For those who don’t know, I work part-time at Sonrise Church – three days a week while the kids are in school.  It’s a really amazing job and I’m so blessed by it.  Today in our staff meeting we talked about who is in your circle of influence.  I think we came to: your circle of influence is anyone you come in contact with, and the depth of your influence depends on the depth of your relationship.  But everywhere you go, in everything you do, you have the opportunity to show someone what you value.  Do you value people?  Your phone?  Your children?  Your spouse?  Your money?  Your car?  Your time?  Their time?  God?  Are you a follower of Jesus?  If so…would they be able to tell?  I’m not necessarily suggesting you walk around saying, “Have a good day, Jesus died on the cross for your sins.”  But do you treat them with respect?  If your waitress showed up at your church on Sunday would she be surprised to see you there?  I don’t always do a great job with this, I’m not suggesting otherwise, it’s just something I’m thinking about so I wanted to share it with you.

So as I thought about all of this in the staff meeting and afterwards, I realized that my largest circle of influence is probably my blog.  There are people who read this that I know I’ve never met.  I use Google Analytics, and know that people read this in states where I don’t know anyone.  I LOVE THAT!!  I love each and everyone of you, and I’m so glad you are here and find something that brings you back.  I love it.  But I wouldn’t be doing my job as a woman who loves Jesus if I didn’t use this platform as an opportunity to tell you the truth of Jesus.

Here’s the Truth.  God created you.  He loves you.  Jesus came to spread this Truth.  He died on the cross, “but God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him” (Acts 2:24).  Because of this, we have the opportunity to repent and be forgiven in the name of Jesus “so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).  Times of refreshing.  The forgiveness found only in Christ brings refreshing.  Through relationship with Christ, the Holy Spirit works in us to change us and make us new, so that we truly repent rather than just apologize, bringing glory to God and making others see a change in us.
Is it easy?  No.
Does God always answer prayers with a yes?  No.
Do I always understand this?  No.
But can I trust Him no matter what?  Yes.
Does He love me unconditionally?  Yes.

Here’s how I boil it down for my kids.  Loving Jesus is like playing follow the leader, and Jesus is always the leader.  You go where He goes, trusting that He always will keep you safe and on the right path.  You might not know where He is going, but that’s ok.

If you have questions, please, please ask!  It doesn’t have to be me, but please ask someone you trust, someone who loves Jesus, and will find the answers in the Bible.  I don’t have all the answers, but I certainly enjoy learning along the way.