An Incredible Friend

First of all, let me preface this piece of writing by saying that this may be a little longer than most blogs I write. I have so much on my heart that I want to share. I've been wanting to write about friendship for a while and I don't think I could properly express any ideas on friendship without talking about the best friend anyone could ever have. That best friend being Jesus. I haven't been around forever, but I've had my fair share of friendships. But the best of the best is no comparison to the friend I've found in Jesus. Because even the best friends are not always with you or there when you need it, they don't always know your inner-most thoughts, and they can't always understand what your heart feels and your deepest desires. But Jesus, He knows it all, He understands, and He is always, always there and always, always faithful.

**FOR I KNOW YOU ARE FAITHFUL, MY GOD.** 

(Jesus Culture, He is Faithful, Consumed Album)

So, I have to tell you about my awesome friend, Jesus. He makes everything so perfect sometimes. The past few days I got to spend with one of the best friends I've ever had. Krista was in PA with a mission organization and she came up to spend a couple days with me. And yesterday and today, we went adventuring out in the woods and hiking. At one point the ground fell out under my one foot. I was leaning to take a picture and next thing I knew, my leg was in a hole half a foot above my knee. So, Krista held my phone\camera while I pulled up a completely soaked, very cold, muddy foot and shoe. The bottom of my jeans were soaked. And I had to laugh. I used to get upset about things like that, and instead I just decided to enjoy the rest of the day. I spent half the day walking in the woods in my bare feet. (I can't do one shoe on and one shoe off and it was easier to walk barefoot than to carry around the 20 pound shoe. haha.) And we never found the falls we were looking for, but we found some cool spots out in the middle of no where in the woods. But I couldn't have come up with a more perfect day. Thank You, Jesus!

Today, Krista and I headed out in to the woods for another hike to cool little waterfall. It was great. We hiked about a mile through the crunchy leaves, just enjoying each other's company, the smell of the woods, the sunlight, and talking of the awesome things we've seen God doing lately. The waterfall was really pretty. It came off a really tall rock, so I actually was able to walk to the top of the waterfall. (I took my shoes off this time, no more ruining sneakers.) But at the top of the waterfall it's only a couple inches deep. Cool experience. Another great day. I didn't realize how much I missed being out in the woods. After I played in the waterfall some, we laid down beside each other on a rock by the waterfall and prayed together, with the sound of the running water in the background. A friend of mine always says he's surrounded by the best of the best people. And I feel the same about my own life. I look at the close friends I have and couldn't imagine any better. I love having friends I can pray with. It's AMAZING! On the way back up, we stopped to catch our breath (we didn't realize it was all uphill on the way out..haha.). Back in the middle of the woods, all we could hear was the wind blowing through the trees. So quiet. So peaceful. So amazing.

So, Krista and I get back in to town and take some pictures on the tracks. I reached in my back pocket to get my wallet out so we could go get dinner and.....my wallet wasn't there! Uh-oh! We re-checked and re-checked by the tracks with no prevail. So Mom and Krista headed to get dinner, and I went back and checked again. Still nothing. At this point, I remind myself that God has never failed me, and remind Him that He has been faithful in the past and I believe He won't fail me now. At this point, I also texted about 8 close friends and asked them to pray. One, in particular, texted me back a short prayer asking for peace and protection over my wallet and that I'd trust God with my finances. And I was so at peace. I wasn't really worried. So, we take Krista to the airport and come back. When Dad gets home from work, I told him I lost my wallet. And as I'm telling me, it was just like God just dropped it into my head and I looked at Dad and said "I know where it is." So, we took his truck and traveled way back in the woods. We drove as far as possible, and then half ran to the spot. See, when looking at the waterfall I climbed up a huge rock to get a different view. Once to the top, I realized the leaves were too slippery and the rock was too steep I couldn't walk back down, so I slid down the leaves on my butt. Lo and behold, there is my wallet as we get there, laying completely undisturbed. We made it back out of the woods just as it was starting to get really dark. PRAISE GOD!!!!!

Let me say one more thing as far as friendships go, find friends you can trust, and share your heart with, and who will encourage you in your God-give dreams and visions. Find friends you can pray with in good times and in bad. Forgive now...not later, but now. And learn how to really love (like 1 Corinthians 13 love). And if any of you are struggling with current friendships, I know a four part sermon series that could change your life. I know it did mine. Let me know if you're interested for yourself or anyone else. (It's totally free too.)

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed hearing about my Incredible Friend.

I hope you are doing well.

Quiet

    Why is it that we seem to be afraid of silence? I think there is something so valuable in sitting in silence before the Lord. I live a life that says pretty much the opposite. I’m surrounded by noise all day every day. At both jobs I’ve been working, there is so much noise. 98% of the time I’m driving, the radio or ipod is playing. When I get home I talk with my family. There’s not a silence in my life. But I can say that something in my heart and soul begins to churn when I’m in a worship service and everything just comes to a screeching halt and we find ourselves in dead silence, where every breath seems to be heard. It’s like this fire that starts to burn inside of me that desires Jesus more than anything else on earth. And yet, these times, where everyone is silent, are few and far between.

    I don’t want to sound judgmental of anyone at all, but during those times where things in Jesus’ presence seem so intense, someone always jumps up and has to say something. And many times, I believe it’s because the people in the room are taking the time to be silent before Him and hearing from Him. Yet, I also believe other times are a result of an insecurity and maybe even a feeling of nakedness before a Holy God. But part of me longs to sit with a group of believers and be still before the Lord and just see what happens. I honestly believe that His presence changes things. I don’t think there always has to be an extensive sermon\teaching. In fact, I’d love to have various Sundays throughout the year where a sermon is never spoken, and worship is just a simple guitar or piano playing lightly here and there. In some ways it sounds like they would be so awkward, yet in other ways, I can’t imagine anything more satisfying than just sitting with the Lord.

    I think there’s pressure to have a service every Sunday where we have a time of worship, a good ol’ sermon, and go home. And I don’t know about you, but that is not what I want. I want to encounter the living God. His words are more valuable than anything anyone may speak. I don’t want to start rambling, but these are some things that have been on my heart lately. I don’t want to play church. I don’t want to have things in such an order that leave God no room to move. But, more than anything, I want to live in His presence. It won’t always be quiet. Passionate worship can be anything but quiet at times. But I don’t want to neglect the times of pure silence with Jesus. It has a value beyond measure.

Life Update

And I’m amazed by You
Cause You’re never far away
And all that I’ve been through
Your love has never changed
~Seventh Day Slumber (“Oceans from the Rain”)

So, my life has been pretty crazy lately. Last week was eat, sleep, shower, drive, work, repeat. This week was basically the same, minus 4 hours I’ve had to myself. I’ve been working two jobs and have literally not had a life. Yet, there are a few moments where I sit down (mostly lately when I’m driving between Kane and Warren, from one job to another) and put on some worship music and am just still in awe of Jesus. Those lyrics above really stuck out to me tonight. This is not a blog of some great revelation I want to share. I haven’t had a lot of time for relationships lately. The best relationship I’ve had lately is with Titus. That’s my car’s name for those of you who don’t know. If you want to know the story behind the name, just ask. It’s a good story. ;-)

This is more one of those hi to all of any of you who actually read my blog. I hope things are well in your lives. And this is just a little brag on this awesome friend I have named Jesus. Because He never ceases to amaze me. In the little things. In the big things. I had a couple rough moments this week. Not awful, just struggles here and there. But that whole “Your love has never changed” is SO, SO TRUE. And I can say he’s been there through it all and I am amazed by Him!

I love Jesus. Period. :-)

A Passionate Life

Mat 22:37-28 (NIV) - Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind". This is the first and greatest commandment.

A couple weeks ago, I stopped by the Kinzua Dam on the way home from work. I sat down by the water and recommitted my life to the Lord. It's not that I had been walking away from the Lord or doing something horribly wrong, but I recommitted to living passionately for the Lord. That night I went to bed and had a dream. It was a crazy dream with just about everyone I'd ever known in it, but in the midst of that, I felt like God was showing me that verse in Matthew (that I listed above). When I woke up the next morning, I felt like God was telling me that I can not follow that commandment if I'm apathetic. To love God with ALL of your heart, soul, and mind, it requires your everything.

Things have been crazy in my life, so I haven't been able to write as often as I'd like, but I hope you are all doing well.

Much love~
Lisa