On My Mind

Hello all. There have been a lot of things on my mind lately. Like how much I love coffee and how much I don’t want to get addicted to it. And how awesome storms are when it’s super dark out and there are raindrops on your window and you can hear the thunder. Boom.
Anyway- this is a super awesome 2 minute video. Would you please watch it before you read the rest of this post? Otherwise you may not understand what I’m saying… or writing. Whatever.

Lately I was wondering what I would do if I had to evangelize to someone. More specifically, what would I say if they asked me “Why does God let bad things happen to good people?” I know that God gives you the words to say in the right moment, but sometimes I am very slow to listen. A few days later I got a newsletter from Living Waters with that ^ specific movie in it. Boom. I love it when God answers me when I didn’t even ask Him something. That’s like, so cool. :D
I also found these awesome verses when I was reading Job the other day. “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.” Job 5:17-18 (KJV)

In a way I guess this also applies to the above thoughts. In another way it reminds us that even when we fail, God has a plan. Sometimes I think that we have to fail, so that we know who is actually good. I think sometimes our past, our pride, our temptations have to wound us so that God can heal us. What do you think?
Thoughtfully,
Tirzah

Half and Half

Here at Dedicated Christians we are really big into evangelism.  And I completely agree with that.  A word of caution though, when sharing the precious gospel with non believers, please make sure you know what you're saying.  Especially if the person you're talking to has no predetermined ideas about Christianity, because you will be the one creating those preconceived notions.  No pressure.

I had the opportunity a while back to have a very sobering yet joyous conversation with an acquaintance of mine who is slowly turning into a friend.  She's a spunky young woman who is searching.  She came over to my house to spend the night.  At 11pm she got the urge to straighten my hair with the flat iron, "just to see what it would look like".  The next thing I know, I'm plopped down in a chair, yawning my head off as a hot piece of metal comes frighteningly close to my ear.  Suddenly she asks, "So I don't really get the whole Christian thing, I mean, I know we're all sinners, but then what's the point, if we're already going to hell?"
-1st thought: I am SO glad you asked
-2nd thought: What a weird time and place to share the gospel......
Whatever I told her about what I knew to be true was going to dictate not only how she viewed me, but also how she responded to "religion" from now on.  I told this woman the truth, the truth about the the gospel, the WHOLE gospel.  And I can only pray she finds what she's looking for in God. 

And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.  
Mark 4:26-27

I know too many people whose hearts had been hardened to the truth because of the hypocrisy and self righteousness of some believers.  And I've also met too many people who have only heard half of the gospel.  That saddens me because the half of the gospel that breaks down, leaves you broken down unless the healing part is included.  The opposite is equally as dangerous.  Only giving half the gospel is like tilling the ground but not planting the seeds.    
Please, when you share your faith, make sure you don't share one half without the other.  Walk to walk and be genuine.  With the gospel it's either all or nothing.

   

It's needs to be God

Hello,
Have you ever heard a song that was cool, but didn't really mean that much to you at that time? Have you ever hear that song again, in a different time in your life, and it seems to totally change it? That has just happened to me! I have been very frustrated lately about my inability to be "good" at sharing the gospel with people for three reasons. First of all, I am a fifteen year old girl! its not like I can (or should) go out and witness to the homeless man on the street corner. Number two, when ever I get the chance, it seems like I get flustered and do a bad job. And number three, I am afraid that that person will think that Christians are all "weird" like me and be closed minded about it all. So I usually just skip it, and hope that someone who is better at it will get the chance! But recently I feel like God has been teaching me to "get out of my comfort zone", and do the right thing, whether it is "good" or "comfortable" or "easy". Which is, as you can probably tell, really stretching for me! Now, here is the story I have to tell...

...The other day, I was given an opportunity to talk to a girl about what I believe, who Christ is in me, and how He has changed my life. She was full of questions, some of which I couldn't answer! It was really a challenge for me. I mean, I had trusted, and obeyed God! Why didn't He help answer her (and my) questions? I felt like a fool! I started to pray and ask God for direction, wisdom, and the words to answer her questions. I asked several people that I trusted how they would answer her! I was very blessed to be given so much help (especially one person) to answer the questions, and clear up my mind. Sometimes, you just need to hear the truth, even if you already "know" it. But I still had the excuse that I didn't have the "confidence" and "resolve" to talk to her ( what a LAME excuse, I was almost to embarrassed to tell you guys)! But God gave me grace, and a song. ;D

For me, as you can see, it was my pride that needed to be changed. I needed my mindset of "I can't do this" to " God can, and is doing this THROUGH me". But I realized it is not me, its HIM, and ONLY HIM that can truly answer, forgive, and live in her.
Thank you for reading, and God bless,
Gracie