Friends First

I got this devotional in my box today and it really got me thinking. We need to build relationships first, because if we just say that they need Jesus (Which is true) and don't build a relationship with them, then its nothing but a marketing pitch. It would come across that we don't really care about THEM and who they are. Here is the devotional. Sorry I haven't had anything inspiring to write about myself, but I will soon... so for now...here it is:

Friends first
by John Fischer

The Great Commission is all about making friends. Now I know Jesus said, “Therefore, go and make disciples …” (Matthew 28:19 NLT), but Jesus himself showed that you can’t make a disciple until you first make a friend. “I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.” (John 15:15 NLT)

So what Christians have called “witnessing” for some time really should be more like building relationships. It’s what you do over the long haul of a relationship that counts so much more than door-to-door canvassing of the neighborhood.

In the movie The Big Kahuna starring Danny DeVito and Kevin Spacey, a young salesman fresh out of Baptist college goes on his first business trip to a convention with a couple seasoned veterans from his company. In an attempt to land a CEO (“The Big Kahuna”) of a very large account as a new client, the young Baptist, played surprisingly close to a real Baptist by Peter Tarrantino, ends up the unlikely one of the three who has the best shot at talking with the CEO.
But instead of talking about the company he represents and setting up his partners with a meeting, the Baptist ends up spending the whole conversation witnessing to the man about Jesus. When his co-workers find out about this, Spacey goes ballistic. A hot-headed argument ensues between Spacey and the rookie salesman over the place of religion in business, and Danny DeVito, the oldest and wisest of the three, tries to calm them both down and provides some very sensible advice. What he says to the young Baptist should be heard and considered by all Christians. It goes something like this:

“The minute you lay hold of a conversation in order to steer it in a certain direction, it ceases to be a conversation, it’s a sales pitch; and you aren’t a human being anymore, you’re a marketing rep. If you really care about the man, ask him about his kids … his wife … his dreams ...”

It’s the difference between pushing an agenda and truly caring for somebody. If you care about somebody, you want to know what he or she is thinking, what is the person’s hopes and dreams, joys and disappointments – in other words, what are the things that make that person human. Friendship is all about finding common ground, and it is out of this common ground that what is shared will have credibility.

Missions Fest

Today my dad and I went downtown to Missions Fest and spend the afternoon together. It was lots of fun. I saw a booth there from a church/organization called "Joy Fellowship" and it is an organization that works with people with disabilities of all sorts. I got talking to one of the ladies who was there and she has invited me to come volunteer at Camp Squamish in May with the group they are taking. I am going to pray about it and see if that is what God wants me to do.

I also took some pictures which turned out awesome, take a look:

Love Language...no surprise here..

The Five Love Languages

My primary love language is probably
Physical Touch
with a secondary love language being
Receiving Gifts.

Complete set of results

Physical Touch:		11
Receiving Gifts:		8
Quality Time:		6
Words of Affirmation:		4
Acts of Service:		1

Information

Unhappiness in relationships, according to Dr. Gary Chapman, is often due to the fact that we speak different love languages. Sometimes we don't understand our partner's requirements, or even our own. We all have a "love tank" that needs to be filled in order for us to express love to others, but there are different means by which our tank can be filled, and there are different ways that we can express love to others.

Take the quiz

Prayer Request

The other blog was getting too long, so I decided to post this as a different blog....anyways...

I am in school to become a Therapeutic Recreation Practitioner, and this past wednesday my instructor mentioned that she had seen a lady in London Drugs and this lady mentioned that her work was hiring some TRP's. The workplace is at Canada Way Care Centre. I live just a few blocks up from there, and from what I have seen online it is a beautiful place. I also have a friend who works there as a receptionist (casually) So my instructor told me to call this lady and mention that I am a student of hers. So I called the next day and she said to fax my resume in with a cover letter, so I did that. I have to phone on Tuesday to see if they have processed my resume yet, and if they have made a decision.

I am asking that you guys pray (I have been also, and will continue to) that God's will will be done in this situation. I would really like this job because it is in the field that I want to work in, but if it isn't in God's will than I need to get over it and find a different job.

Thanks ^_^

Amazing night!!!!

This isn't a very insightful blog really, but I just had to let my thoughts out.

Tonight was so awesome, and I would like to thank everyone who came (and sorry that the other ones couldn't make, I still love each and every one of you). You guys are so amazing, you all made me feel SO loved.

We shared in laughs, and I even had some flirting from the waiter again... *rolls eyes* lol...anyways.... I laughed so much tonight. It was something I really needed after a stressful last few weeks, with stuff going on with family members (not immediate family...like not parents or brother), and job stuff and ya.. its just been a little stressful, but tonight was just amazing. I got to go to church and worship God, which was amazing, and then afterwords we went to Applebees (a restaurant right by my house) for a lovely dinner. It was awesome to see 2 friends that I hadn't seen in a long time. It made me very happy that they came (yay Julian and Fiona!!)

Before church we got to talking about Love Language. We have love language that we recieve and that we give. They can be different. My love language that I give is gifts (encouragement books and such), and the love language that I recieve that makes me feel loved is physical touch (like hugs), and not really gifts, but the thought that goes into the gifts that are given to me. I don't know if that makes sense. Let me try to explain: I am a girly girl, who loves pink things and starbucks oh and sheep!! hehe. It would not make sense for someone to give me a power tool for my birthday (LOL!!) because that would show that they dont know me very well.

The gifts that were given to me for my birthday were as follows: A snowglobe from my friend Alie, that has a picture of her 2.5 month old baby Tearah in it, and from Julian I got a 15 dollar gift card for Starbucks, from MJ I got a cross ornament, smarties bar (the explosion one), stickers, a ring pop, a Kitty Birthday Card, and a shower gel thing that is shaped as a sheep..hehe... and from Ben and Angel I got a card with pictures of friends on it, and inside was a check for 20 dollars and in the memo part it said "First Dance Class" (I am going to be taking West Coast Swing lessons in a couple weeks and it is 20 dollars per lesson) This almost made me cry because they all know me so well, which shows me that they love me. Not that gifts is what matters here, it is the fact that they knew me so well. It made me feel very loved.

So in two weeks I will be off to my very very very first West Coast Swing lesson. I am very excited! I haven't taken a dance class in 10 years, and that was classical work (ballet). This is ballroom (West Coast Swing) The Dance class goes as follows: 7-8pm West Coast Swing lesson, 8-9 Two Step (whatever that is) and then from 9-10:30pm for 3 dollars extra, there is a dance, where we can practice our skills! All for 20 dollars (plus the 3 for the dance part, but don't think i will be going to that on my very first lesson, but we will see) I pray that I will not chicken out after my first lesson. West Coast Swing is a very difficult dance to do (from what I have seen) but I am so up for the challenge and I know God will be there helping me all the way!

God Bless you all!

Hmmmmmmm

I got this quote in my inbox for today January 17th and i thought it was very cool so I thought I would share it.

We must know that as His children, He's going to allow problems even when we are in the centre of His will.
~Sandy Edmonson

Update...

It turns out I did not get that job at the dollar store because I was told to go in on Tuesday when the janitor's wife (one of the managers) was working and talk to her. Well I did that, but she said that the people got hired yesterday. She told me to come in on Tuesday when she was working to talk to her about it.... she wasn't too happy that they had hired people, but I got the feeling that they won't be there too long because her husband said that to me. So I don't know..we will see... If it is in God's will that I get this job, great..if not..not much I can do.. I can't change God's will.

Which brings me to a question regarding God's will.... When things go really badly for example, when families split apart, number 1: is that God's will? and number 2: If it is God's will, than why would that happen? God wants unity in families, so why would they split up? It is someting I am struggling with in my own family life right now (not my parents guys, don't worry). I need to know some clear answers about this, if any of you have any thoughts please don't hesitate to comment. Thanks so much.

God Bless

When one door closes....

.....God opens another.

This is so true in my life. I was very excited about the news that I was going to be working for my college as a student assistant, but then my excitement turned to sadness after a week because I was informed that I had to be taking a minimum of 2 courses to have this job. I am only taking 1 course this semester. So I didn't get the job...

HOWEVER.. My mother informed my that the janitors wife (the janitor works at Cariboo Church) works for a dollar store at Lougheed Mall and they are hiring people. They just lost 2 employees. So he (the janitor) wants me to bring a resume in and he will put a good word in with his wife (one of the hiring staff). AND it will be MORE hours and the starting rate is 9 dollars an hour, whereas the job at Douglas would have been 8.15 an hour and 15 hours a week..So God closed one door and opened another for me right away. So I only will be going approximatly a week without work. Praise the Lord!