Encouraged!

This was a great weekend  for many reasons. The Lord really helped me to refocus. I was reminded a time in my life when I didn't know Christ, and how difficult life was. Feelings of depression, low self-worth/self-esteem, bad relationships were constantly dealt with. How does Christ make us different? He has most definitely given me a purpose, an identity, something to live for. I think as Christians we really need to take time to encourage each other with what we see God doing! That's what makes our faith stronger.. when we have some reassurance that He's really doing AMAZING things.

I was encouraged this weekend to hear the stories of some peoples' lives. To hear stories of God's perfect timing is such a powerful thing. I think I tend to do relationships differently than most people. God has made me completely uncomfortable and unable to do superficial/fake relationships. I am constantly hungry to get to know people on a deeper level and what makes a person who they are! I was discouraged for a little bit this weekend because I learned how resistive people are to relationships like that. Vulnerability can be such a scary and uncomfortable thing. I feel the need to continue to ask people hard questions- If we never do, then people become too comfortable in this superficial life. GO Deep or go home :).

I was also encouraged by people in the house church I have been going to. They share this desire to serve and seem to be very proactive about. We realize we are very ignorant and uninformed about certain issues regarding poverty, but instead of being passive- I felt challenged tonight to really do my research. Social Justice is so much more than caring for the poor. It's really about EMPOWERMENT. How can we look at this cycle of poverty and stop it before it starts or stop it from being something that is easy to fall back into. I don't have the answers, but I know that instead of doing the easy thing like writing a check- We may need to step up and actually invest in people. Time is so valuable and when we work 40-60 hours/week.. our free time is even more precious. Mother Theresa amazed me because she had the strength to do this on her own and empower other people. I would love to be a part of community of believers that does this together and encourages each other along the way.  I really desire to find my own "Calcutta" and really be Jesus' hands and feet to make a little Heaven here on Earth. I think I have started to get there, but there comes a time where we stop talking/typing about it and get out there and do it. I think we need community and people inn our lives to challenge us to do so. I am grateful for the Lord for providing that for me.