lol. i got sent home from work early. My manager has been slacking and napping, and basically let half the store get to be a massive wreck over 3 days time. So when it was my turn to take over the responsibility of straightening it, I said no because it was too much of a wreck from not having been touched at all for the past 3 days. So he got pissed off at me and told me "Well if you're not gonna face the back half, then just go home" I said "Ok, I will catch you later" my normal "good bye" statement. I went to the back, punched out, made my purchases, then left, at about 5am. Leaving 3 hours early from work was good though, I got to take a 3 hour nap when I got home before going to church. Church was awesome :-D I wasn't comfortable refusing to do work that was normally my responsibility -- but I also wasn't comfortable with working under someone who wasn't doing work that was his responsibility. He wanted me to take care of the back, and I think what really pissed him off and pushed him over the edge was when I sugguested "you can do the back." It seems like some managers don't like it when someone under them makes a sugguestion as to what they can do. The sermon at church touched on a lot of different points, and tied them in together awesomely, but a segment of it was about how those in power or in control will use that against other people. I don't have to work with that manager for another week and a half. I'll just have to wait and see how things pan out. I'm not too concerned about it though. 1) I know the Lord will provide for me, so if I am fired from that job, my needs will still be provided for. 2) there's really nothing he can do against me.

Sunday rocked. God is good. how many little details go into life? how many strands of thread are there in a piece of fabric? God weaves the intricate details of life together more beaituflly than the most elaborate tapestry. When I got to church, nothing was setup for church. The nap from that morning was needed so I would have the energy to move chairs and tables. As I was setting up the chairs, more people came to help, which was awesome and needed. During worship, I sat behind some of my friends, and and saw one particular friend just find herself really deep in the worship. From what I know of her life right now, i know she really needed that and i just prayed for her during that time. After worship I didn't go back to the same seat, but sat in the back. During communion, a young lady asked me about where to go to have one of the elders and leaders of the church pray for her. I encouraged her to just go ahead up to them and they will pray for her now. as she walked towards the front, and as they prayed over her, I prayed for her too. Also during that time, one of the children that I've played with before with letting him take my hat for a little while, took my hat. Later on, after service, he still refused to give my hat back -- i still figured he was playing and wanted me to play wrestle with me, so I got a grip on the hat and tried to play wrestle it away from him -- we were in the parking lot near his family's van at the time. then I noticed he was yelling pretty angrily "STOP" as if I was hurting him, and he seriously wanted to stop playing. at that point I noticed "woah... he is not playing, he seriously wants my hat and is very upset about it." so i stopped playing with him, and just started speaking gently to him while he continued to yell angrily at me and use about the most profain words he could muster in his vocabulary. another member of the church saw that something was askew and got his father to come out to come out. when his father got there, I let go of the hat, and just watched and let him handle the situation. He spoke to him sternly and lovingly and told him to give the hat back. with much yelling, crying, and anger, he threw the hat in my general direction, and then the remaining piece of my hat that he had torn off. it was an interesting glimpse into the life of a family. It was also a moment to reflect on how I act when I want something very badly, and how my heavenly father disciplines me. I want to get a hat smiliar to mine for him and his younger brother and give it to them as a present if their father thinks it's a good idea. After that, I still needed to find a shopping cart, or a ride to carry boxes. The first few people that I asked were busy and unavailable to help. But I stuck with the knowledge that God would provide. And the last person I asked was more than willing to help out. It was awesome that it was him that was able to provide a ride for me. We got to talk about what the Lord is doing in our lives and opened up an awesome opportunity to pray for eachother. He was really encouraged by praying with me as the spirit led me to pray for him. that was a landmark beacon to remind me "Hey, you're going the right way." I think after that point, I think God figured he got his point across for me to trust in him for EVERYTHING so the rest of the day went simply and smoothly where I didn't have anything to worry about.

there's a difference between lessons learned, and lessons lived.
~Lesson learned: God is faithful in everything
-Lesson lived: God is faithful in everything