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!

God's Wonderful Blessings

I am sitting here at my work right now (on lunch) and I am listening to a song called "He will Carry me" by Mark Schultz. Such a wonderful song. It got me thinking about the many blessings that God gives me each day:

- A wonderful family whom I love dearly
- My health
- A roof over my head
- A wonderful job (which ends January 6th because of Christmas Kettles being over) and the blessing that I have a job to go after that is over (At the college that I go to..well..not the right campus..but its closer to my house)
- Wonderful friends

Overall he gives me a reason to smile each day!

A wonderful story about his many blessings happened yesterday....

It all started yesterday when my friend picked me up after work and we went for a drive and talked. That was really nice and it was relaxing after a long day (payroll for 8 hours straight). and he gave me a Christmas gift which was a plaque that has the verse "3 John 1:2 "Dear friend I pray that everything may go well with you" That made me very happy because the plaque is beautiful and it is a very nice scripture too.

Anyways, after that he dropped me off at Reitmans so I could buy something with my gift certificate I got for Christmas (i was getting something for a formal i am going to on Friday) and it was worth 20 dollars..the subtotal was under 20 and it had to be 20 and over, which i did not know. so anyways, I had to pick something else and hope that it came to a LITTLE over 20..well it came to 24 something (1 pair of striped socks and 1 pair of earrings at 1.99 a piece and then a sweater) and I had the 20 and maybe a few dollars in my bank account. So we did a transaction to pay for the 4 dollars with my bank card, well it didn't go through because of insufficient funds..so they put 2 dollars on it..so it went through. I was a little worried because I didn't have ANY cash on me and so I called my mom to see if she could come rescue me but she was in bed with a migraine (she had gotten up early that day because of my grandpa). so she couldn't come rescue me, which was fine, she needed to rest.

So I told the lady that I would have to come back the next day to get it, ahd she said "you know what? Merry Christmas. I'll pay the difference" She was so nice to pay the extra 2 or so dollars. I said "God Bless you" and I left the store smiling so widely. It was so nice of her to do that.

God is so good!

Derek in Australia

Hey everyone!
Check out the blog by my friend Derek Craddock! He is in Australia for 6 months, and he has a blog that he keeps up to date with his adventures. He is off to India and Napal til February.

Check it out ^_^

Sacrifice

Sometimes we have to sacrifice wonderful things just so we can please God. This is very important to sacrifice your lives to please God. Very important.

Tonight I was offered the chance to go to Summerland for the New Year (from the 30th of December to the 1st). Previously planned was a Huge Worship Bash to ring in the New Year at my church. I was so torn because I love Summerland (and seeing it in the winter would be amazing) but I also loved the idea of ringing in the New Year with a big bang. Worshipping God through music to ring in the New Year is a great BIG bang I think. So I had to turn down the trip to Summerland because I knew that there would be drinking there... and I don't want to go against my covenant... I don't know if I would be tempted to drink if i went and......well... I don't like that too much... I get uncomfortable around people who drink....so I had to turn it down.

I turned down a great trip to Summerland because of my convictions (i think thats the right word)

I had to sacrifice..its a tough decision to make.

Edited December 23rd to change wording.

What does it mean to be yoked?

What does this mean? Does it mean not to date/marry someone? Or does it mean that you shouldn't fall into a trap of sin when u are with them (friendship or intimate relationship)?

I was talking to a friend of mine about this issue today because it is something I am struggling with really badly right now. I do not want to give details about who he is or anything like that because this is a public blog and such... but I am crazy about this guy, and I mean crazy. Like slip a straight jacket on me and put me in a padded room. We is so astounding when we talk and we find out that there is yet another thing we have in common. Only thing we don't have in common is our faith.

So the Bible says:
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (New International Version)
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

I hear this, and I understand it, but what I am struggling with is the question of "What if your heart is contradictory to this, and it is so overpowering?" My heart totally wants something that is contradictory to what the Bible says, but my heart is much more overpowering than my head.

So my question for you all to answer in my comments is "What do you do when your heart is feeling what is contradictory to what the Bible says?"

Funny Tidbit for today

Hey everyone
I have a brilliant blog I am working on but won't post it til later because its not done yet and I am getting really tired and am feeling a little ill...so i am off to bed soon..but I thought I would tell u a funny event of the day.

My mom and I went for a walk (before the snow came) down to the candy store in New West. Great store... well I bought some candy and a bottle of vanilla cream..well...this bottle looks like a beer bottle....dark brown... I was wearing my Salvation Army toque also...so here I was walking up the street drinking this bottle of vanilla cream with my toque on...I put it away because people driving by might have thought it was something else....

If you don't find it funny then maybe it was one of those "you had to be there" types of things.. my mom and i found it hysterical.

I will post a picture tomorrow or the day after...I have been quite busy lately.

Good night all! God Bless

The Wind VS God's Love

Have u ever heard the saying about Wind being compared to God's love? "You can't see it but you feel it" ???

Well looking at this weather that happened today, I felt God's love in a BIG way today.... lol

Tiera Janae Isbell

Congratulations to my friend Alie! She had a baby this morning at 3:55am. After 17 hours of labour her baby finally came! There were pictures, but the family and friends that were with her for those 17 hours are way too tired to fix and send pictures right now, so the pictures wll have to wait, but for now here is the information:

Tiera (pronounced like Tear-Ah) I am not sure how it is going to be spelled yet, but Alie described the name like that because the baby was the cry of her heart.....how sweet.. She was born at 3:55am, she was 8 lbs 6 oz and 54 cm long!

Congratulations Alie!

Youth Councils

I don't think I will go into detail quite yet about youth councils. There is just too much to say and not enough time for me to say it to you viewers quite yet. But for now, here are some photos that I took (some of my friends and then some of the wonderful beach that I spent 2.5 of the 4 hours that we got for free time down there ^_^

Isaiah

My mind has pretty much been on school these last few days (and thinking about a special guy friend I have..hes pretty awesome!) but I have decided that it is time I show more pictures of Isaiah (my cousin...) So here he is ^_^

Next up will be pictures from Youth Councils ^_^ (mostly the beach heh)

God is good ^_^

Christmas anyone?

I joined the Christmas Choir at my church, and we had our first rehersal on Thursday. I must say I really enjoyed it. We were reminded who we are doing this for. Its not for the congregation, but its for God. That put a smile on my face. Not only that, but I have been going through a hard time with some stuff in my life, and I have been really down and going to the rehersal and singing Christmas songs really made me really happy.

Christmas really makes me happy. It just makes me smile so much, everytime I think of it, it makes me smile. Jesus was born on that day, and later died for me. That just puts a big smile on my face.

Bring on the Christmas music! ^_^

Friends

I read this tonight, and it has encouraged me through this rough night.

"Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family."

Proverbs 18:24