A girlfriend of mine, Jess, just wrote an interesting and very "real" post and it made me think about how I need to more often write and update all of you that I don't get to see, spend time with or even know. I usually post little things about the kids or try to be funny like my sister Liz. reading Jessica's post made me realize that I can too be "real" online from time to time. Random thought: I wonder how many people would ever find this blog that didn't have the last name (or maiden name) Pike or Pluth. Anyway, her post has inspired me to post that peers into my soul and the person I quietly (ironic) am.
Last week I was on my way to visit my brother Robert at his work and waiting at a red turn light I looked down as my phone buzzed. Normally I am the type of person, when at the front of the line, I see the green and go for turn signals as they last 4 seconds and there is a line behind me! I see who has emailed and ignore it because I see my arrow is green. Across the way I see stopped cars and I wonder to myself how many seconds of a green arrow I wasted! As I start to go, from the corner of my eye, I see a car flying through the intersection. I lay on the horn as I simultaneously slam on my brakes. He doesn't even slow down as he literally misses my awesome MINI-van (another post) by a millimeter. I look at my light again, to make sure I didn't do anything wrong, and it is still a green ARROW. At that moment I wasn't mad at the guy but instead my second thought was, "Thank you lord for the hedge of protection you placed around me and for the email that caused me to pause for longer than I normally would have so that I would miss being hit." Life is precious and I need to share my faith with everyone but especially those I love, now. That was a catalyst for my reflecting on my active sharing...
This week I have been staying at my mom's house with her guys as she travels to visit my Grandma Dawn, who is not feeling as spry as she has been. Visiting the ER 7 times in the past two months isn't fun and speaks. Because I was slated for Jury Duty I was blocked off my work schedule which is a HUGE blessing because I was removed from Jury Duty (due to previously being summoned 2 years ago. Fact: You can only be summoned once every 4 years) which has allowed me to take off early from work to meet the guys here which allows my Mom, Barb, to be able to be away and spend time with her mom.
One of the things my Mom always thinks about as she visits is where her Mom is going when she dies. Will she accept Christ as her Lord and Savior on this trip? Having been thinking about this, on Sunday in our small church I brought up how I was convicted that I didn't explicitly share my faith enough. Fact: It isn't difficult for me to share my faith. I have always assumed I am a seed planter. You know, there are those that plant the seeds and prepare the hearts that will one day accept Christ and then there are those that help harvest. The harvest is when that person actually accepts Christ as their Lord an Savior. Because I have only led a few people to Christ in my life it would appear I am a seed planter...until I realized on Sunday that I rarely share the steps with others. In Christ I am bold in talking about my faith but weak in asking for the decision.
I prayed that this week I would be BOLD in love and in a real way. That I would take opportunities and not let them pass for who knows how many days we have with each person or ourselves. This week I have had two opportunities to share my faith in a pronounced way. One with my friend Jess who is struggling after her divorce and seeking. Another is tomorrow night I am going to watch the movie "The Passion of Christ" with another girlfriend. I have been saying "let's watch it together" for over two years and have never made the time. Always a good excuse. Travel. Kids. Work. Birthing another kid:) etc. This will be another platform for discussion and it is an amazing movie filled with truth and a very real demonstration of Christ's love for us. Kendra knows where I stand, and has always been respectful and open. She has attended my Bible Study and come to church with me but is still searching. Who knows she may even read this post. My hearts desire, Christ's desire is for her to know and experience Jesus in her life, personally.
May I demonstrate God's love to those I meet and know. May he use me to show unconditional love (that's hard!) and to live out that love to those I meet. May others know I am "different" and that is because of my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
