First the Friendship, Then the Seed

I’m a firm believer in personal evangelism. I’m not saying I’m trying to convert every person I meet. On the contrary, I’m not out to convert all my friends to being a Seventh-day Adventist. All I want to do is introduce each one to know my Jesus just a little more. But, I don’t think that the first thing I should say is “Hey, are you a Christian?”. Although I know this works very well for some acquaintances of mine who also do personal evangelism, my method is different.
First comes the friendship. How else do you expect someone to listen to you? How else will you get to know the needs of those around you? It’s through meeting the needs of the hungry, starving people in the world that trust is won. It’s through getting to know the kids at school, the adults, and the neighbors that you get to know humanity. To work as Christ worked is the way to reach souls for Him. He was a mingler, He was a helper, He was a servant of mankind. He worked with the people, they trusted Him and then He could share the truth about salvation.
In order for seeds to be sown, the ground must be prepared, and that comes by casting away the stones, taking out the weeds, and plowing the soil. So it is with hearts. First you must  get acquainted, find similarities, accept differences, respect what the other believes, and let them know you genuinely care. Then, spend time helping them, showing them you’re a friend. Pretty soon you’ll get to know this person, call each other friends. It’s friends that share with one another. You can help your friend in his weak areas and you’ll often be surprised to find that he helps you in yours.
The season has to be just right in order to plant. If it’s too early, a frost may freeze your seeds. The soil must be the right temperature. You, as the gardener, must carefully watch and take caution not to sow too soon. If you try to “evangelize” someone not prepared to open up and listen, you could do more harm than good. Although a seed, once planted, has the potential to germinate in the future, it is best to wait until the conditions are just right.
I don’t go door to door on a regular basis canvassing books or passing out tracts. I’ve done a bit of both. Both are tools that God uses. I don’t preach too many evangelistic series; in fact, I’ve only preached one, and that to children. God uses these, too, in mighty ways. I don’t sell my music or make CDs of scripture and religious songs to reach out to the emotions of those listening. It’s not too be doubted that God works through music; He does. I don’t do too much of these forms of evangelism. Instead, I believe in meeting people on their own ground. I would rather be a missionary than a preacher, I’d rather be a friend than a upfront musician. That’s why I feel that God can use me wherever I am. He has blessed me with many friends. Many don’t believe just like I do. I’m not out to convert them to my exact faith. I’m simply trying to be a tool that God can use to prepare for His soon coming harvest. How about you? Anyone can do personal evangelism. If you love Jesus, share Him when He says the time is right to plant the seed.

Friendships are to help each other grow

Set-Apart for My Prince

        A bookmark lies within the crisp pages of a book. Both objects hold special meaning to me, for they were gifts from one friend; the Korean bookmark a birthday present from one of my closest friends, and the book a gift of suggestion by the same friend. Both are tied together, both belong together; two items connected by warm memories of a friendship and the one a promotor a friendship with my Heavenly Price, the Lord Jesus.
       As I lay awake thinking last night, I pulled out my copy of Authentic Beauty and began to read. This book is about about how I can be a set-apart young women in a world where setting aside my heart and life for a mortal man is rare but where committing my life to the service, love and devotion of my heavenly Prince is rarer still. I have heard this call before, but I have been re-inspired to commit once again my life to the service and absolute surrender to my heavenly Prince. Our declining world does not know the transforming love of my Prince, I must share Him. I can represent Him by purity to Him, and Him alone. It’s like a call as in the days of old where men and women of faith and valor stood up for their faith despite the world around them. Last night God called me to stand up for representing Him to the world as a set-apart young woman. Through cultivating my relationship with Him, I will in turn be more like Him. A call to be set-apart from the world while living in the world is a call He extends to all that hear His voice. Come unto Him and He will give you rest. The promises of the Lord are sure and strong. He giveth peace to have complete faith and rest in His good judgments. He desires to make you the happiest young women, the happiest young man in the whole world. Set aside your life to complete lily-whiteness in Him. Although I know I have much more to learn, I have peace with the direction that my life may go. I know that He is there, leading me, wooing me to Him more and more.
        God grants earthly friendship so we can encourage one another. I praise the Lord with all my soul for the blessing of my friend Melissa. God placed this soft-spoken South African gem in my life to help me see my need of set-apartness for my God and He has blessed  me with a precious friendship with her. God inspired writers with messages for young people today. Melissa has been a catalyst for my new found love of the Ludys’ books and I thank her for the precious books that I now posses, because they have already impacted my life.

Every Stranger ... An Opportunity

You can judge a book by it's cover, but don't you dare judge a person by theirs. Under every face there rest feelings and a personality; it's your job to uncover them.

Each person you meet is a human just like you. Under every face is a potential friend, whether either of you recognize the fact. Every stranger is an opportunity. The quiet soul has a story to tell if you take the time to learn his language. Even the loud, out-going person truly longs to stop his hurried course and take the time to have someone listen who really cares. It's your responsibility to be stewards of the trusts of your brother. Each man and women you ever meet is part of your opportunity to make a difference. Be the friend that cares. Be the listening ear and the soft shoulder. Let your Jesus shine through you. Change the world, one soul at a time.

Trust It All?

Don't you know that feeling of "trust it all to you Lord?" It's an interesting place to be in, but very necessary in learning to acknowledge Christ's leading for all areas of our lives. I can bring this point home to my scholastic education (I know, the example is getting old, but it's very real in my life right now). I don't suffer from test anxiety too much because I try my best to learn the info before the day of the test. However, there's that feeling of "I don't know if I can do this!" that I always get. This Monday I took my first microbiology test of the spring quarter. Right before going in to take it, I walked the perimeter of my small college building and just prayed. By the time I got to the theatre, where I test, I'd finally let God take my concern about my test score.
I've grown accustomed having the highest scores in all of my classes, and I've been feeling like perhaps that status is getting to me. God was calling to my heart to surrender even my desire to do the best in class. Wasn't doing my best for Him enough? To a heart that loves doing things well, that was a hard call. To someone who has grown used to having something one way, to seeing hard work pay off with confirmation for a favorite teacher, it is hard to trust it all to the Lord. Yet, trusting it all to the Lord, leaning not upon my own understanding is a fact that I must remember and a point that God so graciously reminded me of. Why do I doubt His good intentions? After all, when I do my best for Him, He has never ever failed me. It's through Him that my good grades have always come, and it's through Him that I had victory over some pride I've been harboring. I want to recommit my works unto the Lord, to trust in Him with all my heart, for my understanding is only short-shortsightedly human. With His power I can do anything, not of myself, but through Him! Praise be to the Lord!

Poured Out Their Hearts

There’s one thing that is crucial to having a successful walk, and that is prayer. This past week I was able to attend a prayer vigil for a friend’s healing and church unity. Thirty-nine people sat together and poured their heartfelt prayer out to the Lord. By asking for God to take every sin away we prayed, and I know His Spirit was there with us. Knowing that all things work together for good as Romans 8:28 says we went forward in faith asking that it be the Lord’s will that He heal Ben. We have faith and trust that God will heal him- be it immediately, down the road, or in the future. One day he’ll have a brand new body and stand before the thrown of God praising His name. I love having the witness of many godly friends and adults to cheer me on my walk. The trials and afflictions of this world aren’t easy, but each one is a test to make us more like Christ, more like Him Whose love is so deep, so vast beyond what we can even begin to fathom. I want to move forward with a prayer in my heart all the time and believe without a doubt that God will take care of me.

1 John 3:22 "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in his sight."

the finish line: Victory

This last quarter seemed like a race. Something was going to have to give sooner or later- my sanity or school. Thankfully I beat school, making it to the end of the quarter maintaining my saneness, more or less. The end of the winter quarter marked the end of my first college year, in credits, as well! This week has actually been very significant. Aside from finishing English 101, Accounting 201, and Anatomy and Physiology II, I got a cell phone (under my family’s family plan) and my drivers license! I also have been accepted for the fall session of Amazing Fact Center of Evangelism, in Sacramento, California. Definitely classifies as an eventful week.
But above all, I can’t help but be excited to see how God has been by my side helping me. I know I’d not have made it through the challenges of my studies without His help. There were a lot of times in A&P that I had studied as much as was possible, yet I felt unprepared. However, if I asked God for peace, He gave it to me and I moved forward believing He would not fail me. If I did my best He always backed me up and was faithful to helping me. I think He answered many of my test questions. Multiple times I left tests not sure of the outcome, to find out that once again God had blessed me with a high score. It’s been an exciting journey- not only in all the pages of things I’ve memorized and learned, but also the amazing experience I’ve had learning that God is going to be there all the time for me, ready to back me up when I feel I can’t go on. It’s like running a long, hard race and having someone keep nudging you on when you feel exhausted and can’t take one more step. And then, when you feel that all strength has left, just at the moment you need it most, you are given an extra burst to get you over the finish line, just in time. Now that is victory.

But thanks be to God, who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57

In His timing He will give you the victory over anything!

This side: Before

Although it would be nice to think of life as being answered by a song or as symbolic like a rugged pathway, I do get some occasional reality checks here and there. I decided that I wanted to post more than once a month on here, so I’ll keep you updated about my journey.

I wanted to talk about this side of college. Next week I’ll talk about the other side. You see, right now I’m preparing for finals at my local community college this week and next. In exactly one week I’ll be taking my last Anatomy and Physiology test and thereby wrap up my first full credit-year of college. I’ll then be a sophomore! However, while I love to keep the goal before my eyes, I can’t just jump and around and rejoice that soon and very soon I will cross the finish line and be done! Instead, I must continue to work hard. It’s only after a lot of hard work that goals can be accomplished. I find the satisfying feeling inside after a job well done to be well worth all the hardships that it takes to reach the goal. So, I’m working hard this week to finish polishing my essays, doing my last accounting homework problems, and memorizing the last three chapters for A&P.

Today I woke up sick. Looks like I have one more thing to fight against to do my best, but I’m up for the challenge. Why? "Although trials may be great, God's grace is greater still." If you’re discouraged and have a lot of work to do before you can get to the other side- take courage. Work hard to do your best to accomplish the goal that is before you.