Mrs. Proverbs31

“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” ~John 6:29

Merry Christmas, everyone! May God bless you as you celebrate Christ’s birthday.

These people were following Jesus everywhere not because they were enthralled with his beauty or His power, but because they wanted His provision. They knew that if they continued to follow Him they would not hunger or thirst for He would provide for them. He would give them food and water and heal them. But, they had no idea the purpose of His miracles. They failed to appreciate the God in Him. They only cared that they would be provided for.

For many years, I was no different. I prayed daily for God to keep my family healthy, fed and taken care of. I prayed for Him to help with our financial provisions. God was faithful to provide because He said He would. But, there were times when I was disappointed with Him because He failed to deliver my heart’s desire. I pout and cried and begged for Him to deliver me once more without understanding that what I was asking Him to do was disrespectful of His deity-I wanted what I wanted and I wanted Him to deliver without appreciating His Godhead.

Yes, I was faithful to do all the work in the church. I taught Sunday school, joined the women’s pray group, lead the church choirs, and played the piano for service. I did it all because I wanted to be a good wife to my husband and a good pastor’s wife to the church. I wanted the church to be proud of me for my hard work. I didn’t appreciate the gift He gave and enabled me to serve Him.

God didn’t ask me to participate in every activity in the church so people would be proud of my effort, but to believe in Jesus-that He came from God. And, as a result of what I believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit would lead me to do the will of God so that His Name will be glorified. And, when I discovered the true meaning of my efforts, I was ashamed and disappointed of myself. I missed it. I failed to see that all He wanted me to do was to believe Him and His Son Jesus Christ. From that moment on, my services and efforts took on a new meaning.

Christmas is not just another season. It is the time when we appreciate the Love of God for allowing His Son to be born to a lowly girl at a lowly town, on a lowly manger for the sake of His highly valued people.

This Christmas, believe in Jesus Christ. Let your services take on a new meaning. Don’t serve because of people. Serve because you believe in Christ. Serve because you believe that out of love, God sent Jesus down to earth. Live the purpose of Christmas by believing in Jesus.

Lord, may this Christmas bring much joy because of our renewed belief in Christ Jesus. May we live everyday to appreciate His love and willingness to suffer for our sins. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Dear Readers,

I apologize for the long delay. God has been faithful and good to me, however, I cannot say the same about me. But, I am excited to announce that our next discussion shall begin shortly. We will discuss the life of Joseph: Honoring God with our forgiveness. Perhaps, you can help me by reading Genesis 37:2-36; 39:1-23; 40:1-57; 42:1-38; 43:1-34; 44:1-34; 45:1-28. This is a lot of reading, yes. If you’re short on time, concentrate on chapter 45, for this will be our main focus of the discussion.

 See you soon!

The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) 

Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” 

“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” 

But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright… 

When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah. 

 ~Genesis 25:27-34; 26:34 

Do you ever regret a decision you’ve made in the past that still hunts you to this day? What impact did the decision have on your present life? If you could go back and relive those moments, what would you have done differently?

Two years ago, my father-in-law victoriously battled with cancer, so my sister-in-law, May, and I planned a family get together celebration in his honor and to praise God for his healing. In our family tradition the oldest son would give a speech in representation of all the children to honor our father. As we sat down to dinner, my brother-in-law, Titus, the youngest of the three sons, told my husband, who is the oldest, to keep his speech short and to the point. My husband suggested that Titus was more smooth and loud with speech so he should speak. Titus said, “Give me your birthright, and I will speak for you.”

“No way, man,” interjected my husband.

“There you go,” responded Titus. “You should speak. You’re the oldest.”

Later that evening, I asked my husband why he was so serious while I thought Titus was playing around with him. He said, “He was not playing around. He was serious. And, I will not be foolish like Esau.”

Indeed, Esau was foolish and quite simple. When I read the story of Jacob and Esau-do you notice the order in which they are listed in the Bible and I listed here?-I am always in awe of the outcome of their decisions. Jacob, so focused on the task and goal to be the first and leader of his household while Esau, so impulsive and foolish. Esau lived for the moment while Jacob was focus to gain the inheritance of Esau’s birthright. Even in his marriages, Esau didn’t consider his parents’ feelings and desires. He made his decisions based on pleasure and what pleased him for the moment. I imagine Jacob to be more obedient, even as a deceiver; he knew what his parents desired for him and waited to hear what they had to say. He was a patient man, even when he had to work extra long for the wife he wanted. He stuck by his parents to gain the wisdom and knowledge he needed to take what he wanted.

Esau didn’t have a vision for his future. Whatever pleased him for the moment, he took advantage of. He acted before he thought. He treated his birthright with little value. With this, he sinned. And, when he realized what he had done, there was little he could do to change the circumstances. A decision made in a split second changed history forever.

Rebekah, his mother was of no help to him. Esau, was hairy and red. He loved the outdoor and was always gone while Jacob stuck by her side. Jacob was there to help his mother when she needed him most and she grew closed to him and loved him more than Esau. She even helped him to deceive his father in order to gain the inheritance which was rightfully Esau’s. She was willing to take risk of being cursed so that her favorite son would get the blessing. Indeed, she succeeded. Rebekah sought provision for Jacob. She carefully directed him throughout his life while Esau was not noted for any of his actions being directed by his parents.

In fact, when Esau learned that Jacob obeyed his parents’ orders not to marry a Canaanite woman, he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath. That says to me that he didn’t take the time to learn of his parents’ hearts. He had no understanding of their desires or orders. He was too busy playing and hunting. Esau was consistent in dishonoring God in his decision making and choices in life.

Even though, Jacob was a deceiver, he listened to his parents. He obeyed the parents which God gave authority over him. He recognized their authority and obeyed their instructions. He honored and valued the birthright so much so that he was willing to work for it. He took some risks and gained valuable wisdom and wealth over the years. He valued the position in which God placed people in and he knew that in order for him to gain something that was not of his, he would have to work for and took that risk. And, for that God honored him.

For Rebekah? She got what she wanted; to have Jacob gain the birthright of Esau and received the blessing due to Esau. But, because of her sin, she didn’t live to see her favorite son. She died. What price she paid for her sins.

Sisters, honoring God with our choices means much more than asking Him for directions; it means we must honor Him by obeying and respecting what and who he has placed inside each and every one of us. God may place you with a slower husband. You may have to work harder than your husband. You may be the one having to mow the lawn and still have the brain to be the shaker and mover while he does the lighter things in life, but he is still your husband and the head of the household. He still possesses the right to make the final decision in life for the family. Respecting your husband shows that you honor God with your choices because of His sovereignty and authority. And when we honor God with our choices our blessings will overflow.

Father God, teach us to value Your design and desire for our lives. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

I’m been gone, but now I’m back and we will pick up our discussion on Jacob, Esau, and Rebekah. For a healthier discussion, read Genesis 25:19-34; 27:1-46; 28:1-9; 37:1-36. Yes, that is a lot of reading, but you can handle it. You have until the new year. See you then.

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her” (Genesis 16:1-2). 

Have you ever waited for God so long you felt like you had to help God somehow in order for your prayer to be answered? Did you help God along the process? And what evidence came out of it?

God made a promise to Abram that He would make Abram into a great nation; that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand by the sea shore. Surely, they waited for ten years, still no child. So, Sarai came up with a plan to help God make His promise come true for them. Now, isn’t that thoughtful of her? Aren’t we all so helpful, just like her? She wondered what would become of this promise. Perhaps, she was supposed to do something in order for this Promise to be fulfilled. Thus, she went to Abram and proposed that he sleep with her maidservant, Hagar, marry her and have the children God promised to Abram.

And Abram, being so intelligent, loving just as Adam had with Eve, obediently followed through with Sarai’s plan. He took Hagar, married her and slept with her. She became pregnant, and Sarai and Abram’s life have changed for ever. She became proud and hated Sarai. She no longer looked at herself as Sarai’s maidservant, but Abram’s blessed wife. Now, Sarai got angry and demanded Abram to fix the situation. She blamed Abram for the mistreatment of her maidservant Hagar. Abram, in his manly authority, told Sarai to do whatever she pleased with Hagar. So, she drove Hagar out of their presence. Now, if we go back just a little before this whole thing break loose, who did she blame on for her barrenness? God. Now, she’s blaming Abram and with his permission, she drove Hagar out.

So, Hagar ran away because Sarai treated her so bad, she couldn’t stand her any longer. But, the angel of the Lord came to Hagar, told her to return and be submissive to Sarai, to name her baby Ishmael, and he would be blessed among many nations, but he would live in hostility toward all his brothers. What has Sarai done, taking matters into her own hand?

Because of Sarai’s rash decision (and Abram too), the Ishmaelites prospered tremendously, but they continued to live in hostility to all their neighbors. Years have past, and Sarai died but the Ishmaelites remained hostile. They were the people who bought Joseph from his brothers and sold him to the Egyptians. To this day, they live in hostility to all their neighbors, all because Sarai couldn’t wait for the Lord to bring this promise to pass. How devastating it was for Sarai. Although, she blamed God for her barrenness and Abram for Hagar’s behavior toward her, she must have felt guilty and responsible for her actions. What would the world have been liked if Sarai waited for the Lord’s promised to come and Abram stood strong and firm in his faith and trusted in the Lord enough not to follow through with Sarai proposal? We could only imagine.

What about us? What about you? Have you ever acted rashly toward God’s promise for you? Have you waited so long, you couldn’t wait any longer that you took matters into your own hands? And what was the result of it? If you are in the process of waiting for a prayer to be answered, a promise to be fulfilled, I urge you to wait patiently for the Lord. He is working on your behalf. He is bringing things to pass for you. He has not forgotten your effort in waiting for Him. As, a woman who longs to fear the Lord, honor Him with your patience. Hebrews 6:12 reminds us to not be lazy while we wait, “but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” If we are patient, we will receive what we ask for in Jesus, provided that we’ve been obedient and served Him wholeheartedly.

Father, I thank You for Your faithfulness, grace, mercy and patience with me, even when I don’t show much faith in Your promises. I pray You will strengthen my faith to ground myself with Your Word. Father, as a seed that cannot be destroyed, Your Word stands the test of time, help me to plant it on the good ground of my heart in order that I may honor You with my patience. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Genesis 4:1-12

Cain, the older son of Adam and Eve, a crop farmer, brought “some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord” (v.3). Cain brought what he had. He wasn’t bringing the best with the best attitude. He brought it, perhaps, as a religious practice. In verse 7, the Lord said, “If you do what’s right, will you not be accepted?” Perhaps, Cain didn’t have the right offering, the right attitude, or the right motive. Whatever the reason was, it wasn’t right and God was not happy with Cain.

I can’t help, but notice the phrase, “some of the fruits of the soil.” It didn’t say the first fruits, or the best fruits of the soil. It said some of the fruits. Cain wasn’t designating a special portion for God. He gave some just so it is done, not because he honored God with the best. God wants our best: our attitude, our motives, our money, our talents, and our possessions. When we give our best to God, it shows we value His entity and authority. God’s not looking at the offering as something for Him to acquire, but Cain’s heart in it all. It was not done right.

Abel, on the other hand, “brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock” (v.4). Two keywords here: fat portions and firstborn. The word “fat” is “heleb” in Hebrews, and it means literal body fat of a human or animal. It is used figuratively in the Bible for the best of something. Thus, when Abel brought in the “fat” means, he brought in the best. It is a symbol of Abel’s reverence (fear) to the Lord (Numbers 18:29-30, 32).

The second keyword is bekor in Hebrews which means firstborn, usually refers to the firstborn male. The firstborn is evidence of the father’s procreative strength and first to open the mother’s womb (Exodus 13:2; Numbers 3:12). The firstborn was to receive double portions of the inheritance and the blessings of the birthright (Genesis 25:31-34). Being the firstborn is significant, especially in the lives of the Israelites. Because God is first, the first of everything belongs to God and He requires it. Therefore, Abel didn’t just bring the best, but the best of the first; two very significant principles. In doing so, Abel was able to please God.

Cain was angry and God noticed his anger. So, God asked, “Why are you angry?” (v.6). In verse 7, God said, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” Here, God was telling Cain that if he had done right, his offering would be accepted, but because it was not right, sin is at the door of Cain’s heart. Then God challenged Cain to master his anger. Unwilling to face his wrongful act and refused to accept God’s challenge, Cain invited Abel to the field (v.8). There, he killed Abel: the first murder in the history of mankind. Cain may have gotten rid of Abel’s body, but his blood cried out to God (v.10) and Cain is cursed for the rest of his life. The ground no longer produced for him and yet he is unable to die. He must live and suffer the consequences for his actions.

My dear friends, God is not willing that anyone perish but wants every to repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:9). Today, God continues to urge us to master our anger so we will be accepted. When we are wrong, we can make it right by admitting our mistakes, turn away from our sins, and ask for forgiveness, then accept the forgiveness and change our ways to His ways-through His strength.

It is not the gifts we offer that matter, it is our hearts, motives, and attitudes that God is after. Truly, if you offer Him the best of your hays because that’s all you have and it is done with the right attitude and motive, God will accept your gift over someone who has a thousand and gives God what is left over. When we give God our best, it sets God apart from the rest as being the best and the first in our lives. God is first best. He is our creator. We are His created ones. Therefore, honoring Him with our best of our first, places God first in our lives which shows God our fear (reverence, respect) of His Sovereignty for God is a jealous God. He desires to be the best and the first in our lives.

All my children have their own unique characteristics and behaviors. One that continues to amaze me is Nuntida. She’s loud and persistent with her naggings. When she asks me for something, she will not give up until I give in or give her the ultimatum to stop or take her punishment. She does not easily take no for an answer and she will pout until I make my last draw. One thing that bothers me most is when I tell her to do something she wants to know the whole nine yard why I want her to do what it is that I expected her to do.

But, she’s kind, gentle, sweet, and compassionate when she’s not moody. She likes to garden, just like her mother. She enjoys taking care of fruits and vegetables, and touching dirt. She knows her bugs and insects, which ones benefit my garden and which ones to kill. She remembers things that I told her days of old and I didn’t do them as I promised. She remembers the good, the bad and the ugly. Why does her behavior bother me so?

It is because it reminds me of my behavior towards my Father. When I place my requests at His feet, I expect an immediate answer. No no’s, wait’s, or maybe’s. Like Nuntida, I want only the yes’s and immediately. No patience. Even when I ask for patience, I want it now: “God, give me patience now.” But, when He tells me what to do, I expect Him to give me a layout of the steps and directions. In doing so, I fail to honor God with a surrendering heart.

Thus, He gently reminds me that His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts. They are higher and better and I must trust Him: That means total surrender, total obedience. No ifs or buts about it. Jesus said, “You are my friend if you do what I command” (John 15:14).

One of the things about best friends is that they trust one another, sometimes above and beyond their parents. They are loyal to their friendships. They keep secrets. They tell the truth to one another. They support each other’s desires and dreams. They keep in close contacts. If one of them has a problem, they will stay up all night to solve it if they have to. They bear each other’s burdens. They protect one another. They look out for each other’s interest before their own.

Jesus asks for the same friendship covenant. He wants us to trust Him without question. His command is simple, do what He says. In order for us to do what He says, we must lay down our own desires and dreams at His feet and trust Him to fulfill them. We must place our friendship with Him higher than our dreams and desires, trusting that He is working to bring them to fruition. Once we trust Him and do what He commands, then He will make the commands known to us one step at a time. Honoring God with surrendering hearts causes Him to put our dreams and desires into action.

Before God divided the Jordan so the Israelites can cross, they were told to step into the water. Once Joshua placed his feet into the water, the miracle happened. The water parted for them to cross. So, we too, must do the same. We must obey, take the first command and put it into action and the rest will come to place. We don’t need to nag God to show us a map plan, because He requires that we take that first step so He can do the rest. Taking the first step shows God that we have surrendering hearts and are willing to trust Him to guide us. As our Father, He knows best. He desires the best for us, even when we disagree.

Father, thank for Your loving arms. Thank You for Your patience. Thank You for Your mercy. Help us to love You by obeying Your commands. Give us surrendering hearts and enable us to do what You command us to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

As my roommate and I approached the hotel desk to check out, the clerk greeted me with an enthusiastic smile, “Hi, Ms. Lo”. I was so in awe of her memory. How could she remember my name? There are only 560 ladies in that hotel. She treated me with _______. I was so happy that she remembered me even though I had no clue who she was and hadn’t seen her on the day I checked in.

“Oh, you remember me,” I exclaimed, “how nice. If you keep that up, you’re going to get promoted real fast.” And, she looked up at her co-worker and smiled quietly. She didn’t say anything, but I knew that smile was communicating something about my intelligence. Why is she giving me that look? I thought.

Well, I shook the feeling off, and we went through the whole day without dwelling on it. But, the day after the incident, my mind traveled back to that very spot, and I thought, how shallow of me?  I had my name tag on me. She spotted my name tag. She knew who I was simply because I was wearing my name tag. No wonder she was giving me that wry smile. And, I thought she was a genius.

Our Heavenly Father designed us with a label. It has our name written on it. Isaiah 49:1 says “…Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth He has made mention of my name.” God knew our name before He created us. God is an artist, before He formed us in our mother’s womb, He had our frames sketched out and laid out all of the plans for our images. Our heights, our length, and our hair, eyes, mouth, and all the features of our being figured out. He is our creator. He knows our names.

He’s not calling us by name to impress us for a promotion. He labeled us so that others would know us by name. The name He picked out for us. He’s calling us by name because He values His creations. We are valuable enough to be labeled. We belong to Him. When I realized this wonderful truth, I was in awe of His love. I am in awe of His creations, you and me. I am in awe of me. How precious I am in His sight. Let me leave you with this, “…I have summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1). We are, indeed, His.

Okay, so everything from registration to my roommate went well. We spent the first couple of hours getting to know one another and I got comfortable with her. She was comfortable with me. We went to dinner together and listened to the opening remarks from Lysa Teukeurst. I mean, everything was cool. That is until the speech evaluation group meeting. Of course it would help if I was on time. I walked in as they were getting ready to start. Our leader looked up as I approached the circle and she was just saying, don’t be late (in general-I don’t think she was speaking to me specifically).

Then, it was time to start the speeches. One by one they all went and spoke their prepared messages. I was so taken by them that I’ve forgotten mine. My mind fluttered around wondering how to begin my speech. I finally mustered enough courage to stand up and speak, second to the last. Needless to say, I didn’t meet my expectations. Many of the constructive comments I received, I knew. I was so nervous I kept on looking at my notes. One of the comment said, I should not read my notes so much, I already knew them. It was like God speaking to me.

Even though I didn’t strike lightening with my first speech, it was not my concern because that was not the main speech. So, I concentrated on working with my five minute speech. I dashed to my room and started to work on it. I couldn’t concentrate. I practiced. And I practiced. I couldn’t even get pass the first couple of words before I made a mistake. It frustrated me so much I decided to stop practicing and start praying.

Needless to say, God gave me a new speech for Saturday. I think I did well. It didn’t matter as much as I thought it would because His message to me was not how good I in speaking my message, but how willing I was to obey Him. God really spoke to me through this conference. From many weeks before the conference to the end of the conference, God was in the midst of it all. I felt the Holy Spirit’s presence all around me and through all those present. I am glad I obeyed and went to this conference. It changed my perspective on life.

“Mom, what’s wrong?” my children asked.

“Can you get my shoes? They’re by the door,” I pointed toward the front door. My son got the shoes, I closed the door. I grabbed my shoes and my bags and squeezed myself through the crowded garage. I dropped one of my bags so I can open the garage door. Then, picked up my bag again, open the refrigerator in the garage, took a bottle of water and rushed to the car. “Where is my key? Aaawg, you crazy lady.” I ran back inside, pounded on the door again.

“What you forget now?” My daughter asked.

“I forgot my key,” I said as I paced back and forth from the door to the bedroom. Then I stuck my hand into my pocket and there it was. Finally, I left. I put everything in the car. I started the car, and you bet-I couldn’t find my insurance card. I searched all the bags I had with me, no insurance card. I took a deep breath, prayed and just sat there for ten minutes. I turned to look at the clock, and it was 12:10. So, I shifted the gear to reverse and drive. I was finally leaving, still thinking I was crazy. I didn’t know a soul.

On the Road

I prayed. I turned on the cd’s that I brought with me, but too restless to listen. I turned on the radio, but too many statics. So, I turned it off, continuing with prayers and practicing my speech to be presented in less than seven hours. As, I enter North Carolina, it started to rain-hard. “Okay, Lord, I know that you are good. I’m just going to trust that this is just a test and you are going to get me there safely. You know how much I do not like to drive in the rain,” I prayed and continued with positive mantras. And soon, the rain stopped. I was very confident by now. I was not even afraid to speak. So I thought.

At the Hotel

I arrived at the hotel in less time than the Google map estimated. Is this the hotel. Am I lost? I looked up at the post, and there it was, the She Speaks signs. “Lord, you are so good,” I cried out, feeling confident and joyous. I saw a few women carrying their bags and luggage into the hotel. Yes, I’ve found the hotel. Thank you, Lord. I am going to rock this weekend. I got out of the car carrying the three bags I had with me, I looked to the left, then to the right, okay I think I’m safe now. I walked to the doors where the posters were posted, and by this time I’ve forgotten about the speech because my focus was on registration process. That was until, I saw this lady standing in between the posts. Oh, my goodness, what are you doing here? This is for real. There are real people here. You think you’re going to pull this whole thing off? You’re—open the door you.

I opened the door and walked in. Signs were everywhere, so I walked up to the registration desk, I lined up at the line with the letter of my last name, but the girl on the other line next to it called me, so I walked over, announced my name and she couldn’t find my envelope. I was afraid this would happen. Lord, surely your goodness and joy follows me wherever I go. Help me now. I looked down on her sheet with the lists of names, I found my name and pointed it out to her. She picked up a pen and crossed it out. She was nervous. I was nervous. She turned around and asked another girl, then she looked over to the right and there it was my envelope laying on top of a thick binder. “There it is, what it it doing over here?” she asked. No one answered. They just give her the look. And, she handed me the envelope with the schedule book.

Eager to unload my bags, I took them from her and began to search for my room key. Well, there’s no key. How do they expect me to find my room without the key? And when do they give out the key. Feeling kinda stupid, I picked up my things and found a chair to sit down. I went through the envelope one more time and searched through the book to find direction on how to obtain my key to the hotel room. Nothing. I looked over to the next chair, and this lady with the She Speaks t-shirt was sitting smiling at me, “excuse me, where do I get my key for my room?”

She pointed to the long winded hallway, “You’ll have to go register over there.” I thanked her and gathered all my stuff and walked over. I registered and they told me my roommate has already arrived. They gave me my key and the directions to the hotel things and the elevators.

Finally, I arrived at the room. The housekeepers were just finishing up and rushed out of there because I told them that was my room. But, they told me my roommate is already here? How is it that they’re still cleaning my room? I inserted my key in-no green light. That’s weird. I looked at my key enveloped, looked up at the door. Ooops! That’s the wrong room. Move over. So I moved over and opened the door. There was my roommate sitting at the sofa trying to rest.

“You must be (well, let’s call her ) Sandy,” I announced. “I’m Shoua.”

“Nice to meet you, Shoua,” she said as she reached out to shake my hand. I dropped my bags, walked around the room, inspecting everything.

“Wow! The room is so much bigger than I expected it. And, look, there’s kitchen sink. How nice!” I exclaimed. She was probably thinking I was shallow which I was, but too polite to show me. She just smiled. I poked my head into the bedroom, “Oh-?”

“There’s just one bed. Well, this is a fold out bed. So, I will sleep here,” she said with both of her palms on the sofa.

“Oh,-I can sleep on the sofa, there’s no problem. I’m a sofa girl.”

“So am I. I really don’t care either. I’ll just take the sofa. I brought my own pillows,” she insisted. She was very genuine and real nice. I sat and we talked and found out we had so many things in common, including our families. The Lord had answered my prayers and sent me the perfect roommate. She indicated that she was not much of a mingler, neither was I. But, this was her second year so she kind of knew her way around the conference pool. She stuck with me, so I wouldn’t feel out of place. I couldn’t have asked for a better roommate. She was perfect.

~to be continued~