deep{er} #23: reflections

Hello, friends:)


First of all.... THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for your encouragement and for stopping by to read my weekly reflections! I'm humbled and honored to share this precious time with you! 

I hope you had a great week, and I pray that the Lord spoke to you or maybe revealed something to you! 

UPDATE: Last week's post was hard for me to write, and I just have to say that I haven't stopped thinking about the "world" and how I conform to it! It is a constant pull to be "cool" and "trendy"... to wear what is in style and to be on the social media sites that are "hot" or have the most followers... OY! I didn't realize how much I conform to this world! Last week's post was a real eye opener. 

And not even just in how I conform to the world... I have realized that I believe A LOT of lies that the world says is truth or says is "ok". Maybe I can go into this more next time or in the future... but let me just say... WOW! EYE OPENER! My goal now is to really live like Jesus and not follow the world or these lies! I'll keep you posted! 

Here are a couple of pics from this week. Trav and I sit in our study room and practice songs for Sunday throughout the week. I just love that Olsen likes to hang out with us- mostly sleeping:) 

Yup! I'm out of the boot, but only for a little bit of time each day! Praise the Lord my ankle is healing:) 

LOVE that Olsen is zonked out on the floor!  

And I don't think I've ever shared this photo. Our Pastor put this together and shared it on the New Hope East Facebook page at the beginning of January (possibly even at the end of December). Trav and I are enjoying this new journey and are realizing that God DID have a plan after all! Our trial was hard, but God was preparing us for this new position.

REFLECTION: There's so much I want to share with you--- This week I've had many thoughts and reflections happening in my life! For example, my thoughts on the "world" (I mentioned this earlier- kind of a continuation from last week)... Chapter 3 from our marriage study group, You and Me Forever- (I mention this later)... but I think I'm going to reflect on what I'm studying. 

I started reading the book of Acts because our Pastor will be taking us through this book for the entire year. I'm using the Today In The Word August 2014 devotional. I've only read chapters 1-8 so far.

Acts is all about how the early church was started- which is AMAZING to think about. I am in awe of how the Word spread all the way from the disciples and apostles to ME! I can't even describe how thankful I am that these followers would be faithful and share the Word with people who they "didn't even like" (It says in Acts 8:5 that Philip went to Samaria--- the Jews didn't even like Samaritans! But he went and spread the Word! And they believed! And then they shared and more believed... and more believed...and on and on until I believed when the Word was shared at an event at my college in 2002!). 

Here's a quick story about my background---- I was raised Catholic, and we went to church every week, as well as CCD classes on Thursday. But I always knew there was something more... like I knew (inside) that following Christ meant more than just attending church. At college, I started attending a non-denominational church and learned that church is great, but it's a relationship with Jesus that changes your life. And it was at the AFTERDARK event (where Derek Web was speaking... with Tim White, I think) that I asked Jesus into my heart. That was November 6, 2002. 

But who planted seeds in my life before 2002? So many people! And I'm so thankful! I wish I could name them all or remember all these saints, but it goes even further than them. Who spoke the Truth to those who spoke to me? And who shared the Word with those people before them? And where did these people learn about Jesus? I bet this timeline of followers would be massive! And it could trace back to Acts! LOL! 

So here's what I've come up with as my reflection and goal this week----- I want to plant seeds everywhere! I want to share the love of Christ with those who are hurting, with those who don't know, with my family, with my neighbors, with those I'm afraid to talk with... with EVERYONE! I've heard some churches ask the question, "How many people have you led to Jesus?" And then they say, "If you don't know a number, you are in trouble!" Really!? That's not true- at least I don't think it is! You could plant a seed in someone that is watered and nurtured by someone else who shares Jesus with your friend. Is it great to lead people to Jesus- YES! But is knowing a number important? Not to me. What's important to me is living a Christ centered life-- sharing His love/grace/forgiveness/patience/etc. wherever I am and in whatever I'm doing.

My goal isn't to know a specific number of people that I've led to Jesus, but I do want a huge number of people to see Jesus in ME! I hope that makes sense! Now don't get me wrong, I would love to say, "I taught Mary about Jesus and led her to a relationship with Him." But I don't think that is my goal--- if I focus on getting a specific number of people to know Jesus, I think I would miss the most important goal of being like Christ and showing who He is. I just want to share the Word and Jesus' love with everyone I encounter. I want to spread the gospel so that this timeline of followers will continue to the "ends of the earth" {Acts 1:8}! 

***NOTE: Trav and I cannot figure out if the word I've used is correct: lead or led? We looked it up in the dictionary and Thesaurus... oh my! I think I need to go back to school! LOL! Either way, you get the idea:) My friend Laura told me to change it to "led". :)

My goals for this week:

1. Pray pray pray :) *I'm doing good... hopefully I will share a video of my prayer journal soon:)
2. Continue reading You and Me Forever- we just finished Chapter 3... OH MY! I originally was going to reflect on this chapter, but it was too much! You definitely need to read this book! LOVE!
3. Continue with Today in the Word Acts Bible study.
4. Continue with chapter 4 of the Dr. David Jeremiah Agents of Apocalypse
5. Start working on my 2015 Spiritual Goals. *Honestly, I usually don't get to my "New Year's Goals" before March! LOL! So I've got time to get them sorted out:)
6. Find time to complete another video for you-- I've got SO much I want to share;) 

I pray that God has been speaking to you--- and that you are blessed beyond what you have asked or wanted ❤️. I also am praying that God would open our eyes and heart to His Will, love, and Word. Remember, if you need prayer, please contact me {savannahland2 at comcast dot net}. 

THANKS so much for stopping by today! Be blessed:}