Rest.....

Today I read a verse that one of my friends has on her facebook page its Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Read that verse. Fight is defined as to contend with in battle;war against. Still is defined as remaining in place or at rest; motionless; stationary. Even though this is not a complicated verse, let me reword it The Lord will contend in battle for you, you only need to remain in place, be motionless, do nothing! How many times do we do this...actually rest. At the very core of my being if there is trouble in my life, or in someone I care about's lives I want to FIGHT!, but it states clearly in this verse in Exodus sometimes too often we take things in our own hands and forget to wait on the Lord. The Tomlin Song "Everlastin God" says it best that "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord". So, I guess the next time we are quick to fix our problems Be STILL!!

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few......

Ever read this verse? It's in the new testament and I believe Jesus is talking to his disciples when he tells them that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. This in fact is so true. Where do you find the workers, and if you come to the point where your like yeah I want to do that, what in the world do you do? Please learn from some recent mistakes I've made:
1. If you want to start "reaching the lost" don't target one person, or make him/her your project. This is easy to do because you can focus your energy on one thing, and here's the problem it becomes your own not God's. I received this advice from some folks in our church they flat told me "You don't get to choose who God uses you to reach". Be an example and kind to every person you come in contact with. There may be someone you don't even think about that are just at the brink of wanting Jesus!
2. If someone asks you about your testimony don't say oh yeah I go to church or I'm a christian. I will guarantee they have heard that a billion times. And instantly they may right you off. Think about it, a church is just a building right, it helps to nurture a relationship with God and can provide great fellowship, but the church is a tool it's a living breathing God that shapes us and changes us and He's why we do what we do. If you answer that way people won't know how to react and may start asking questions.
3. Don't get worn out with this concept or discouraged, think of how long it took you to come around, sometimes it is instantaneous, but many times it's a slow process!

Made Me Think.....

So today during my break (of course) I was reading a blog from Aaron Stern entitled "Do you have great friends", and recently in coversations with different people about this very thing. Aaron explained a time in him and his wives life recently where they lost their baby at the 8th month and during that whole time, they had people really support them and grieve with them. He also explained that we were created for deep friendship and community. So here is the question Do you have great friends? Looking back through my soon to be seeming to be very short soon to be twenty eight years of life, the answer is yes, without a doubt yes.
Interestingly enough they come in different ages, nationalities, and I guess denominations.
I'm gonna brag for a minute about some of them (this by all means not an conclusive lists there are too many to count it would take forever). Cause I can, it's my blog.
First Group: (High School cause if I go any further back yeah my brain will hurt)
Lady Amabelle Allanique Masangcay (that is her full government name): She without a doubt was one of my dearest friends in high school, we were sort of attatched at the hip, hahaha and did we have fun! Along with many other crazy people (Laura, Breanne, Bridget, Kelly, Janelle, I'm missing somebody). We also went to college together and until I moved to the dirty south, we lived only an hour or so from each other. She is someone I can honestly say I can go years without seeing and it's like a day hasn't passed we have so much fun, and sure we've grown apart but she was always an amazing friend so if you read this Lady, thanks!
Sara Joy Martin: We started out our friendship making fun of our softball teams in like dang seventh grade! ha still makes me laugh. This girl right here was someone who made a huge impact on my life! She has a great heart and is serious about her God she didn't compromise her beliefs when she went to college and got out on her own, and when she's your friend she's the kind that Aaron talks about the kinds God intended us to have.
College: (there were many amazing people I met in college but I'll mention two that fit this description the best)
Anne Reed: Annay! Ha, this girl was without a doubt someone who showed me what it really means to follow hard after God. WOW! I met her my first senior year at Purdue when we were RA's I remember being a little shy and junk and she was fun and I later found out she was a christian and dang, was I lucky to meet her! I can't tell you the amount of times I spent spilling my guts about junk in my life and she would listen, really listen even though she may have thought blah blah blah....(I know I would've) But she prayed with me I mean really prayed with me, and put me in my place a lot!! But I'm telling you I needed that at that particular time in my life. So Anne thanks, for kicking my spiritual butt!! Hahaha, and Happy Anniversary Saturday!!
Lisa Bramer: She without a doubt is one of the most honest friends I have. Can I tell you that you need these types of friends in your life the one's who will say what you need to hear not what you want to hear. And along with Anne she would listen and still does listen to my junk and cares tons about me!
Presently: (meaning now that I'm in the dirty south)
Sara June Johnson (full government name): This is what I'm talking about when I say all ages, she's gonna be 18 in a few weeks. She's a girl in our youth group, that is the definition of what a friends should be. This kid unfortunately or fortunately can just about read my mind now...It's crazy, but dude she cares man really cares about her friends. Dang so lucky to have had the blessing of this kid in my life! So Sara June Thanks from the bottom of my heart =).
Meghan Bryant Truluk (I spelled that wrong): I'm not sure I've ever become friends with someone so fast! She is not a half way friend, you got her in your life you have someone who really cares! We have lots of fun together and all I can say is I hope we continue to grow in our friendship! Ninja's for Jesus Rule!!!
Tabby: She's a youngin too but she's awesome and has one of the purest hearts I've ever seen! Keep doing what your doing Tab you'll be blessed :).

Two that will always be in my life:
My Mom: She's for real my hero, she is the one who always knows what's up with me and can call me out on the phone if I'm acting stupid. She's my example of a women of God I want to be and a wife/mother. She is the definition of a friend totally selfless and thoughtful, and the best friend anyone could ask for.
My Husband: He is for real my best friend in this world. Even though I get crabby sometimes, he always sees the true me, and loves me. He supports me, makes me feel beautiful, and is an expample to me. I love him with all of my heart, and I can always count on him.

I'm forgetting tons of people but these are a few that mean so much to me and I truly would not be the same person I am without them!
Look around you and look back because I am sure anyone could come up with their life-changing friend List, and just sit there and be amazed at How God Has Blessed You!!!

Reaching Your Lost "Peers"

So the subject or theme of the last I would say four weeks maybe even longer in our church has been "reaching your lost peers". Our church's motto is "Love Reaching". If you look in this neat book called the Bible, you'll find countless examples of how to be Love Reaching. But are we really that? Do we really make a difference in our co-workers, friends, families, and general human contact we have? I've heard several sermons, on-line from our old church, and from our new church home that is preaching, even screaming to me that we aren't going to bring people into our church with a great program, worship, or free tootsie rolls at the door. We have to be different, meaning the people we come in contact with need to see a difference in our lives. Living in the south now I've noticed many people I've come into contact with have either been to church a bunch when they were younger, and quit going or still go now, but when they leave the pew on Sunday it's over, the act is gone. The fake I'm a church goer disappears. We go back to the barely can get by day to day, I'm going to be happy if I'm with my friends, or have instant gratification type of life. Let's be honest we all do it, I've got something to look forward to I'm doing this...or us women buy crap to make us happy, and it only last a few moments. When there's not some sort of instant gratification we sit there and wonder what's the next thing that's gonna get me through today. So how are we going to make a difference in people's lives if we live the same type of life except we don't cuss, drink, smoke, and go to church every Sunday. We 1.love the people that are hard to love! Cause guess what you need Jesus to do that, you can't do it in your flesh, in your flesh you can even love other Christians, but that one person that complains all the time they aren't easy to love.
2.Listen to people really listen, two people in my shop have recently told me that I am the only person that they talk to that really listens. Dang!!
3. Be content in God's presence, we forget sometimes that truly he is all that we need something I learned quickly after I got married is that guess what even having an amazing husband can't make you completely happy cause he is only a man He's not Jesus! Nothing I mean nothing will replace God in your life, try other junk I did and guess what the only thing that made me happy was Jesus!
4. Ask for God to use you and be willing, cause He will I guarantee it, He needs workers.