Afraid of Awkward

Hey guys,
Driving down to school this past weekend, I was thinking of what this semester would bring. I like to have an idea/vision of what I see for each semester. This semester the Lord has put on my heart taking the risk of witnessing to every person I have a chance with. It has already blown my mind how he has abundantly reinforced that vision in just a few short days.  I was thinking about how it is my last year in college (crazy I know!) and how I won't have the same opportunities I have now ever again.

My mom read a book this past summer called, "Take the Risk" by Ben Carson. On the drive home from Florida she told me a bit about what it was about. She mentioned how in the book he talks about how life is too short to care what people think or trying to avoid awkward moments. For some reason that has stuck with me since. It made so much sense to me.

We all know those awkward moments in the elevator when someone comes in and it's just the two of you. There is that short time span when it is ok to say something and then it soon passes, and you are left wishing the elevator would hurry up already and open. Most people just avoid the risk of an awkward conversation or chancing an uncomfortable interaction. But why? Why are we so afraid of AWKWARD?  What effect will it have on our life if we fumble over some words, or have an uncomfortable few seconds of silence while trying to think of what to say?

All of that to say, why don't we take the risk more often? I think we are afraid of what that person will think of us. When in all honesty...if we don't know them and might not ever see them again, or even if you do, it doesn't matter. Those words will never physically hurt us, and we probably will never even know what they thought.

So as I think of all those situations, I think why not use those moments to make someone's day with a simple "Hello, how's your day going?" or a short compliment? You never know what could come from that short opener, and who knows, God could use it to start a whole conversation, or even use it in a series of events that lead that person to Christ in the end.

1 Thessalonians 2:2 says, "...we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict."

Paul was not speaking out of his own courage and self-confidence. No, he spoke because he had confidence in his God!  He was in physical conflict while preaching to the Thessalonians, and yet he continued to preach with boldness! because he knew the God he spoke of and had confidence in God's faithfulness.

1 Thessalonians 2 continues in verse 4, "...so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts."

I love this. It is exactly what this risk-taking is about. We cringe back from saying things to people so often because we are not bold in ourselves and don't want to make them feel uncomfortable or awkward. What we should be doing is boldly sharing the love and encouragement our God offers to us daily!

A person's soul is worth far far far more than any amount of awkwardness or uncomfort. If that soul is saved from eternal hell than for goodness sakes, by all means let there be however much awkwardness is necessary! God is faithful, he will open doors, and if that person does reject your words, then it is not upon you that their soul will be separated from God. Like verse 4 says, we do not speak words of truth to please men, but to please GOD.

It does not matter if the person wants to hear it or not. Of course you discern in your spirit whether or not the person is being receptive and you remain respectful, but the point is to take the risk. Just try it. You might meet some amazing fellow believers who are also inspired to take the risk with others.

Imagine if every believer on college campuses began taking the risk of telling anyone and everyone about God? That my friend would be a reformation.

I pray that this generation become like Martin Luther (the German monk who spoke truth into the misguided Catholic Church) and Charles Spurgeon (became a pastor of thousands at age 16). I want to see this world changed so dramatically, and how amazing would it be to see the young people of this world lead the way to the Savior's arms?!

God is so ready to love every one of his children. He will use you. All you have to do is allow him to. Just pray right now, ask the Lord to take you off the shelf and use you as his vessel that will flow Living Water across this dry and parched land. It is dying of thirst for True Love.

Will you join me in this vision? Will you take the risk?

A Worthwhile Investment: Founding of Three Remain

While at church recently, my pastor spoke on Malachi 3. The sermon was entitled Robbing God . I highly encourage you to listen to this sermon. It is exactly what this culture and country need to hear.

This summer much of my time was spent investing in my first business A Whimsy Willow, and gathering inspiration for a future house. Nearly most of my time was spent in either of the two, if I wasn't with family or friends.
 My pastor, Afshin, said many things that were like a two edged sword straight to my heart. I realized that my time was more invested in what is temporary.  It was a hard reality to face but the words God spoke through Afshin were exactly what my soul needed to hear.

Afshin spoke of how only three things are eternal: God, His Word, and the souls of men and women. Nothing else will go with us to heaven. That is why it is so important to invest in all three areas! First, invest in your relationship with the Lord. He is your Creator and loves you dearly. Strive in your relationship with him to know him better and to learn more about him personally. When you know more about him, you won't be able to help but love him more.

Secondly, invest in the Word! God's word is powerful and "does not return void", ever! (Isaiah 55:11). THERE IS POWER IN THE SPOKEN WORD! Spend time daily, hourly! in the Word of God. For it feeds your spirit and helps it grow. The Word of the Lord is alive and is so worth investing your time and energy in. It is not just a book. No, not just a book at all. It is the Word of God, living and breathing.

Lastly, invest in the souls of man! In the end when we all must face the closing of our eyes to this world, the only thing we will take with us is our soul. No money, cars, houses, clothes, jewelry, degrees, jobs, nothing. This world is but a blink, and it is our job as believers to help show others the love of Jesus Christ. This does not just mean be kind and compassionate. This means risk everything that you may save a soul from eternal hell!

Charles Spurgeon gave the most poignant sermon I have found on the subject of saving souls: Compassion for Souls . In this he talks about how "You may know the truth of the doctrine, but you do not know the doctrine in truth if it makes you gaze on the wrath to come without emotions of pity for immortal souls."  Please, I beg you, read this sermon. It will move mountains in your heart, if not bring tears pouring from your eyes for regret of not having done more earlier in your life for the lost souls.

If nothing else remember this from Spurgeon, "It ought never to be that a soul should perish of ignorance within a mile of where a Christian lives." "Let it be said by each [believer],'If a soul perishes, I, atleast, will have done all in my power to reclaim it." (pg.13 Sermons on Women in the Bible, Spurgeon).

It is worth our every ounce of energy to invest in these three things. For in the end that is all that matters, all that will last, all that is eternal.

All of that to say, this new venture of mine, Three Remain, came about from that simple sentence of Afshin about the three eternal things.  I was sewing other projects when the Lord inspired me to create this. "You will create for me. You will invest in what is eternal."

So here I am, telling you about this new venture in hopes that you will join me in this eternal investment. First we seek to glorify God, and grow in knowledge and affection for God. Secondly, we seek to invest in God's word and see it "run ahead" (2 Thess. 3:1) to all people. And thirdly, that the souls of people might be saved through this invest in God's word, and the knowledge of the basis of this project.

50% of all profit from these products goes directly to OneVerse , while 25% goes into the supplies needed to make these products.

The money we have is not ours. It is God's. He knows what we need, and will always provide for us. So let us return to him what is his, and invest in what three things will remain: God, His Word, and Souls.