Here I am

Ello! So I have had a crazy last week or so and thought I would fill everyone in a little bit about what is going on in my life and what He is doing.

So this weekend I was able to go to Northridge for a speech and debate tournament.  We left early Friday morning and the long weekend began, first going to Sac Airport then into Burbank then to the hotel.  Now the thing about these tournaments is that you wake up at 6am and go talk infront of people on and off until 6pm.  You then go to award ceremonies for 1- 1 1/2hr and then out to dinner and get in by 11pm.  So that schedule consisted of my Saturday.  Sunday was the same thing but a little bit different.  I was able to reconnect with an old friend who goes to Northridge.  Our families are very good friends and he has always looked up to me and we have never had a spiritual conversation, but this day was different.....I shared with him what it meant to follow Jesus, how to be in community and it was such a blessed conversation, praise God.  So after that around 7, we drove to the airport, got on the flight and got into Sac and drove back to Chico.  At this point I was extremely tired, worn out, physically, mentally and spiritually.  Isn't it interesting though how God knows your abilities, just like a coach, he pushes you just a little farther then you are used to.
Romans 5:4 "And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope in salvation"
So it was about 12 at night and I am in the back of the van with another teammate.  He knows I am a Christian and he asked something along the lines, "I heard you're a Christian, what does your faith mean to you?" Man did I not see that one coming! We spent the next hour talking about Faith in Jesus, I was able to share my testimony and he told me that he would love to check out church and even grab coffee to talk more.  Even when you have no gas left in the tank, as Peter says in 1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have, but do this with gentleness and respect."
I thought the weekend would be over! I got in at 1:30am and woke up to a roommate who needed to be driven to Sac to buy a truck.... at this point I was beyond exhausted, but I wasn't going to Him who was waiting to give me rest! It was a 4 hour round trip, I got back around 3 and just had so much on my mind.  I attempted to do homework for several hours but nothing was getting done.  I ended up being told by a good friend that I just needed to rest and spend time before God in silence, regardless the time... even if it was 7pm....I did just that and spent time with Him until I fell asleep.... I never knew what 10 hours could do!!!! Man!

Where ever you are in your life...school, job, church, etc....God doesn't need your sets of gifts and talents (He does take pleasure in utilizing you though with them and enjoys seeing you use them...) He just needs & wants people who are willing vessels, who present themselves to Him, a living sacrifice, and just allow His Grace and His Mercy to make us Holy, acceptable and pleasing to Him.  He is a God who is good and able to meet us where we are, despite or junk and garbage.

This is what I learned over the weekend... to be ready to share Jesus, and be bold, regardless of if you think you are "in the mood" or beaten down....He just wants you and all of you, tell Him where you are..Exodus 3:4 "....God called to him from the middle of the bush, "Moses! Moses! ....Moses replied, "Here I am!"  Listen for the Lord's voice.... be bold in your actions, you never know who is watching, but always be gentle in all you do..

F stands for Forgraceness

It isn't until we find ourselves falling short of perfection and of holiness until we realize how stuck we are in sin, how ugly and wretched sin makes us.  We always seem to slipping up here or there. No matter how hard we try to live this life sinless, we find ourselves filled with guilt and shame. Do you have ever those moments in life, where this Grace&Forgiveness give you a nice, stiff arm to the chest? This weekend has been one where I have been hit hard with this question & feeling. But in Ephesians 1:7 it says.... "The forgiveness of sins, accord to the riches of His grace."

From the words of the late great C.H. Spurgeon "Could there be a sweeter word in any language than that word 'forgiveness' when it sounds in a guilty sinner's ear, like the beautiful harps playing at heaven's door.  Blessed, for ever be the pardon which shines into the condemned cell, and gives the perishing sinner a gleam of hope amid the midnight hour.  Can it be possible that sin, such sin as mine, can be forgiven, forgiven altogether and forever? Hell is my portion as a sinner - there is no possibility of my escaping from it while sin remains upon me - can the load of guilt be uplifted, this crimson stain removed? Can these prison doors be lifted from their hinges? Jesus tells me....Yes....forever blessed be the revelation of this atoning love which only tells me that forgiveness is possible, but that it is secure to all who rest in Jesus. What joy is this! What bliss to be a perfectly pardoned soul! My soul dedicates all its power to Him who of His own unpurchased love became my surety, and has produced for me redemption through His blood. What riches of grace does free forgiveness exhibit! To forgive at all, to forgive fully, to forgive freely, to forgive forever! When I think of how great my sins were, how dear were the precious drops which cleansed me from them, and how gracious was the method by which forgiveness & pardon was sealed to me, I am in a maze of wondering worshipping affect. I bow before the throne which absolves me, I clasp the cross which delivers me, I serve henceforth all my days the God who I am this night a pardoned soul.'

Accord to the RICHES.... Jesus has endless amounts of grace&forgiveness for you.... so whatever it is that is holding you back, know that you cannot do this life alone, that you will always fall short, but oh blessed is they who looks upon the loving gaze of Jesus asking for forgiveness&grace from Him who was and is and is to come. (He will never turn you down)