Outflow

What a FANTASTIC Labor Day Weekend. The Lord has definitely been just rejuvenating my sound through friends and fun. Friday night, I went to the Rascal Flatts concert. It was the best concert I have ever been to and it was such a blessing to bond with Marti (I rent a room in her house). Then, Saturday I slept in and then went to the Waterloo outlets for some shopping. This had been on my Rochester to-do list, and it was a great time. In the evening, I went to a friend's home in the city for a bar-b-que. It was a fun time and a great chance to meet so many new people! Plus, I made Banana Bars on Friday for the event and they were a delicious taste of home:)

The weather here as been getting cooler! It almost feels like Fall. I must admit, while I am in no way happy to see summer go, I am eager for the cozy and crisp feeling of Fall. At 7 am this morning, I embarked on a 10 mile run with two friends as we prepare for the last leg of our training for the Rochester Half-Marathon next Sunday!!! We ran along the canal and in that 90 minutes, I just felt God's presence. He assured me that I am where I need to be right now and he asked me to keep pursuing him, even when it hurts. So then, I went to church.

Once again, I felt God taping on my shoulder. For months now, I've been praying that God would help me to be less self-focused and more others-focused. I wish I could say I no longer think about myself and solely think about others....but that would not be true. But my heart is eager to live an authentic, natural life of serving others that pours out my love for Christ. So, as I was sitting in church today, it was ironic that the pastor announced the next series would be title Outflow...and there is a study book that the congregation was encouraged to follow. As I purchased the book, I had to think...God is really listening. I want to be the hands and feet of Christ. I don't always want to choose the comfortable or easy path because it is best for me. I just pray that through the next year, I will see a difference.

I remember in high school, there was one Christian guy who was the most kind and compassionate male I have ever met. He was in the school bible study. Everytime I saw him though, I thought to myself, "I don't want him to be nice to me just because he feels bad for me...or is trying to sell faith to me, because he doesn't know I am a believer." It's sad that I thought that way, because his intentions probably were genuine. But I have to think about what other non-believers think when Christians reach out to them. I think that it is only through a genuine and intimate relationship with Christ, that we begin to overflow into others naturally. Not in a way that makes them feel like we are just doing our Christian duty, but we do it in a way that says...."You are worth it. I want to get to know you. I see great things in you." And that is why I pray that through delving into my relationship with Christ...I could find that balance and outflow naturally into the lives of others. Through social work I have found...this life is definitely not about me. It is about each person who is a child of God. In the words of a song on my IPOD, "We all need saving sometimes." It's about being vulnerable with others and living life together. Lord, please show me what it means to love people in the most genuine way possible.