Sweat. (maybe coffee part 3). Run. Rest. Water. Blogging. Socializing.
6.30pm Food. Friends. Laughter. Questions. Testimonies. Worship or team time. Fellowship. Suds. Plates. Clean.
10.00pm Cold shower. Clean teeth. Retainer. Blow up sleeping pad. Zip up tent or dodge fan inside. Rest. Worship + some Vance Joy. Sleep.
The in-between & unseen-
5.15am What does it feel like to have conditioned hair? 5.40am How did Isaiah feel being sent in to save many people? Will God ever use me in that way? 6.30am Who should I sit by? I’ll probably sit where I always do, at the end up the table. Unless someone asks to sit together, maybe even then I’ll still sit in my place. Where is everyone? I guess people are still sleeping. Should I eat bread this morning? I don’t think I’m that hungry, hmm I’ll take the bread. Dragon fruit does not taste as good as it looks. Who wants to go get coffee with me this morning? What does it mean to reserve the depths of my heart for the Lord?
8.00am I hope I make it alive on this bike. I think my feet will always be this dirty. I need to remember to bring my camera next time. Maybe I shouldn’t listen to so much Twenty-One Pilots. I’ll make a new playlist later. Why is the city so busy? Where is everyone going? What brought them to this moment right now? I wonder if my bunny has had carrots lately, I hope not too many. Wow I wish I could cuddle with Cloe and Charlie. Where is a good mom hug when you need it? Oh wait, I just taped this wrong, can’t show this to Lau.
11.00am Wow Jesus I love coffee and pastries, I hope one day I can have my own bakery/ coffee shop. Maybe this much coffee a day isn’t good for you. Wait, that page on google said four cups a day is good for your health. I wonder what’s for lunch. I hope it’s those noodles from cappuccino.
12.00pm I need to shower again. I hope we get to play soccer today. Who should I sit by to eat lunch? I wonder what they did today. I wonder if they are enjoying their ministry. I can’t wait to see Anne today. I like her a whole lot. Maybe Bella will want to go running later- remember to ask her.
1.10pm Making cards is so fun, I love all this craft supplies. I hope I get to play Chinese checkers today with a patient. I wonder what Lau is reading right now, I also think she is the one who gave me the peanut m&ms anonymously yesterday. Reflection on devotional from the morning. This peaceful time is so nice, what a gift from Jesus. I hope we get to share the gospel with one of the patients one of these days.
4.30pm running is hard. What is that verse? I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Repeat in mind. I think I am losing all my body’s salt. I have never sweat so much. I need a new running playlist. Ah running is so good. I needed that. Accepting my spot at NC State for the next fall semester, should I have prayed about that first? I don’t really know the answer to that question. Am I doing what the Lord wants me to do, or what I want to do? If I make the wrong choice can He still be glorified?
6.30pm more socializing. I love these people. How did I come to love them so much? I wonder who will give their testimony tonight. I don’t know if it’s me or someone else that smells like that. Observing. Observing. Listening. Listening. Learning. Feeling so sleepy.
10.00pm I think I’ll sleep good tonight. I need to process my emotions with the Lord. Was I kind today? Did I encourage my brothers and sisters today? Dear Jesus, I pray for sweet dreams and no nightmares, I thank you for today. I thank you for rest and health. I ask that you go before me in every encounter tomorrow and help me to show you to others. Talks more about day and tomorrow. More personal conversation with Jesus. Thank you for being so good to me. Amen.
I wanted to write this blog to explain the practical day to day things but also some thoughts of mine that go along with them. My mind is something I constantly must lay down before the Lord and have help to guide my thoughts. These aren’t my thoughts I have every single day, of course, but more of the common ones or some that stick out to me now from the past few weeks. The mind controls our entire lives. As I walk with the Lord and time goes on, and as I choose to pursue a pure heart, this molds my thoughts as well. I’ve noticed what I pursue or expose myself to will fill my heart and mind, and I can think back on what is consuming my mind generally as a good gauge as to where my heart and mind are focused. I don’t always have ground-breaking thoughts, but I do have clarifying thoughts. Like asking deeper questions or being curious about those around me. I think because I always want to know more I must keep my heart in check to make sure my motives are in the right place, why do I want to know more about something? Your mind is your greatest weapon and the biggest factor of showing what is in your heart. No one except you knows what is going on in your mind, so you are personally responsible for how you use it.
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Proverbs 4:23
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Maggie
