Here I am

I believe today would be day 74 of the WWJD challenge...

That's a long time! I'm already able to look back and see how much I've grown! I can't wait to look back a year from now!

As I get to know God more it's clear to me that it's not an option to go and tell people about God! We are supposed to go and make disciples! Man! It's crazy how it can be so much easier to go to another country and do that, than it is to go to your neighbor. At least that's how it is for me.

I depend on myself way to much! I've said that so many times in this blog. That's my biggest stumbling block. I've seen what totally surrendering and letting God lead can do! That's what I want every day of my life! And that's how it should be!

He tells me to be strong and courageous...to be bold! He says he will use our weaknesses to show his strength! He will put words in my mouth. All I have to say is here I am use me Lord! With God I've already won! I have nothing to worry about! He is reaching out his hand, and all I need to do is take it! It's so simple.

I don't want to let fear control me. Fear of being judged by the people around me for being bold in my faith. A verse a day on Facebook is not "reaching out" enough! So I'll take His hand, I will let Him lead! He has amazing things planned for my life and your life!

"You’re reaching out to me oh I can see you've got something beautiful planned

  So I’ll take hold of you I know you’ll pull me through

No matter what happens, I will follow you"

: :Reaching Out To Me

HERE I AM USE ME LORD!

Into the heart of the darkest places
Into the lost and the lonely spaces
Bringing the hope and the life You've given
I'll move cause You move me

Into the lives of forgotten children
Showing the love they were never given
Open my eyes to the world I don't see
Show me cause I know...

We need, a heart for the hopeless, reaching
The places unspoken, move me Lord
Raise up, a desperate people, leading
The lost and feeble, use me Lord
Use me Lord

Give me a fire that's always burning
Every desire for You is stirring
I am alive now to show Your glory
I'll move cause You move me

Into the light when Your love is shining
Only by faith with Your Spirit guiding
Open my eyes to the world I don't see
Show me cause I know...

We need, a heart for the hopeless, reaching
The places unspoken, move me Lord
Raise up, a desperate people, leading
The broken and feeble, use me Lord
Here I am, use me Lord

We need to wake up
We need to raise up
Cause I will never stand still, Lord keep me moving, moving

We need, a heart for the hopeless, reaching
The places unspoken, move me Lord
Here I am, use me Lord
Raise up, a desperate people, leading
The broken and feeble, use me Lord
Here I am, use me Lord

We need, a heart for the hopeless, reaching
The places unspoken, use me Lord
Use me Lord
Raise up, a desperate people, leading
The broken and feeble, use me Lord
Here I am, use me Lord 

What would Jesus do? Day 1

Have you ever read the novel In His Steps? One of my assignments in English was to read this novel. Within a few paragraphs this question arose,"What does it mean to follow in Jesus' steps? What does it look like?"
Some people would have no problem answering this question. I didn't. My immediate response was,"Do what Jesus did in his life here on earth." The pastor challenged the church saying, "I want volunteers...who will pledge themselves, earnestly and honestly for an entire year, not to do anything without first asking the question, 'What would Jesus do?' And after asking that question, each one will follow Jesus as exactly as he knows how, no matter what the result may be." As I continued reading I was surprised at how hard it was for one of the characters in the book to apply this challenge to his life. Or rather how much sacrifice it was to live every moment asking the question, What would Jesus do? And then live it out.
 The next day my sister and I were doing devotions and we both decided to take this challenge. That first day we were in town at a stop sign and my sister asked, "Mom, what would Jesus do if he saw a homeless person asking for help?"
She answered,"I believe he would go and talk to her."
Dani looked back at me and now my hearts beating so hard that I feel like everyone in the car can hear it. Feeling nervous and wanting to stick with this challenge, my mom parked and let Dani and I out. We asked the lady what exactly she was needing, she said she needed blankets, I then asked if we could pray with her. We quickly prayed and headed to Walmart to pick up some blankets. We brought them to her. She didn't show much emotion but I felt peace about the situation, knowing that God just wanted to see if we would obey him.
So day one and we already had an encounter. As we sat in the garage doing Bible study with my dad we shared what had happened earlier, and he just so happened to be teaching about what it means to following Jesus. How cool is that? This past year God has been slowly but surely opening my eyes to what a true Christian is. To be totally honest if my sister hadn't of said anything that day I wouldn't have gone out of my way to go and talk with this lady. I love to see God changing Dani's heart and opening her eyes as well! I now realize that truly following Jesus' example, his steps, is a lot harder than it sounds, or maybe a lot scarier.
I am so excited to see what he has in store for this year, and for the rest of our lives as we dedicate all that we do to glorify the only one who is worthy, God, and follow in his steps.

P.S. No editing my work, I know I made mistakes :)