Jori and I in Downtown
"Can you take our picture, please?" "No, they want the sign. Here just let me do it."
It is so funny how I was expecting to come on a trip to have fun and just vacation and yet God decided to show up. I've learned so much in just the few days I've been here. I met some of Melissa's friends from college who I loved and they just amazed me. They are so led by the Spirit and understand the love and grace of the Father. Then I went with Jori to her church and got to experience God in a new way.
It's so different here in Portland, yet God is still the same. I went on a walk this morning and just had a good little, okay long, conversation with God. I just realized how much my view of Him has grown. We as people are all different, but as believers we all worship the same unchanging God. Being around people who don't judge and view God as part of everyday life-not just at church-is so amazing, especially in such a dark place. We had what they call "Gospel Community" last night and it was just time to fellowship and grow as a body of believers. We then spent over 30 minutes in prayer, just lifting our hearts up to the Father, praying for each other, the lost, the hurting, the saved. To be honest, they pray sooo much here, so much more than I am used to in Arkansas, it was almost uncomfortable at first. Then I realized how amazing it was. Just spending time talking with our heavenly Father. That is neglected so often and it doesn't need to be.
Coming here I realize that we are all different. No one has it perfectly right. We all have our flaws, but we also have our success in the Lord. We see growth and God shining through. We see Him in our lives, we see the fruit He is producing, we see His love through others, we see Christ reigning. We see God.
I want to love people, I want to show them the love of Christ. It's a love that passes all understanding. It does not judge or condem, but it lifts up, it forgives, it shows grace. I want the people in the Bible Belt to realize that our lives don't need to be legalistic, but they need to be LOVE. We need to abide in Christ, not the world, not ourselves, not even the law. Those who have lives that we might not necessarily agree with, shouldn't be judged, but be shown love-for they are blind, they don't have the Holy Spirit guiding them. People need to see the change in us as believers, as followers of Christ. Something needs to be different about us. People need to see Christ in us-not the world. My prayer is that I can love those around me and show them the love of Christ. I want to show them how Christ has changed my life. He is my life and that's how I should live. It isn't a Sunday morning and Wednesday night thing, but an everyday, every moment-a lifestyle. I am where I am for a reason and I have my story for a reason, so people can see how Christ changed my life and how HE can change theirs. It is ALL about CHRIST-not about us. I want the world to know this. I want the world to know Him-to know that HE is the only one who saves and that He is the only one who can give us life, purpose, peace and joy. My heart is breaking for the lost. But I have such faith the Christ can and will save. He will change the hearts of so many. I'm excited for what He has in-store.
Yeah we totally went here...soo good!!
Beth and I before the wedding!
