Something's Coming...

"Could Be? Who knows? Could it be? Something's coming! Something good! Maybe tonight!"

----Tony, "Something's Coming", West Side Story

Well, as you can see from my journal entries, lots of great things happened at the Boot Camp. the Ransomed Heart website is linked to the right of this page. Check it out and if God so leads, you should sign up for the lottery to go to the camp. People I've talked to about it say, "Oh, but it costs so much money!" Granted, I got most of the costs paid for by my boss. But what's a little money when your heart's at stake? Isn't there a parable about a man who found a treasure in a great field? He sold all he had to buy the field. I know Jesus is teaching about our committment to him; but the same theory holds true for things like the Boot Camp.

Tricia and I have had a rule about our spiritual growth: If God is leading you to buy something or do something, and you test it and it really is the Lord, there's a blank check in the book for it. Now, normally, that really just refers to a book or a video. God provides all the money; we need to give to the kingdom, but we also need to build the kingdom within our hearts. You just can't put a price tag on that.

Let me get to the purpose of this entry. It's getting late and I was going to bed early, too. Oh, well...

On the heels of the Boot Camp, there have been a lot of things happening in me. I've been praying. A lot. Now, if you know me, praying is not my strongest suit. I'm not sure if something new has come alive in me or I just realize how desperately I need to commit to prayer. It's been interesting, because the very things I pray about start exploding after I pray for them. Many times, exploding in BAD ways! When you pray for strongholds to be released, and they rage back at you after you pray, you're on to something! Keep pressing in! Like Rich Mullins sang, "You're on the verge of a miracle". I start with the Daily Prayer from Ransomed Heart. I'm sure you can find it on the web site. I'm usually not into reading prayers. But there is something very good about speaking the truth and having you heart testify to what's coming out of your mouth. The daily prayer is full of scripture and truth. I'd copy it here, but it's really long. Tell you what - I'll post it as a separate entry soon! When I finish it, I automatically start praying for my own needs. It's like I get a jump start to my own individual praying.

Danny said today he sees a gift of discernment growing up in me. I didn't know what to say. What can you say? God is pouring out new gifts and growing me in new ways. That's kind of on the same lines as what else I think God has been showing me. I think I'm supposed to go back to school and get my Master's in Counseling. I've looked up a couple of distance programs - Regent and Liberty - and I'm trying to really get the heart of God on it. I'm not thinking anytime soon. Maybe even fall '06. We want to get rid of the rest of our debt first. Other things (which I don't have time to write about now) need to get in line, too. Think about it...this guy who has hated talking to people is going to be a counselor? Maybe. But that's God for you.

What else is happening? I'm more at peace. Last week there was a day in Albany which otherwise would have torn me apart. Didn't even phase me. Today in Albany? Different matter. I did let it get to me. Not as much as I might have. And I was good with the patients. That helped. But that's my point: I'm enjoying the one-on-one with the patients. I'm disliking the sales angle. Can't I just talk to them? How's the grandkids, Mrs. Johnson?

I guess selling them hearing aids is a prerequisite to actually helping them.

In a lot of ways, it's hard to describe. I just feel more mature. Like the Boot Camp was some sort of passage into Biblical adulthood. I'm ready for greater battles. Growing wearier of petty little things.

And what does a fear-free life look like? Hopefully, even more like what I'm seeing every day in me.

Well, that's enough from me. Time to shut the thinker down for a while. Enjoy! Till you read again -

Walk with God.