Saturday, August 2, 2008

"THERE IS SOMETHING SWEETER THAN ANYTHING THAT MONEY CAN BUY..."

I love encouraging people. Who doesn't? I felt grouchy the last few days, and it was terribly depressing. I can tell myself that "life is what I make of it" and what not, but changing my attitude when I feel cranky doesn't just seem like "easier said than done"- it seems to be impossible! (Well, unless I can bring certain other people into the picture...)

It's really interesting seeing what a HUGE difference different people make in my attitude. I seem to have a TOTALLY different personality around different people. It's just weird watching how happy I get around happy people, how depressed I get around sad people, how I develop this "bored" attitude when I hang around bored people, and the list goes ON AND ON!

Yesterday I was sitting down doing a Bible study, and one of my Grandma's customers came over to the trailer. It took about one minute, maybe less, for me to realize that this guy was on fire for God. Just listening to him talk about Christ made me SO happy inside :) When he realized that I was doing a Bible study of my own, he was incredibly encouraging and enthusiastic. I don't really know how to describe it all, it was just really... real. Really happy, and inspiring. Sometimes I wish everyone was like that. I wish I was like that!

I desperately want people in my life who I can hang out with regulary, who really like talk about God, and how good He is. People who are seriously in love with Christ, who could teach me about God, and inspire me to love Him more so. There are a few musicians I know that are like that. I don't get to hang out with them, but they have taught/challenged/encouraged/helped/inspired me VERY much with their love for God. Kevin Young of Disciple and Tobymac are 2 examples. My spiritual life (in other words, my LIFE) would be COMPLETELY different if not for God using them! That's one of the main things that has made me more serious about being in ministry. If God could use me like THAT to impact people's lives, and bring others closer to Him in the same way that He has used these people in my life to do so, what could possibly be better? How much more satisfying of a life could I get? I would feel beyond priveledged and honored if I got to do that for God! The only thing that seems better than getting to reach others for Christ would be getting to have a great relationship with God myself. I've already got that! :)

I do want you all to know that if you don't have someone in your life who inspires you to love God more than ever, find someone. I don't mean someone who you like, who you just found out was a Christian. I mean someone who you saw with a heart for God, who you grew to like more and more because of, and as you saw this. Idk, that could sound really judgemental. I don't mean it like that at all. I just really want you to know that having an influence in your life who has such a passionate love for God will so strengthen your love for God.

If you DO have someone like that in your life, and know exactly what you are talking about, THANK GOD for them. Your life will never be the same because these people sacrificed themselves to live for God alone, to share God's love with you and me, and to show us how amazing of a relationship WE CAN really have with our Savior. Thank God for them, and pray that God would BLESS them for their selfless work. If you can, tell them how much God has changed your life because of them. If their purpose is really to be a servant for God like this, you thanking them and telling them what a difference they have made for God's kingdom will make them happier than you can imagine :)

I'll leave it at that. Lol, I didn't mean to type up that much! I got really into what I was writing!

Well, God bless you guys! Later...

1 comment:

Devi Garner said...

Practicing gratitude, for me is what does it when I am in a funk of any kind...induced by someone else or me myself and I. Going over the list of EVERTHING that I (or you...and it seems as if there is a lot on your list) can possibly be grateful for helps to return me/you to the place where you can be encouraging, where you can be 'of service', and where you can continue to touch, move and inspire those around you.
Enjoy!

what silly advice...you already are!