Although I could write a book in response to how God has used this to work in my heart…and is still continuing to do so…I am going to just write out certain things that you said that really blessed me.

1)“So often, we complicate the mission of Jesus by thinking that it involves large crusades, special techniques, well-crafted presentations, and a good “set-up” so we can “give the Gospel.” This is where I want to challenge each of us as followers of Jesus. It’s a lot simpler, and a lot more real than that.”

~Awesome!! That is definitely now saved as one of my favorite quotes! I posted this on facebook, and since you are no longer on there, Brant Graves agreed by saying, “Amen!”

2)First, while most Christ-followers would readily agree that the “church is the people who follow Jesus,” almost universally, we refer to “going to church” as if it’s a place or a meeting. We are all guilty of referencing a building with a steeple on it as a church. But is it really? Isn’t it simply a building where a church meets? If that’s the case, then logic would dictate that you can’t invite someone “to a group of people” but you can invite them to where the church is at any given moment. This is where things get pretty exciting. The church is anywhere you are. Oh. Yeah.

~Like I said, this Whole entire blog *rocked*, but for Absolute favorites, I couldn’t leave that #2 paragraph out. Really great thought and you’re exactly right, Lance. The Holy Spirit has allowed us the ability to encounter God Anywhere. To really put into perspective that ‘we’ Are the church is pretty stinkin awesome. I Love that God stamped that truth in your heart to say!

3)“Don’t pretend to love people. Really love them.”

~I have thought about this a lot since meeting Jesus 4+ years ago, and He is continuing to really challenge me with this each day…as I’m sure He is with most believers! When very first reading in the Bible that we are ‘commanded’ to love others, I walked around wondering how many Christians acted like they ‘loved’ me because they felt it was their ‘duty’ or obligation to God. I personally would have much rather…and still would…have someone treat me the way they actually feel, rather than acting a certain way to my face because they felt that was the ‘Godly’ thing to do, and then walk away from me feeling annoyed. With that said, every thought that He has allowed me to think with others, He makes Sure that those thoughts are held captive and turned right back around onto me for self-evaluation! But then, He allowed me to really evaluate what ‘love’ is and do I really accept it’s meaning? Yeah…that one He is still working in me with, as I have yet to really understand what it means according to Him. The end of the song ‘My Jesus’ says something that never leaves my mind when saying, “But You said to live like you, love like You…but then You died for me.” Pretty phenomenal thing…especially when thinking of ‘Me’ and how unworthy I truly am of such love (I know that sounds ‘spiritual’, but it’s a really powerful thought to me!) Also, the Bible says to ‘love your neighbor as you love yourself’, but the unique way I desire to be loved is not the way that many others desire to be loved, so God has yet to teach me many things on this subject.

4)“How can we really love someone that we don’t even know?”

~Ugh. Yeah, that’s bold truth…which I *Love* and consider as totally priceless!, but definitely challenged me. It all really comes back to…for me anyway…what ‘love’ really consists of according to Jesus, and how to let others know that I really care about, and want to know about, ‘them’, without them feeling as though I’m just trying to be nosey and get into their personal business. Kevin suggested, as for the neighbors, to make cookies and just go and say a simple “hello, if you ever need anything, let us know!” I’m still learning ‘how’ to socialize and love in a way that attracts people to the Jesus within me, rather than turns them away

5) “I’m too wrapped up in my own life, including “doing the church thing” that I deprive myself of the opportunity to really know and love my neighbors.”

~Ouch!! Yeah, that’s another great piece of bold truth that cannot be overlooked. Wow, it’s so easy for me to justify not getting out and getting to know people because of the ministry work I do on the inside of my home…that doesn’t take a Whole lot of being sociable. I spend countless hours each week focusing on what verses, song videos, etc. that seekers could be blessed by…not including the making of soap when God allows us the product, but yet I’m not making it a priority to go out and get my hands dirty…which is one of the Best things a believer can do. Getting my hands dirty is what allows me the true ability to worship my God, as He allows my heart to be so greatly overwhelmed and consumed in Him as I trust Him to provide for the people He has led me to which are hurting and hopeless. It allows me to believe in His promises, and simply just who He is. Is there really anything greater than whole-hearted worship? …Not to me…it’s Priceless and more fulfilling than any drug I have ever been done! So, why is my natural desire/tendency to seclude myself and ‘reach out’ without Really reaching out? …Yeah, I know the reason why…and this is something that I have to really allow Christ to overcome in me. Which goes on to number 6…

6)“Really getting to know the people in your life takes time, effort, and it isn’t always pretty or fun. However, it IS fulfilling, once you realize how integrally it’s tied into the Kingdom of God.”

~So true.

7)“…Having someone into your home and sharing a meal together is a beautiful way to show love because it is one of the most vulnerable things you can do as a family. You open up your “domain” to others and allow them to enjoy what you typically claim as your own.”

~That’s a really good way to think of it…and I had never thought of it like that before. The thought came back to me of when Kev and I had just started going to NewSpring (Messiah at the time) and Dave and Diane Borg invited us to their domain for supper. Doing something as simple as that was so challenging to me…and still is…but I will never forget that first time we went. I remember the really good tasting milk…I mean this wasn’t just Any type of milk…although they said it was…I mean, it was definitely blessed. Diane’s chicken with cheese was absolutely incredible, and that’s not something I ordinarily used to like…or was able to keep down at the time! But, beyond all of that, we all sat down and prayed to the God who was all over that meal. Yeah, I admit that ‘fellowshipping’ was, and still is, not a comfortable thing for me personally, but that was an experience I pray that God never allows me to forget. We indeed felt very loved and cared about, and although the Borg’s would not admit to it because their desire is to share the love that Christ so greatly shared with them, I realize that doing something like that for Kevin and I required sacrifice, discomfort on their part, and trusting in God as they opened their home to ‘strangers’ at the time…although they knew we were strangers to God and they trusted in His plan. Regardless of all the things God knew they were going through, they put all that aside and opened their hearts and home and to us, and in turn, we now greatly praise God for that memory.

8)“See what your neighbors and co-workers like to do, and intentionally engage with them there. Spend time with them and just accept them as they are.”

~This may seem like common sense to some…or most…but Lance, I value/treasure this wisdom/encouragement! I could go into my life story on ‘why’ this is a challenging blessing to me, but I’ll keep it concise and just say “great thought!” I will also add that this is one more on the list that I’m praying for God to work in me with and praying for Him to give me wisdom from His wisdom store!

9)“It’s not to somehow get them to “give you an opening” to share the Gospel or “invite them TO church.”

~The not inviting people “TO” church thing, I got down 100%. God started working on me with that a couple of years ago…in November two years ago to be exact…and you might remember some of the challenges I was experiencing at that time. That was a huge, yet contradicting, reality that God placed in my heart that I had no idea what to do with and God is Still working in me with that. But, it’s the first part of that sentence that brought a new revelation to me. I Really need to keep this truth in mind all the time and go back to #8 which says, “Just accept them as they are.” Great stuff.

10)“Am I willing to love this person and get involved in their life even if I knew they would NEVER accept Jesus?” Of course, we don’t know that about anyone, but the question is still valid. Are you willing to love someone to simply love someone? That’s what Jesus did.”

~You probably knew that I would add this one since adding the previous one Man, I am so thankful that God allowed your friend, Sean, to take such a great thought to heart! And then, that God allowed him to share it with you, and now on to your readers, such as me! That one thought has changed my Whole attitude and ‘agenda’ when speaking with others. It’s really pretty freeing…which I’m thankful for, and allows me to simply go with the flow and really allow God to the work in a person’s life/heart. If He wants to use me to reach someone, He’ll do it if I just simply make myself available. No more need to ‘try’ to be used by Him, or ‘try’ to reach someone on His behalf. I just need to follow His will…love wholeheartedly, seeing Him in Each person… He will do the rest. If He works in someone’s heart through that, then absolutely No praise can go to me…which Totally Rocks my heart!!!…and I can 100% marvel at His awesome work! Awe, that’s something beautiful. How *Awesome* the thought is that (#11)…

11)“He wants your neighbor to accept Jesus more badly than you do! God will do the work in their lives, and He will give you opportunity to “give an answer of the hope that is inside of you.”

~YeS! Loovvve it! This all goes to the great truth of #12….

12)“Let God drive the train, not you.”

~Ha ha…Yeah, Chels! Awesome. I can indeed make things to complicated!!

13)“God calls you to love. He’s the one that does the drawing. The goal is not to get people to go to a meeting. It’s to help people become disciples of Jesus. That can be hard to quantify and measure, and that’s probably why as followers of Jesus we’re always so concerned with getting someone “to church” to hear the Gospel. It lets us know that we’re doing good. We’re succeeding. I think it may be a false sense of success, though.”

~Another facebook status This one makes my Spirit want to run around the room! Awesome!!!! So truth filled.

This whole thing really opened up my mind in awesome ways. I have to say that although I was Stoked when first reading this, God also used it to allow me to see how much work He has yet to do in me…which I can humbly accept, but usually He allows me to see and work on ‘one’ thing at a time, and this was like a wham bam…but He knows Exactly what we need to hear and His grace is enough. He alone knows how to draw us closer to Him through it all…because He’s so seriously cool like that I’m so thankful that God allowed me the opportunity to read this, Lance and so thankful for how He has…and continues…to work in you and your families lives. I’m truly blessed and my cup overfloweth