What's missing?
I've heard a phrase used way too often lately. I hope none of you have heard it, or have even uttered it.
"I didn't realize he/she/they were religious."
That seriously breaks my heart. It's a cry that we aren't doing our jobs as Christians, spreading the word and being a light for those lost in the dark.
A man I work with at the park just recently lost the love of his life to a sudden heart attack. She was a lovely woman and would give you the world to a stranger if she could, and her husband would be the first to tell you so. We were talking one night and he was telling me about how he wasn't angry, but jealous of her getting to go to heaven already and without him. This of course opened the door to the discussion of the afterlife and what we both believed and he said to me, "I didn't realize you were so religious." I stopped right then and there, my heart skipped a beat and it hit me. I was not living my life like the Christian I so desired to be, and not being a light so others like me could find me and I could help those out of the dark. I vowed to start working on my life and show the world that I am a Christian, proud of it and willing to die for my Savior.
Today at church, sitting next to my friend, she mentioned how she didn't realize how a friend was a Christian. It shocked me. Granted, in my own selfish way I thought, well at least I'm not the only one not living up to my potential, but it just drove the point home even more. How we, as Christians, need to take a stand and start shinning that light brighter than we ever thought possible. Like a friend said and I were discussing the other day, missions need to be done around the US as well as other countries because we are going to start losing the fight if we don't have a base to work from! We need to refocus and honestly reevaluate ourselves to see just how much of a light we are being for those around us? Is the first thing people would mention about you is that you are a strong Christian? Or is it the last? Or even an after thought?
Many of my Hillsdale friends have helped me realize how great and important it is to have that positive Christian influence in my life, and how wonderful it is to be an influence in someone else's life. I am more thankful for that lesson out of Hillsdale than any degree I could manage from there.
I know I'm working on my life to be a stronger light, I hope all of you will stop and think about your lives. I hope this doesn't apply to you and you can just pray with me that Christians will stop living in fear of the world and we can just look at someone and see the love of Jesus shinning through their eyes!!
*This past week has made me realize just how mortal we all are. Life really is short, so why not enjoy the ride until we get to our final destination that is going to be greater than anything we have ever known!*
"I didn't realize he/she/they were religious."
That seriously breaks my heart. It's a cry that we aren't doing our jobs as Christians, spreading the word and being a light for those lost in the dark.
A man I work with at the park just recently lost the love of his life to a sudden heart attack. She was a lovely woman and would give you the world to a stranger if she could, and her husband would be the first to tell you so. We were talking one night and he was telling me about how he wasn't angry, but jealous of her getting to go to heaven already and without him. This of course opened the door to the discussion of the afterlife and what we both believed and he said to me, "I didn't realize you were so religious." I stopped right then and there, my heart skipped a beat and it hit me. I was not living my life like the Christian I so desired to be, and not being a light so others like me could find me and I could help those out of the dark. I vowed to start working on my life and show the world that I am a Christian, proud of it and willing to die for my Savior.
Today at church, sitting next to my friend, she mentioned how she didn't realize how a friend was a Christian. It shocked me. Granted, in my own selfish way I thought, well at least I'm not the only one not living up to my potential, but it just drove the point home even more. How we, as Christians, need to take a stand and start shinning that light brighter than we ever thought possible. Like a friend said and I were discussing the other day, missions need to be done around the US as well as other countries because we are going to start losing the fight if we don't have a base to work from! We need to refocus and honestly reevaluate ourselves to see just how much of a light we are being for those around us? Is the first thing people would mention about you is that you are a strong Christian? Or is it the last? Or even an after thought?
Many of my Hillsdale friends have helped me realize how great and important it is to have that positive Christian influence in my life, and how wonderful it is to be an influence in someone else's life. I am more thankful for that lesson out of Hillsdale than any degree I could manage from there.
I know I'm working on my life to be a stronger light, I hope all of you will stop and think about your lives. I hope this doesn't apply to you and you can just pray with me that Christians will stop living in fear of the world and we can just look at someone and see the love of Jesus shinning through their eyes!!
*This past week has made me realize just how mortal we all are. Life really is short, so why not enjoy the ride until we get to our final destination that is going to be greater than anything we have ever known!*