1 John 4:18

"After thousands hours of prayer and meditation over the intervening years, I can state unequivocally that childlike surrender in trust is the defining spirit of authentic discipleship. And I would add that the supreme need in most of our lives is often the most overlooked-namely, the need for an uncompromising trust in the love of God"-Brennan Manning(my favorite author)

I want my life to actually count for God. I want this summer to count for God. Of all the fears I have, my main one is that I will take this life, namely this summer- as its approaching so soon, lightly. What if someone is changed by God's grace through what I say or do?(I think I say the word "grace" in every blog, oh well)Whether that someone is positively changed or negatively changed. What I say and how I act is huge all the time, but I am convicted especially to clean up my act because it could aid in changing someones mind about Jesus in the Philly. I know that either my actions will attract them to Him or turn them away.

With that said, I have been thinking alot lately about what exactly I will say to them as I share God's gospel. I read Paul's notes on the thought of teaching the gospel and he said he came just as he was and "preached Christ and Him crucified", no fancy words or fluff. Just God is love, He sent His Son, place your trust in Him. Paul touched me when he said at first he couldn't talk that well but he kept going anyway and let God do it through him.(He would. That guy lived crazy Venti!!)
Have you ever thought what God has called us to say to the lost- specificly? Our testimony of love and trust in Him, of course. In order to share this message of trust with the world, I want to make sure my personal trust is huge in this loving God. I am always questioning whether I have the right view of God so when He calls me to speak into others lives, I am telling them absolute truth. And that it is truth I have uncovered through His Word for myself, not that I have just been told.

Perfect love casts out fear. That is what I want to do this summer and pretty much my life, through actions and words. Cast out fear with God's redeeming,life-changing,tear-jerking, unbelievable love.