This past week I have been working nights at the hospital. I am a phlebotomist there and nights are a lot slower paced than day shift. Well, that is until around 3:30 am when morning rounds start. It is definitely not my favorite shift. My sleeping and eating patterns get messed up, I don’t get to see my husband or children as much and I am the only phlebotomist on duty so I don’t get to spend time with my other co-workers. I do however get shift differential pay which makes it a lot easier to handle.
Yesterday morning as I was coming home from work there was the most beautiful sunrise. I looked just like a picture. Even as tired as I was, looking at the new day dawning perked me up. Then last night as I was going to work I was blessed to see an awesome sunset. The sun looked enormous! I would probably have missed both of those wonderful moments if I had not been working nights.
You know God changes our course in life sometimes so that we might see something different. Something that might have been missed if we stayed on the same path. We get frustrated at times when it seems as though we are being pulled off target, but it is in those very moments that God has set us up to be amazed.
I am so thankful that God places me on the path that He would have for me and not the ones that I might choose. His way is not always the easiest, but it is most certainly the best. Thank you Lord for all that You show me each and every day!
Aundie Starks
Nachos is one of my favorite splurge (eaten on ocassion) foods. When I order them from my favorite restaurant, I tell the waitress what I want on them. She brings back my order arranged just as I ordered.
I went to my cousin’s wedding over the weekend. He’s 33 and married a young woman he’s been dating for awhile. We were very excited for him. So, I drove to Atlanta, picked up my parents and then we were off to Alabama. Although I do not love driving, I do love a good road trip!!! This one had potential.
Someone stole my camera when I was on vacation. The camera was a display unit that I had purchased at a fraction of the cost. The pictures were priceless. 
Reason’s Name
Corrianna was her name. She was an African American girl who appeared to be around 11 or 12. She stood in the hotel elevator alone as I stepped on.
“What is the North American Mission Board?” she asked. She must have noticed the “North American Mission Board” on the tag around my neck. (She also had to have noticed all of the signs bearing this name around the hotel where we were meeting.)
I answered her question, telling her what this organization does, where it is located, and told her that she can find them on the Internet at namb.net. I asked her name as I stepped off on my floor. “Corrianna,” she answered. “I am Shelly,” I said. “Have good day.”
A little later, I thought, “what a missed opportunity!!!” I mean, she might as well have asked, “Who is God???” (The main motivation behind NAMB’s existence is to share Christ.) This was such a set-up to tell her about Christ.
There is a reason God tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). There is a reason that God tells us to “make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5 ). Today, for me, reason’s name was Corrianna.
“Father, forgive me for not sharing You with Corrianna. Send others to witness to her. Prod her to ask even more questions that eventually lead her to You. May she come to understand how much You love her and accept the gift of eternal life. Help me to be more alert and faithful to share You, trusting You with the results.”
~Shelly