How Far it Reaches

Have you ever wondered if anything you're doing is making a difference? Chances are, if you're not wondering that now, you probably have at some point and probably will again. I know I've been asking myself that lately. Why do we do that? Because when we do something for someone, weather it's a prayer lifted in secret, listening to a friend or reaching out to someone in need, we can never in this lifetime really know how far it reaches.

Since questions like these are such a part of being human, I desired to let you know how many of you have made such a valued impact in my life over the last year. For those of you who don't know, I have been in a time of great and quickly increasing need, for about a year now. Before I go into how I have been impacted by you, I would like to take the time to recognise many of you.

Those of you who were in choir with me, before I had to pull out due to health, have blown me away by your support! You have sent me emails and group signed two cards for me! I am continually encouraged by how many times my father has come home from a church service or choir rehearsal, and told me one of you has asked about me. (I have asked numerous people to try to figure out which one of you gave me the flowers. Since I still don't know, I would like to thank you here for your comforting gift.)

I am told of how others of you, in the Worship and Creative Arts community, have been praying for me, during devotions at rehearsals.

There are those of you who have come to visit me (which is appreciated far more than I know how to put into words)!

For those of you who have said you are praying for me, have sent me encouraging emails or cards, continually checked in on me through emailing my mother, you don't know how much I hold on to these things for comfort.

My family, you have so willingly gone out of your way for me in so many ways. Weather it has been to physically support me to my next destination or to pray for me, I treasure these gifts. Particularly you, Mom. You have put so much of your life on hold, to take care of my needs.

The impact you've made? As you have been pursuing after me, God has been continuing to reassure me that He has not forgotten me. I continually list off in my mind, specific times you have reached out to me, to remind me that God is walking through this with me, that God is pursuing me, through you.

God has been using the fact that, because of my level of physical and inner ability right now, I can do little more than pray for others. I am still praying for you, Worship and Creative Arts ministry! It is an absolute delight and joy to me to get to pray for you! You and others that God has told me to pray for, are being lifted up in prayer, throughout each day. I have been for a while, at a place where I feel like I have no... strength... left, from a year of fighting, yet growing worse. This means that I often have to struggle to pray, even though it is a deep desire and joy to me to do so. It's amazing how a single email, or simply finding out someone asked about me at church, lifts me up so much! Things like this, and the other ways you have reached out, give me the strength to continue this ministry of prayer.

Did you know that sometimes your emails make me cry... good tears, because of how encouraged I am (Jay)? Did you know how often I revisit your encouraging emails? Did you know that some of your emails have been God inspired, having just what I need to hear?

The love that you have been showing me has been a comfort and a healing balm. You have set an example for me, and I desire to strive to grow in doing for you and others, what you have been doing for me!

If you are wondering if anything you are doing is making a difference, don't give up! You will never in this life time know how far it reaches!

Welcome to my first blog!

Welcome to my blog! I thought it might be fun to launch this by sharing some interesting (and rather odd) quirks that I have. If you know me, you probably didn't know about these. Just for the sake of getting to know me and for humor's sake!

Well, there's the one about sun glasses. Whenever I wear sun glasses (for some reason that I can't explain), the shades making my vision darker makes me think that people can't hear me as well. This makes me speak louder.

I have the unfortunate habit of running into walls. Yes, this even includes the walls in my own home. I should know they are there! There was even a point in middle school, when a "Hi!" was exchanged between a guy I liked and me and I ran into a wall.

When I am extremely happy, my feet wiggle like a dog wagging its tail.

I can play songs by blowing on my hands.

I enjoy reading the dictionary. Learning new words, their definitions and the origins, is fun for me. I can sit down with a dictionary in one hand and a thesaurus in my other hand and have a wonderful time.

For years, I have also had the strange reflex of clapping my hands repeatedly, when something startles me.

Now, I can't think of anything else unusual to share about me at the moment, but I thought it would be good to end this post by mentioning something. Since I have had poor health conditions over this last year, I'm not sure if I'll end up only able to write a post once a month. However, I hope I will be able to write something every other day. Guess I'll have to wait and see.