Update #40

“My grace is sufficient for you…” 2 Cor. 12:9a

Picture: My office desk space at REP

I have been making mental comparisons between Northern California and Seattle. Here are some that I came up with:

• HOT vs. mildly warm
• Flip flops vs. Tevas
• Light sweater vs. fleece coat
• Sunscreen vs. Self tanning lotion
• Rolling hills vs. Mountains
• Oleanders vs. Rhododendrons
• Traffic vs. TRAFFIC (OMG…Seattle wins this category HANDS DOWN!)
• Brown vs. green grass
• Pine vs. Evergreen trees
• Air conditioning vs. open windows
• Wild bunnies vs. squirrels
• Peet’s vs. Starbucks, Tully’s, SBC
• 8:30 vs. 9:45 sunset (this was hard to acclimate to)
• People staying in the shade vs. people swarming to the sun, half naked in 68 degree weather
• How hot is it gonna get? vs. Is it supposed to rain today?

On a more serious side, I was given the verse above by one of the prayer ladies in Johannesburg…I looked it up and boiled it down. Basically, it means: “My kindness is enough for you”…wow. Not his love, not his power, not his might, but his kindness – something he CHOOSES to bestow.

My aunt has a magnet on her fridge that reads “Thoughtfulness is someone who thinks up nice things to do and then does them.” I think kindness is similar in definition; when a need is known/noticed it is then met. I believe God likes to be kind. He knows our needs and enjoys meeting them…well actually, he likes to exceed them!

I wonder how different our lives would be if we actually got out of the way, stopped trying to ‘help’ God (picture the little boy ‘helping’ dad mow the lawn at age 4) with our dazzling intellect, wisdom, skills, talents, and giftings (hmm, that’s ironic since he gave them to us in the first place!) and let him be ‘kind’ to us. What amazing things are we missing out on because we are either 1.) in God’s way trying to meet the need ourselves, or, worse yet, 2.) we are too proud to let our needs be known.

Well, here’s me stepping out of God’s way, humbling myself, and waiting on God’s kindness…

Updates:
Moving – My possessions arrived today! The movers called Saturday and asked me to be ready for a Monday delivery Monday. Ok, pray for things to be intact…
Car – The guy letting me borrow his car is returning from Poland early due to a family emergency…his Dad has been diagnosed with malignant proliferate stage 4 lung cancer. Eric is flying home to Malaysia to support his family during this time…please pray for him, his family and especially his Dad, Pat.
Work – I started! Stacie, our ultimate workplace planner, redesigned the office space and got me a desk on Friday – I stopped by Sunday to pick up my computer and it was covered with ‘to do’ stuff! Well, I know I won’t be bored!
Samson – is out from under the bed! He is ‘working’ at the office today, mostly hiding in his carrier under my desk…adventuring out only when absolutely necessary!
Financing – Thank you for your generosity…donations are coming in. I have raised about 1/2 of my lowest monthly salary for the next 6 months!

Requests:
Housing – I am with my Aunt and Uncle for most of the summer but, when the new rēp headquarters are in place, I need to find my own space close to the office – that is cat friendly!
Car – due to insurance issues, the best case scenario would be to borrow a car until August 1st and then obtain one
Work – that I hear God’s voice on how HE wants things done!
Samson – that he will ‘make friends’ with my Aunt’s dog Buddy…
Storage – All my stuff will fit into a 10x10 unit – it may be taped in place, but it fit!
Financing - Eventually my position will be salaried but at first I need to raise $2,500 - $5,000 a month cover basic expenses. If you are interested in contributing, please see ‘Donations’ at http://www.repurposing.biz/ on the bottom left of the page, or visit http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/ and read the footer for additional info.

Thanks for walking this with me!

Dena

PS. Congrats to Scott and Julie Ronnie! I heard the wedding was awesome…happy honeymooning!
P.P.S. Bette’s Oceanside Diner ROCKS – it is in Berkeley – thanks for the intro Suz and Dale!