THE IMPACT OF ONE SENTENCE, ONE CONVERSTION, AND ONE PERSON

Today is one of those days that I feel inspired. Not only inspired to read and write, but I feel inspired to learn. It wasn’t just that I woke up and felt this way today. It wasn’t even that I felt this way because of the homework that I did and have to do (obviously). It was from something so simple and so unexpected.

I have a good friend of mine who I met while I was down in Charlotte. He is a high school senior and is a part of Elevation Church. He also started a movement in Charlotte of students called The Hope Design. It is a movement to awaken an entire generation and to give hope to people. This visionary leader’s name is Will Darden.

I traveled down south this past December for a leadership conference. I knew about The Hope Design prior to traveling down, but I wanted to find more out about it and what the vision was behind it. So I contacted Will via Facebook to see if we could set something up while I would be down in Charlotte for just a few days. He agreed to meet up at a local Starbucks for a few hours. I was excited to hear about what Jesus was doing in and through Will in the city of Charlotte and in the lives of other high school students.

It was great to meet a high school student who was such a strong leader and visionary. He knew there was more to life then just going through the motions of being a high school student. I was blown away as I heard his vision for The Hope Design and for his life. I remember sitting in Starbucks and as I was telling part of my story he was sitting their writing notes about me. I was shocked. My first thought was I don’t even know this kid and he is genuinely interested about what God is doing in me and through me.

Little did I know that months after meeting with Will that he would become such a huge encouragement, blessing, and friend to me. Each time that we catch up he is always encouraging me, as well as speaking life and vision into me. He has been praying for me and encouraging me ever since.

A few weeks ago I asked him to send me some more of The Hope Design bracelets, because friends and people I work with were asking me about them. He agreed to send me a few to pass out to friends and co-workers.

I just received a package today with the bracelets and a hand written note from Will. He encouraged me as a leader and as a person by speaking vision, encouragement, and life into me. I am so honored to have him as a friend and partner in ministry.

Don’t let today go by without speaking vision, encouragement, and/or life into someone. It is so vital that we look for opportunities to do this everyday. It could change the trajectory of someone’s life because of one sentence or one conversation that you speak to him or her today.

Tell someone how significant he or she is to you. Tell someone how he or she has impacted you. Do it today, now. Whether through a text, phone call, email, skype, facebook, twitter, or even over a coffee.

You could be that one person today who changes another person’s life. Be a part of the change.

Maybe you’re the person who needs the encouragement today. Know that you are loved. Know that you have significance. Know that there are people who love you more than you know.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13

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Start Building the Wall

Lately I can’t get enough of reading the book of Nehemiah. God has just really impressed this book on my heart. I have read it through now a few times and I just keep coming back to it. There is something about Nehemiah, as a leader, that keeps making me come back to read his story.

It has been great examining how God stirred Nehemiah’s heart with a vision. Then seeing what the vision was, and how he (Nehemiah) would put that vision into action; even with the opposition he faced from the critics.

They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah 1:3-4

Nehemiah had a burden for his hometown people. He knew that God was calling him to do something great. To do something that may seem insane, impossible, stupid, and even life threatening.

He would then go to King Arteaxerses (what a name!) to see if he would help him with this massive vision that God had placed inside Nehemiah to rebuild the Jerusalem wall that had been burnt down. This was risky to do.

For Nehemiah, it started with a simple burden for the people who were closest to him. He saw and felt the burden for the people. God didn’t put this vision inside of Nehemiah so he could wait for SOMEONE ELSE to do it. He placed it inside of Nehemiah so he could be the CATALYST to start it.

Nehemiah would go on to rebuild the city wall. He faced opposition throughout the entire building process.

Even when other leaders were scheming against Nehemiah and the people who were helping him, he wouldn’t back down. He wouldn’t listen to those outside voices no matter what they were saying.

They were trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”
Nehemiah 6:9

What burden has God placed inside of you? It may not be to build an entire wall around a city. However, it can seem that scary and intimidating even if it is something small. No matter what you feel God is prompting you to do…DO IT. Don’t let the critics talk you out of it. Pray that God would strengthen your hands to build your wall. Get other people involved with you like Nehemiah did. Those people, friends, and/or mentors can help you, encourage you, and support you.

Don’t let another moment go by with out beginning the process to build the wall God is calling YOU to start.

The Deactivation of Facebook

As I sit at my Kitchen table this morning drinking my french pressed coffee (mmmm...); I do not even know what to do with myself to a certain extent. Usually my morning consists of getting everything together for school, making some coffee, and then, of course, checking my Facebook. Whether it was on my computer or on my ipod. Every single morning I just had to take a look to see what the latest updates and notifications were.

Deleting Facebook was something that I thought long and hard about. It was not until I had some people in my life challenge me on the reasons why I did have it. Honestly, what they had to say was only part of it. When really sitting down to think about it....I realized a sobering thought. Facebook had become almost this addiction for me. Whether it was always being on it in class, or coming home and having that be the first thing I do. It was time for a change.

Facebook is something that can most definitely be used for good. For the most part I would say that I did use Facebook for good. However, it became something in which I was entangled in too many hours of the day. So, my apologies to those of you who did enjoy reading posts and what not of mine.

This blog will be a place where I plan to do more writing; that is with the free-time that I will now have! I will be posting stuff about my walk with Jesus, leadership, vision, stories, life, and things in between. I also want to be able to challenge you, the readers, with posts that I put on here. I do not just want this to be another blog in which people. I want to be able to give insight and speak into the people who do decide to read it.

Also anything that has been posted on my twitter you should all be able to see. It should on the right side of your screen. Therefore, if you would like to post those things on Facebook go right ahead! I greatly appreciate all the people who do read this and who read my Facebook posts. It is an honor to be able to speak into some of your lives. Thanks for reading...keep an eye out for updates. I plan to write 4-5 times a week.


MS

The Jesus Business Card

I currently work for a restaurant in Macomb Michigan called Shield’s Pizza. I do that to help pay for my schooling. I’m also on volunteer director of student ministry at my church (grades sixth through twelve).

I enjoy my job at Shields, well, most of the time. Many say that being a server is one of the worst jobs because of the people that you have do deal with. I understand that, but I also find many of the people fun and entertaining.

The other night was no exception.

I have always heard stories from other waitresses about them getting what they call “gospel cards.” They are cards/booklets that “Christians” leave on a table, accompanied by a sub-par tip, that state I am a sinner and need to repent. I always laughed when I heard these stories, because I had not seen these cards left behind before at a table.

Tonight was the night. I had a couple at this table that were pretty nice. The husband liked to joke around with me a little a bit, and the wife was pretty quiet. The time came for me to give the table their bill. As I came back to see if they had prepared to give the bill pack, with their PAYMENT only inside, the husband asked me a question.

“Have you ever seen a life or death card?” Immediately I thought he was about to introduce some kind life insurance policy. I said no, and honestly didn’t know if I wanted to.

He showed me the card.

Print on the front was the verse: “The wages of sin is DEATH. The gift of God is eternal LIFE.”

Then he slid it on top of the money that was on top of the bill and said, “Hear ya go, and you can keep the change.”

I did not even want to tell him that I basically worked for a church and that I did indeed follow Jesus.

To be honest, more influential than his “get saved now or your going to hell” card was the sub-par tip that he’d placed under the card.

I can tell you that the last thing some waitress/waiter wants to see is these “Get saved cards” with a crappy tip. Invite me to your church and try and build a relationship with me; do not just hand me some card. Not only that, but the card is misleading about what it really means to truly follow Jesus. Jesus is much bigger than a “business card.”

If you are a Christian who is reading this and you have a card ready whenever you go to a restaurant let me give you a little “tip” about what will speak louder than your “Gospel Card.” Be respectful and very kind, be courteous and talkative, and leave a great tip. That will speak more to your server about Jesus than some card with a crappy tip right underneath it. This is coming from a Christian, and what I have seen and heard from non-Christian wait staff.

Faith, Love, and Grace

Since this is my first blog and post I figure I would start off writing about what is the latest and greatest new with me.

Faith, Love, and Grace are three words that mean so much me.  There is not a day that goes by where I don't think about those three words.  They are also more than just words, they are the way I live my life.  Since these three words are so important to me, I will be getting them tattooed on me within the next week.  I had to think about this somewhat "risky" decsion for a little while.  I decided this was something I really wanted to do, and I am certainly not doing it to be showey or anything like that.  I am doing this because of the role these three words have played in my life.  With each of these words I could tell a different story and/or example from my life. The list of of those stories and examples goes on and on for each word.  Not only will the tattoo it be a way to show people how I want to live my life and try to live my life, I believe that it can be a great conversation starter. 

So, thats really all for now.   The only other big news for now is that I opened a twitter account, which already seems to be kind of stupid so we will see how long that really lasts.

MS