It's questionable

So I'm sitting here at work, bored as all and this girl walks up to the desk and says to the me and the guy I'm working with, "I just want ya'll to know that Jesus loves you and God bless"-wow! Now being shocked all I said was, "thanks" in return when I should've said, "you too" and more. It catches me by surprise when people do things like this, but it shouldn't. Am I brave enough to walk to strangers and tell them that Jesus loves them? Are you? I can honsetly say, I'm probably not. Sitting in my religion class has taught me a lot, about what I really know about my own religion...I don't know as much as I should, that or I don't think I know it and am too afraid to speak up and say what I think the answer is because I don't want to be made a fool of. Whether I know the answer or not, I sit there in silence and pretend not to, that's how a lot of our christian walk is as well, if we're honest with ourselves. Yes, I raise my hand when asked who in here is a christian, but that's it. I'd raise my hand to that any day, but am I brave enough to really say what Matthew tells us to? "To go out and make disciples of all nations..."? I'm even a part of a christian sorority, but what does that mean when you can't say that your a christian sorority, you have to say your a social sorority with christian ideals...can't even have bible verses on our shirts...what kind of christian group is that? If we're not going to speak up and tell others the good news and really go out in to the world and spread the gospel then what good is our christian walk? We can walk the walk, but can we talk the talk? When pastors at church talk about it, we're excited, we're pumped, AMEN!, HALALUJAH, etc. we're ready to conquer the world with bible in hand, and then...we step out of the walls of church, outside our comfort zone and are faced again with the reality that this is a harsh world we're living in and we're afraid to confront the conflicted, the lost, the broken, we're ashamed to talk about God, yet so willing to talk about others. As soon as gossip hits us, we're out there telling everyone and that news spreads like wildfire, but ya know what? God wants us to be spreading what He has said to everyone, why is it so much more difficult to do that? Are we afraid that we'll be cast away from others, that we'll be made fun of, that we'll be called hypocrits, etc? why should it matter? Jesus wasn't afraid to tell others about God and have them come to Him, he wasn't afraid of anything, He even chose to be beat, stoned, whipped, lashed, stabbed, spit on, and DIE because of it, now if that's not ridicule, then I dont know what is-so what are we really afraid of? So the next time you ask Jesus to let me be a lamp unto your word and light unto your path, remember you've got to really follow through with that and be willing to speak up because people have questions, people are lost, broken, wondering, and we've got all the answers if we're just willing to and if we ask God to take away all our fears so that we can share the good news about him to others!

Whose steering your life?

So here it is...I'm not going to be in Charlotte this summer like I had planned. I do not know where I am going to be. I got a letter in the mail on Friday from Levine Children's Hospital, stating that I did not turn in my coursework requirements from the Child Life Council...well, first I was so mad, at myself, at Levine, at God, at the situation, I was even mad at the piece of paper-if you can be mad at an intangible item. Then I moved to very upset. Had a pity party for myself and prayed to God that he would let me be ok with this. I had mentioned when I was home that I didn't care where I was as long as I got an internship. Truth be told, I wanted to be in Charlotte and no where else. Well God had another plan for my life. I don't know what that plan is just yet, but I know that it is going to be amazing and I know that it will be so much better than any plan I would have chosen. This brings me to Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." That in and of itself makes me have a peace about the entire situation. I came to realize that this isn't about where I want to be, this is where God needs me to be. I have put full faith in to God in this situation and taken my seat in the passenger side and am now letting God steer my life, he's in control and to succeed and to get anywhere I need him to have FULL control and not just work the gear shift. Looking on as a passenger now, I can see so much more, I can feel so much better; about life, about the small things, about me, and I can see God working in my life so much more. A few months ago this would have gotten me down really far, I'd be so unhappy that I wasn't going to be where I wanted most, but in just a few months I've come to realize and understand how much this life ISN'T about ME! I've totally changed from the person I was last semester and I'm so happy about that. God is still working miracles and I'm so blessed to be a part of those and to be able to someway be a beacon to others through Him!

Grateful

Today I went to training for where I will be at this semester for one of my classes. I have been given the opportunity to work at the RHA Howell Center. It is a center for children who are physically and mentally disabled. Some have severe medical needs, but do not need hospitalization. Some, their parents cannot afford their medical supplies, and others have been abused in some way shape or form. Most all of these children have trachs and are dependent on others for their needs. Not many can walk and not many are fed by mouth, but through a GTube. It breaks my heart to see these children, but at the same time I am so grateful that they have places such as this where they can get the love and support and medical needs that they need to survive. Many people would come in there and see helpess children, children lying immobilized with tubes, or helmets, or some other equipment. However, they are far from any of those things. They aren't helpess, they can strive like any other child, just at a different rate and pace, they aren't immobilized, they love the rough and tumble play that any toddler or preschooler does. Yes, they have machines, and helmets, and wheelchairs and yes, they lie still most of the time, but they love the attention, the warmth of someone stroking their hair, reading them a story, singing them a song or helping them grasp a toy.
Through these children I see the work of Christ, not only working in me, but in them, and in the ones that care for them. Christ has a plan for all of our lives, our days are numbered and he knows everything about us. Some would ask, "why does God create children like this?" my simple answer to that, is because it helps others realized how grateful they should be for their lives. We need these children in our lives to show us how simple life can be if we let it. Sometimes you just have to let others care for you. I'm not one to let others do that easily, but watching these children teaches me that it's ok to need the support of others. We need to learn to lean on Christ when we need help and when we need our needs met. He will never let us go without the things that we need. He wants to spend time with us. He wants us to be still and know that He is God. He wants to stroke our hair, read us His book, sing us songs of praise, and be the warmth that so many of us need.
So today, take the time to let Christ in, to let him love you unconditionaly. Let him be your rock.

Here goes

So, I do not know why I am about to start this. I do not know what my intentions are, or if anyone will even ever read it. But that's ok. It might benefit just one individual and most definitely benefit me! So...here goes!

So often I sit for hours on end when I have time (which is rare) or when I feel like I need a pick me up and I sit and read peoples blogs...taking in what they say and reflecting on my own life and the things that I have done that day and see where I might fall in to place. So often, I take just one thing that someone writes and disect it in to how that relates to my own life events and what I am going through that day or week or month.

I say all this in hopes that someone will take just one thing that I say to heart and be able to disect it a little further and find true meaning as to where they might stand in that situation. Being a college student I am faced with many trials, tribulations, temptations, etc that go along with the "college" lifestyle. Many times I have to sit and ponder which path I am going to choose and I must admit, I have choosen paths that did not benefit me in the end, but I've learned from those and am better off for it!

So enjoy...laugh, cry, celebrate, and get excited with me about what God holds for all of us!!