As much of a "people's person" I am, I am still one that enjoys and need "me" time. I woke up this morning knowing that I wanted to do something outside. It is such a perfect day in Charleston so I could not imagine spending my day any other way. I text one of my friends asking if her and another friend wanted to go to lunch with me at one of my favorite places, Perfectly Franks, which has outdoor seating and is dog friendly. They declined because of other plans that they had today. So I decided to take my dog, Brody, my bible, and a book I am reading, "This Way to Youth Ministry" which I highly recommend for anyone who is thinking, works, or volunteers in youth ministry, and spend my day reading and people watching. And of course I brought a long my computer. I figured it was a good time for me to have some "me" time." As I sit outside, I can't help but be in pure amazement of how blessed I am. I can freely sit in public read my bible and strike up a conversation about my faith with a stranger without the fear of being discovered that I am a Christian. We, as Americans, have the freedom to practice and share our faith openly. The only concern that I may have as I have my bible out on the table is that someone may look at me thinking to their selves, "yeah, she is one of those typical "Jesus Freaks." I will never forget when I was in 10th grade, one of my classmates turns to me out of the blue and ask the question, "so are you like one of those Jesus Freaks?" If that is the only concern that I have to face as I openly confess my faith, then I am okay with that. There are so many people in this world who to not have the "right" to be open about there faith. They have to worship, meet, and witness in secret in fear that they may become discovered and punished in some way for being a Christian. I always new about this, but I did not fully understand the concept until my sister went on a missions trip to Africa where she witnessed this first hand. She came back with a completely new experiences and knowledge of this issue. I have yet to have the opportunity to go on a missions trip but I am hoping I will sometime in the near future as I have some places that God has put on my heart. I am so grateful and proud to be an American where I don't have to worry about being punished for being a, "Jesus Freak." I know that I take for granted the fact that I can be so open about my Christian faith that I do not witness or share God's love as much as I should. I have the opportunity daily to share his love yet it's not something that I do on a daily bases. I want to be someone who radiates Jesus love. It is so easy for me to take for granted that I have the right to do this daily.
Brandon Heath, "Give Me Your Eyes" describes perfectly how I want to live my everyday life.
"Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the one's forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see"
I want to be reminded daily that I need to take advantage of the right that I have to openly share who I am and my faith without being in fear. I want God to break my heart for what breaks His so I can radiate His love so that everyone that is around me can see Him through me.
"He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us. For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of His will, according to His purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him, according to the purpose of Him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of His will, we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory." Ephisians 1:5-12
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