Laurie Ishii

…when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith developes perseverance. (James 1:2-3)

I’m exhausted. One thing after another. Yesterday we found out that our medical insurance was cancelled. Then we found out that my DDAVP (Diabetes Insipidus hormone) is $287 a month. Generic. But Daryl got a job today – it only pays 2/3 of what he made before and it doesn’t have any benefits, but hey – it’s a job. It’s the first one he applied at, online. It’s driving for a nursing home/adult day care. It reminded me of many places I’ve been in while I was still getting high and after I attempted suicide of was on a 72 hour hold for 5150! Daryl will do great there, I know it. He’s so good with people – all kinds of people.
God is showing me how faithful He is – over and over. I am such a jerk – “oh ye of little faith.” You think I would know this already, but everytime things get ‘scary’ with our financial situation – I see how little I trust God. Help me, Lord…

I was talking with my friend Diana (crying to her) and when we were getting off the phone I told her that I was going to go and get my haircut. She said, “Laurie, this may be an opportunity to witness to the person who cuts your hair” and I was like “Oh yeah, duh…” because I see over and over how God wants to use me if I will only TAKE MY EYES OFF OF MYSELF and off of my circumstances.

Well, when we got to the salon, a guy came up to me and said, “Hi, my name’s Steve and I’ll be cutting your hair today.” He probably noticed the look on my face – now this sounds bad but I’m just being totally real. I think if the guy would have been gay that I would have had more confidence in him. (I know that’s horrible but hey, almost every homosexual I’ve met is talented, artisic, fashion oriented, etc.) But Steve appeared very straight (and I’m pretty sure, is) and so I had my doubts entrusting my hair to him!

Then I found out that the girl who used to cut my hair was there – I thought she had left to another salon (she did but things didn’t work out so she came back) and my temptation was to ask him if I could just switch and go to her instead.

But I remember what Diana had said, and felt that God wanted me to stick with Steve and share my testimony with him. Well within minutes we were talking about the scars on my head – and the suicide attempts (The eight story jump/fall, and the other two story jumps.) It was such a great opportunity to share Jesus with him and by the end of getting my haircut Steve agreed to ask God: “If You are real, show me – manifest yourself in my life.” Daryl and I shared how after he (Daryl) asked God the same question and he was still working at the tattoo parlor years ago the next 20-30 tattoos that came in were either praying hands or crosses. So we all know that if Steve asks God to reveal Himself to him – watch out! If he has a sincere desire to seek God – he’ll find Him, for sure. “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

I gave him my number and an Angelus Temple card and told him to call me if (when) he decides to come to church. I’m believing that he’s gonna call me – after he gets SAVED!

God is so good. I know that it was no coincidence that Steve was the person He wanted to cut my hair – He wanted Steve to know about God’s love for him. I got a great haircut too!

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory which far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporal, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Lord, forgive me for my lack of faith – I repent, AGAIN!