Impact by Transparency :: Mentoring Moments

   Making an impact on the next generation sounds difficult, maybe even risky for those of us who don't have kids of our own. You might wonder, what do I have to offer that a kid who's 11 years younger than me might learn from or would someone that young really enjoy hanging out and living life with me? Sure, it might take some extra creativity on your part to look for extra fun things to do, but in the end just living life in a real way with those who are younger is enjoyable for both you and them. It gives them a chance to see how a person functions in the world, with a family, and as an individual. This is especially the case if your mentoring an at risk youth who maybe has never seen or known a functioning family, someone who can hold down a job, or even graduated high school.


  As a young single person, finding worthwhile things to invest in outside of yourself can always be a stretching...let's face it, most of our life people (parents, teachers, pastors, friends) are usually focused on investing in us with sometimes little to no return on our part. In preparation for your future, for most of us that means marriage, start the process now of learning self sacrifice.  Use your single years to advance the gospel in the lives of those around you.

   This is a path I have chosen, living a transparent life for the glory of God and the proclamation of His gospel. About a year ago I joined Ignite Youth Mentoring, a faith based organization who's purpose is "...providing youth in the Tri-Cities adult role models of Christian Character." I was matched with a sweet, fun, and vibrant 8th grade girl who has opened my eyes a whole new world. We've been able to share some special times together...everything from swimming lessons to bike rides, a trip to Spokane to painting nails together. It's forced me to get outside my perfect box of middle class, college graduate, and having no needs to see that others right in my back yard are living a life much different than mine. Though she and I may not always be the most talkative...I always come away wondering what more can I do to steer her in a good direction in life.

   Sure, there's been times when it's been difficult. I'm not going to lie, I've doubted whether or not I'm making an impact. I've wondered if maybe she's not enjoying our times together. I've wondered if there's more I should be saying about the Gospel, abstinence, drugs, and friends. Though I probably have room to grow in ALL these areas, realizing that God is going to use any measure of my time spent with her to it's fullest is where I have set my camp up at. Remembering it's not my work (see the self focus there??), but rather it's Christ. CHRIST will use my smallness for His GREATNESS...no matter the road taken. Now, does this give me an excuse to slack off? By no means... rather it encourages me to do more so that my smallness will grow larger resulting in His greatness being shown even greater. 

<3<3Finding humor in our time together<3<3

   Transparency will become your best friend. Being willing to share about your life, your failures and successes, your joys and sorrows will take you far in gaining trust in those you live life with. Likewise, with mentoring, even young people can sense when your being real with them. My goal as become to be an impact on the people in my life by being transparent. Not being ashamed of who I am, how God has made me, and that I am here on this earth for one purpose which is to glorify Christ.






~::~Solus Christus~::~

~**Glorying in the Gospel**~

  
The gospel of Jesus Christ is so wonderful and awe inspiring. Sunday's sermon was on the gospel...yesterday I was greatly encouraged by a video I watched on distinguishing law from gospel...and today I meditated on what the gospel is and how it has impacted my life during devotions. May the below prayer encourage you to focus on the person and work of Jesus Christ who is the gospel itself.


Gospel Prayer

     Thank you Lord for coming as a sinless baby, living a life of perfection unmatched and a billion times greater than even the most heroic figure we can think of. Help me to grasp how much pain and hardship you went through as you prepared yourself to humbly be taken and tried in a court of law that condemned You, a perfect sinless man, to the worst death, a death saved for the scum of the earth. God, thank You for separating Yourself from your most beloved so that I could might come to know you. Thank you for raising Your Son from death and fulfilling the prophecies of old that said He would rise three days after death. I am in awe that you sent the Holy Spirit to be Your earthly presence that would convict me of my sins and draw me to You. May I daily be reminded that without You, I am nothing...I would be enslaved to sin. Because of Your great love, I can now call you Abba Father! May Your praise be continually on my lips.

-Amen-

 ~**~

   ~Gospel proclamations proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior

   ~ The Gospel allows us to be free from the weight of having to be perfect. Christ cvers us with His perfection!

   ~ "In the gospel, God comes after us because we need him not because he needs us. Only the gospel can free us to revel in our insignificance." - Tullian Tchividjian

   ~"For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh..." - Romans 8:3

Bought with a Price - A Story of Redemption: Lecrae

   

   Glorifying God through our actions...

   Glorifying God through our speech...

   Glorifying God in the Morning, Noon, and Night...

   Glorifying God in our career...

   Glorifying God in pain and suffering...

   Glorifying God when all we want to do is take glory for ourselves...

   Glorifying God because He gave us the ultimate gift, salvation from sin...

   Glorifying God is what we are called to, yet do we fully realize what that looks like? As I was browsing through my Facebook home screen I ran across a video post by Lecrae, a Christian Rap artist who writes theologically solid lyrics and has a passion for the Lord, in which he shared his testimony. I was encouraged. Coming from a life of abuse, drugs, rebellion in school, a broken family, and gangs he shares how he came to know God and eventually use his talents as a rapper to point others to Christ. He came to see God as the father he never knew; his ultimate roll model. He is quick to point out that those who are into rapping and listening to rap are definitely a culture of their own...and this is true. Though I am not a huge fan of rap music, I do occasionally enjoy listening to some Lecrae and Shai Linne...but that's not very often! With his music, Lecrae is able to reach into a whole different culture than what most white American Christians can. It is definitely a gift from God!

   I'd like to share with you today the video of Lecrae sharing his testimony. It reminds me to be thankful for all Christ has done for me, calling me out of darkness into light, making me His child, securing a place for me in Heaven, and ultimately giving me the ability to Glorify Him! 

   Today I'd like to encourage you to be taking active steps towards glorifying God with your life. Yes, you and I may not be a public figure, but we can still pursue Christ in a manner that others will see what He has done for us...He has given us Salvation from sin and separation from Him! Here or a few verses to encourage you in your walk with the Lord. 

    1 Corinthians 6:20 ~ "...for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

    Deuteronomy 31 7b-8 ~ “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

  Romans 8:28 ~  "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,^[a] for those who are called according to his purpose."  

    Romans 5:8 ~ "...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

   Acts 2:38 ~  "And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

    Also, if you have time, jump on over to the I Am Second website. Many amazing and neat testimonies are shared there. I know I will be taking a look at that site quite often!

Intentionality - The Way We Should Live Life

lifeonsugarhill.blogspot.com

  

  Living an intentional life, what does that exactly mean? Do we live our lives looking for ways to be intentionally sharing the gospel, eating right, working hard, making wise decisions with our money, and the relationships with others we have? Over the last few months, I've had to learn a lot about intentionality - starting work at 9:30 means I have more time in the morning to do my own thing, so instead of wasting the precious hours, I've decided to use them for working out, eating a healthy breakfast, and spending time in the bible. This is the first year where I finally feel like I have a winning morning routine, and let me tell you, it feels wonderful! These things didn't just fall into place though - especially my time in the word - they were all intentional decisions that I knew would benefit my physical and spiritual health in the long run.

    Much of life is this way, without intentionality, many things would never get done. Good example is the state of my bedroom - 95% of the time I never get in there to clean so it's a disaster zone - if I were to intentionally put aside time each day to work on it, it could be a dream to live in rather than a disaster! Below are some areas I've seen in my life I've had to work on and need to work on being intentional in. Let me tell you, for a person who flies by the seat of her pants half the time, intentionality doesn't come naturally...so as much as this is an encouragement to me, may it also encourage you!

Walk With the Lord

   A person's walk with the Lord is very personal, but we all know that getting into the Word each and every day takes perseverance and intentionality. We have to intentionally carve out time, pull ourselves away from the world around us, and take to heart what we read. When I was younger, I really thought that my time with the Lord had to be long and drawn out - I was leaning towards legalism - and that if it wasn't, I had failed in some way. As I've grown and matured in my walk with the Lord, I've come to realize that even if all I have is 10-15 minutes in a day, that is better than putting no time at all into my walk with the Lord.

   Something that really helped me in this area was a sermon series my pastor did back in the beginning of Fall last year. In the sermons series he talked about being a committed follower of Christ and that one of the signs of someone passionately pursuing Christ was their love for being in His word. Needless to say, at that time I was struggling just to get into scripture a couple of times a week. As I thought over his sermon though, Christ placed a desire on my heart to daily spend time with Him, my best friend. Oh how sweet it is to commune with my Lord. I can now say it has become one of my favorite times of day.

   I say all this - not out of pride, for it is not in my own power I am able to do this - rather, it is Christ who gave me the desire and the job (that gave me more time in the morning) to put into spending time with Him. Let me encourage you, intentionally follow Christ each and every day. Put in a CD with scripture being read while driving, use even moments in the bathroom (seriously) to read if needed, take time on your lunch break to delve into the Word....if you look, you'll find moments in your day you didn't know you had. You will find immense blessing in your walk with the Lord if you do so and your whole outlook on life will slowly start to change for the better. Sin will be revealed, the desire to confess the sin, and the ability to walk in God's grace will give you a peace that passes all understanding.

Health/Exercise/Eating      Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

   Sour gummy worms, french fries, frosting, chips, crackers, brownies, cupcakes.....I could go on and on about the junk food I like - seriously, my good friend Jessie and I will even talk about junk foods while working out! It's pathetic! With all that said though, as much as I love the taste of sour gummy worms (my most favorite candy), eating healthy has been a work in progress - produced mainly from some health issues I've faced and the realization that without them, I feel much better. Just because I know said foods aren't good for me doesn't mean I can automatically say no to eating them. I've had to intentionally, with the help of the Lord, put my mind to it and learn to walk away from foods I so strongly desire to eat. Being okay with eating vegetables for breakfast, salads at lunch and dinner, and few carbs gets easier over time - a long time - but realizing that struggle is a part of life and the pay off is worth it helps. You WILL see results once you start eating healthy within a matter of days - guaranteed.

   Eating healthy goes hand-in-hand with exercise. A quote from a friend of mine's brother that we've laughed at time and again is this, "Ab's aren't made in the gym, they're made in the kitchen!" - Laugh now, but it's true. You can work your abs - crunches, rowing, swimming, cardio - and if your not eating healthy you will won't see great results. I know this from personal experience! So, if your not into exercise and don't have a gym membership, remember, even getting out and walking a few times a week is better than nothing at all - do some push-ups, crunches, and lunges in your own home even! You can do it!!!! If you are into working out, good for you! Your heart and body will thank you now AND later in life! Combine your exercise with healthy eating habits and not only with the weight come off more quickly, you'll have better stamina and feel better overall.

    So, whether your a dreamer of exercising, a part time gym goer, or a committed endorphin junky, remember that where you want to be or where you are takes/took intentionality. Focus on scripture and the truths of His word while doing those things that are hard, and you will find a strength you didn't know you had.

Relationships   Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

   As a single person, your probably wondering what could I possibly have to say about relationships. I probably have quite a bit, not that any of it would make sense, but come on people - I'm a social person who thinks about relationships quite often! Now, we all know that relationships are more than just romantic...in fact, we are all in relationship with multiple people at all times in our life, maybe not lovey dovey ones, but the friendships with co-workers, church people,family, and whoever else we may let in to the more carefree side of ourselves all fall into the category of "relationships". Relationships must be intentional as well or else they will fall away, be superficial, and ultimately, the gospel will not be shown - both to believers and non-believers. All relationships need to be pursued with the gospel centrally focused in. As a believer, I know from scripture that my job is to proclaim the gospel, live in unity with my fellow bro's and sis's in the Lord, and take every opportunity to exhort and encourage those around me. Can all this be accomplished if we are lazily sitting at home, watching tv by ourselves? Let me spell the answer out for you - N-O ...it's just not possible. So, let me encourage you today to pursue someone today who you've maybe not talked to in a while, or that person you wish you could just know a little bit better. You will never regret it, especially if you do so in the name of the Lord and for His glory!


Work

   At the beginning of the school year I was blessed with a job at the local school district working with the disabled community. If you know anything about me and my love for those God has blessed a little differently in life than the average person, I was exhilarated. I felt like God had finally opened a door into a new path that would be exactly what I wanted (little did I know!). After 3 weeks of working at my new job, things got extremely difficult with one of my students who has sever autism. I felt threatened on a daily bases, my emotions were a roller coaster every day with the highest point never feeling very high and the lowest point being a constant flow of tears and I had no clue what I was doing or what I should be doing to help the situation.
   
   After struggling through the situation for a few months, never knowing if I would finish working with this student and come out physically unharmed, I began to realize that if I wanted to have a changed heart - I was feeling a strong dislike for my situation and student - I needed to be intentionally taking it to the Lord in prayer. At first I didn't even know what to pray for other than my safety, but eventually I began to realize that my main goal needed to be working with him in a way that the light of Christ would shine through my actions. I then began to pray for him specifically, and things began to change. I am praising God right now that though we still have rough times - okay, several of them - and though I still find it hard to make myself show up and work with him, there has been improvement and a new excitement in his eyes to work hard at his behavior. I have seen God answer un-prayed for prayers as well as prayed for ones...and let me tell you, we serve a faithful God.

   So, let me encourage you today, if your struggling to find fulfillment in your job, find it difficult to work with some of your co-workers, you wish you could be on a higher pay scale, or your a stay-at home mom who is struggling to raise your child(ren)- whatever it may be - intentionally seek the face of your King in prayer and He will be faithful to answer!

Transformed From Rebel Slave to Joyful Servant

“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.

 Martin Luther King Day....what does it make you think of? Perhaps your mind might wander to //slavery//, African Americans, cruelty, injustice, racism and a whole slew of other things. In all that this day stands for, and against, my mind takes me to the cross and the //freedom// from sin I found there in Jesus Christ.

//“There was a day when I died, utterly died, died to George Müller and his opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame of even my brethren and friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God” (cited in Slave, 153).//

 
   Called out of the bondage of our sin, we are //freed// from the shackles of all that held us to Satan. No longer do we shake our week fist at God and turn away from all that is pure; rather, we bow down to a strong and mighty King, ruler of all. Yet there remains a unique situation, under Christ we are still a //slave (Gr. doulos)//. How can this be? Haven't we been //freed//? Previous to our changed hearts under Christ, we were in forced //bondage//, living the life of a miserable renegade with a master who cared nothing for our well being. Now, our wild past is behind us and b Christ's saving power, we have enlisted into His army. Like the //slaves// in the New Testament who would sign himself over to his master after //freedom// had been given him, so is our new life in Christ. We are singularly devoted to Christ and have total dependence on Him.  We are joy filled, hope filled, and Christ filled! We are clothed in the best garment there is to offer, our Master's righteousness! We are His heirs, "...being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." - Titus 3:7.

   So, as we remember Martin Luther King Jr. on this relaxing day of vacation, remember even more Jesus Christ, the One who //freed// all form //slavery//...the greek, jew, blacks, whites...ALL are allowed to enter His Rest!

   I found the way Cripplegate explains this unique new life we are now apart of very helpful.

~Grace and Peace~

Affected by Disability - Why I {Love} These People

<3 Laura and Laura Mae 2007 <3

    
   My journey with those affected by disability began six years ago during a time in my life when I was going through a spiritually lean time- I was struggling with authority, trying to "catch" a boyfriend, experimenting with the wilder side of teen-hood, and definitely not wanting to hang out with the "misfits" of society. Just finishing my first year of college, I had a great desire to experience the world, break free from my parents, and ultimately, get out of the house. Using the tactic of, "I think now is the time to go on a missions trip", I started applying and planning my way of escape on the longest missions trip I could find...of course to my dream vacation location, Australia/New Zealand. God though, had different plans. My wise parents easily caught on to my ploy and quickly put the brakes on my aspirations and bravely faced the ensuing anger.{This makes me oh so much more thankful for them}

   After things calmed down, my mom began opening up the idea to me that yes, getting away for a couple of weeks in the Summer wouldn't be bad, but maybe choose something in the States. Agreeing to this, she then brought to me an idea that I will forever be thankful for..."Laura, why not work at a Joni and Friend's Family Camp?" At first I wasn't thrilled. Me! Spend time with "quirky" kids who drool and need to be served without giving anything back?! I decided I could do anything just to get out of the house for a while, so I agreed to go.

   I will never forget those two precious, life changing weeks.


   God immediately put me in the path of some wonderful girls who LOVED Him and radiated meek and gentle spirits. Next, I was placed with a sweet little girl who had Downs Syndrome. She was perfect for me, we even shared the same name! Her soft and gentle ways soon began to pull at my heartstrings and sooth my cracked and dry spirit. God was definitely working through this child! Just a couple of days after being with her, we were sitting on a swing together when God brought my sin to the forefront of my life. I will never forget that moment when I looked into this beautiful child's eyes and saw God's love for me more than I ever had before. It hit me, if God could perfectly love this child who the world viewed as imperfect mentally and physically, why had  I been questioning His love for me? Wasn't His grace and forgiveness large enough to extend to us both? I was elated! My life and soul now felt ready to be filled by Christ and His truth.

   Ever since then, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for those affected by disability. Though sometimes not the easiest people group to love, their lives can bless you just as much as you can bless them, if not MORE. Keep in mind, they are people just like you who need to know the freedom that can only come from Christ Jesus. Let me encourage you today to take the step, pursue someone outside of your comfort zone, and be willing to see the gospel shine and your life be blessed!

   ~Blessings~
      Laura

 

Gospel Filled {Love} - Loving Your Brother

 Hebrews 13:1-2 

  
1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

    As I look at my life - all the way back through middle school and beyond - I can remember specific people in my life who I consciously struggled to {love}. Maybe it's my personality (ultimately I know it's sin), but loving others is potentially one of my biggest struggles and to do so in a way that strives to be selfless is a double whammy. These people's names and faces will always be etched on my memory and I will always wonder how their lives or outlook on the Gospel would be different had I been a {loving} friend to them. As I encourage myself to take every moment captive, to {love} others from here on out, may you be encouraged that in Christ there is forgiveness and that there is no time like the present to start actively pursuing and {loving} others...even those who are hard to {love}. 

   As I was reading Hebrews 13 today, the first two verses stuck out to me and made me think more deeply on this topic that I've been wrestling with other the last couple months. Am I more apt to {love} the newcomer in church rather than {loving }those who are continually in my church body? Yes, we are extorted to {love} and show hospitality(a topic that I love), to strangers, but how can I {love} the way God commands if I'm not already {loving} those He's placed into my life. 

   Christ is our ultimate example of {love}. Imagine what He did to show us {love} from His perspective. Before coming to earth He was in //perfect// holy communion with God the Father. He was completely satisfied and took joy from just being able to look into His Father's eyes. As Sinclair Ferguson states in the book Holy Holy Holy , "Pure and intense {love} has more power to effect awe, even gracious fear, thank all terror." So, how did Christ show us ultimate {love}? By allowing Himself to be taken out of His face to face intimate relationship with God, He became flesh so that by His life, death, burial, and resurrection He could bring us into the same relationship He shared with God in the weakness of His(Jesus) flesh. Even in His weakness, the {love} he experienced with the Father is greater than any love we could know here on earth. Christ fave up all He had and enjoyed in order to show us unselfish {love}... not only that, He was willing to share that which He had given up. 

   With this at the forefront of our minds, can we honestly say that we {love} others? If we do not {love}, then the {love} Christ showed us which would ultimately bring us into union with Him and the Father, is dead to our life -null, void, not able to cause change, useless- 1 John 4:8 says we do not know God (share in an intimate relationship with Him) if we do not {love}. 

   So, if your wondering how to {love} in a Christlike manner, look up 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 which states...

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it his not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

      Here's a physical show of of {love} between two brothers.....multiply this {love} times an innumerable amount and then you'll have a grasp of how GREAT our Father's {love} is for us.