I first want to just say I am so BLESSED to have the people I do in my life.
My family: Their support, despite their many many concerns of my safety. I can’t thank them enough for their courage and faith in me, knowing that this is my calling from Him. I know this is very difficult for them to take in and I am so thankful they are chugging along with me 😀
My community group: These girls AMAZE me everyday! Their beautiful hearts and love for Jesus is so contagious and I am loving spending this time in preparation for the race with them. I am going to miss them so so so much, but I know they will only be an email or skype call away when I need them! I wouldn’t have the faith I do for the race without their support.
My Watermark home: I don’t know how I am going to live life without seeing my church family every week. I most definitely will be podcasting EVERYTHING! I wouldn’t be the Christian I am today if it wasn’t for the honesty and love from this family, love you guys!
My prayer warriors: WOW. is all I can say. I can feel all of ya’lls prayers daily so keep them coming!!!!!!! and keep me updated in your guys lives so I can be praying specifically for all of you as well!
now to the other point of my blog… so recently I have been super discouraged with some different situations of sharing Christ to others. Specifically, how do you share God’s love to someone who has been so hurt by those who call themselves Christians and by life’s hardships that they are completely num to the idea of God? and scripture is a no go.
you love them.
yes! but how do you love them from a distance? How do you love them if there is a whole lot of hurt from the past that goes along with all this? How do you show Christ-like love if they aren’t responding back to you? Jesus knows how this feels exactly. Is it your job to show them love or to just sit back, pray for them and let the Holy Spirit lead them?
welllll, so many people in my life have be so encouraging on this I wanted to share. I thought it was such a good reminder and I know we have all been discouraged at some point in our lives, especially when wanting to share the ONE thing in your life you are so passionate about and feeling defeated doing it.
A good friend (thanks Sarah!) told me to remember the great biblical characters – David, Job, Jonah,
Jeremiah, Elijah – they were never alone, even though at times they too felt by themselves. God was always there.
Jeremiah, Elijah – they were never alone, even though at times they too felt by themselves. God was always there.
David
– all throughout Psalms you can see how he
thinks God has turned from him, how he struggles to find God and his
plan and his light. But at the same time David was obedient and
patient and persevered through the hardships.
– all throughout Psalms you can see how he
thinks God has turned from him, how he struggles to find God and his
plan and his light. But at the same time David was obedient and
patient and persevered through the hardships.
********
Psalms 77:1-9
I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
I cried out to God to hear me.
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands
and my soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
…… “Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.
Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
…….Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
********
Even David, a man of God, a warrior, a poet, a human… he too at times felt God was no where near. But he kept his faith, he kept moving on and remember that even the ocean was scared of Jesus!!! wow. David found peace among hard times in GOD.
So when we feel let down or hurt or discouraged in sharing our faith we must not give up! love as much as you can and
know that God still has that person in His hands. Just because people are lost they are not forgotten.
know that God still has that person in His hands. Just because people are lost they are not forgotten.
Philippians 3:13-14
“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But
one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is
ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is
ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
I loved how Sarah put it: …we can only look ahead, keeping our focus the finish line: JESUS. We are
all running the race, and if you have your eye on the prize, the past
can not hurt or catch you. We face hurdles and obstacles and of course
we all stumble and question why to keep going. But it’s that prize –
Jesus – that keeps us going and loving and trying. Even when no one
wants to listen. You don’t have to preach the
gospel to share the message of Jesus. Just listen as best you can.
Don’t get cast down or let Satan win. PRESERVE.
all running the race, and if you have your eye on the prize, the past
can not hurt or catch you. We face hurdles and obstacles and of course
we all stumble and question why to keep going. But it’s that prize –
Jesus – that keeps us going and loving and trying. Even when no one
wants to listen. You don’t have to preach the
gospel to share the message of Jesus. Just listen as best you can.
Don’t get cast down or let Satan win. PRESERVE.
James 1:12
“Blessed is the man who
perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will
receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will
receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
