it’s His story…

So, I just spent over an hour waiting in line to get gas.  Why??  It is 1am! 
I thought I’d be slick and sneak out late to get some gas but apparently I wasn’t the only one who had that thought.  It is crazy out there.  I almost fell asleep because I am so tired.  I read some of Perry Nobles blogs (I’ll be posting some that I read), emailed some friends, read my Bible, took a short nap, …  Seriously.  Then  when I got up to the front of the line, I saw that the sign was blanked out and I almost panicked.  But then I saw that the cars were still moving but only half of the pumps were being used.  And then, there were the people filling up their extra cans.  Is that fair?!  It would be if I had a can to fill but I didn’t, so I don’t really think it was fair.  The guy behind me told me not to “drink it all”.  This is insane.  Send us some gas already. 

So, the last two days have been full of kids.  Yeah!  :-)  I got to see the two kids I nannied a couple of years ago.  They are now 2 & 4 and it has been awesome to see them grow and be a very small part of their lives.  I started watching Alaina when all she could do is lay in one spot.  Then she started doing the army crawl, crawling, pulling herself up, etc.  It’s crazy how much fun you can have playing with a baby and how long you can stay entertained.  The first time I heard her talk, I hadn’t seen them in awhile.  She dropped her blanket so I picked it up for her and she said, “thank you”.  Wow!  So, this weekend we had a little conversation.  I just looked at her thinking about how much she’s grown and it blows me away.  Her brother Jay is the smartest little boy I’ve ever met.  He said he was a scientist.  Haha!  He’s always some superhero or characted but today he was just a scientist.  Their parents blow me away- I’ve told the mom that when I have kids, I’m going to send them to her house so she can train them and then send them back to me.  I have never seen such happy and well-behaved kids.  Wow.  More on that another time.
So, then yesterday I got to take Madison to church with me.  Woo-hoo!  We got to wear our pj’s and it was so fun seeing the kids and adults in their fashionable attire.  We ate doughnuts, played games, sang songs, and made pillowcases.  They were allowed to draw anything on their case and Madison drew a cross!  It just reminded me of how much a life can be affected if you invest the time, ask God for the opportunity, and share Jesus with others.  And to see the way kids grow and change… it’s definitely one of the reasons God created me.
Here are a few pictures.

    
When was the last time you were reminded of an impact you’ve made?

Do you remember when you were younger and every friend you made was your “new best friend”??  It was instant and it was going to last forever… until the next day when something dramatic happened, like they spent more time with another friend or didn’t share their oreos at lunch.  Bringing back memories?!  My best friend in 2nd grade lived fairly close so we spent a lot of time together and we were super special friends because we had the same middle name, “Dawn”.  Well, I honestly have no idea what we got into a fight about but I remember one day saying to her in a really mean voice (or as mean as a little short, skinny, and freckled 7 year old can be), “We’re not friends anymore!  Just forget my phone number!!”  Hahaha!  The funniest part about it is that our numbers were only different by one digit.  What was I thinking?  And the best part is that we were friends all through school, lost touch after graduation, ran into each other 7 years later and still keep in touch!  (And wow, God is really using that girl!)
So, I’ve noticed as I’ve gotten older that not many people use the term “best” before friend anymore.  Why is that?  Do we think it’s childish or what’s the reason?  Tonight, two of my friends and I were out eating dinner when one of them said she had referred to me as her “best friend Lindsay” to someone else.  I can honestly say I was shocked, excited, and touched all at once!  She called me her best friend!  To tell the truth, it made me feel awesome and still does!  They baoth are my best friends and I knew that… why have I never told them?
As I sit here, I can’t help but think of how Jesus feels when someone calls Him their best friend.  He must get so excited and happy!  But the BEST part about it, is that Jesus Christ calls us HIS Best Friend FOREVER!  WOW!  It always blows me away to think of how huge God is to have created the entire Universe but He’s so personal that He knows every single thing about every one of us… and He loves us unconditionally.  Now, that’s what I call the BESTEST friend in the whole wide world!!!

Have you told anyone lately that Jesus is your BFF??  Have you told Him?

Wow!  So I just got an email from a dear new friend.  First I have to tell how we met…  It was the Labor Day Retreat with my church and DJ “Tanner” was playing old school music.  Out of the corner of my eye, I see this guy doing a silly dance.  I mean really silly.  I walked over to him and told him my friend wanted to dance but none of us did and since he was obviously already dancing, he should go dance with my friend.  His response?  “My tummy hurts”.  Seriously?!  And I actually think that that word came out of my mouth!  :-)  Later on, we laughed about him saying that and what a lame (but he says true) excuse it was and became instant friends.  And now our friends are becoming friends.  Wow- God sure does answer prayers in an unexpected way!
Okay, so fast forward.   I just received an email from him and he’s asking for prayers.  See, he is a DJ and had the opportunity to speak to the worship leader at the retreat.  Long story short, they are meeting tomorrow to discuss a new music project!  He said, “I think God may be puttin me to work for Him now, in the way I was made for”.  Wow. Wow. WOW.  God is using his talent as a DJ and teaming him up with an amazing worship leader and they are going to change lives for Jesus through their God-given talents!  WOW. 
So, I ask that you all be praying for my good friend…  God, please bless dj tD’s and Aaron Keyes first meeting tomorrow.  Let their faith expect and trust in Your God-size results.  Use them to reach others for Your Kingdom and bring glory to Your awesome name!  Amen! 
No matter what we are doing- our jobs, our activities, our friendships…  God can use us if we are willing to use what we have and have FAITH that He will do the rest and use us in bigger ways than we could ever dream of for ourselves!!!

Are you doing what God made you for?

It has been forever since I wrote… life changed and I wasn’t ready for it.  I graduated college (FINALLY!), left my passion and got a job )-: , and quickly realized that Atlanta will always be my home, no matter how much I think I want to move.
So here I am again.  Getting back to the things I love and haven’t had time for.  722 tonight made me realize that…  God created me to be who I am- as an individual with interests, talents, and a purpose and passion for life.  It’s crazy how things of this world can suck the life out of you so quickly you don’t know what hit you. 
God, please don’t let me lose focus on You.  Let me remember why I am here every single day and let me be intentional in every single thing that I do!!!  It’s by Your grace alone that I am here.
Have you been letting life get in the way??