Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Again, this post is taken from a song and my Pastor's message on Sunday morning (6/17/12).

Honestly, I don't even know where to start...I just know that people are dying and going to hell - that breaks my heart.

I don't want to be the reason someone doesn't spend an eternity in Heaven. I've been so convicted to do something about it - to be more bold in who I am in Christ. What do I have to lose? Absolutely nothing. Think of what can be gained! Souls for Christ. 

If we can truly get a hold of this - this passion for souls - just think of what would happen...wow. Can we say revival? 

Christ died for everyone. We should be reaching everyone. 

This link is to my Pastor's sermon on Sunday - he really has a passion for souls. 

http://fairview.podomatic.com/ 

Also, I just love this song - Jesus, Friend of Sinners by Casting Crowns. 

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah...

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah...
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

An Answer to Prayer

I don't talk much about my migraines, but today I'm just so excited that I have to share.


Background:
One Wednesday, when I was about 17, I developed a headache. Literally for years, it never went away. Over time they got worse (those times I fell and hit my head ice skating or snow boarding probably didn't help matters either!). In college, I was passing out sometimes, my vision would randomly go black, or I'd lose my hearing for a few seconds. If you guys know me, I have to literally be dying to go to the doctor. After my junior year of college, my dad said, "Enough is enough. You're going to the doctor." Well, I had all the tests run, blood work done, etc. Nothing was wrong with me! 


So, I was sent to a neurologist and I've been going every 4-6 months ever since. I started taking migraine medicine, twice a day. I hated...h-a-t-ed it. There's a bunch of side effects, but the two that affected (effected? whichever) me the most were lack of appetite and fatigue. My migraines slowly started to go away, as my doctor increased my daily dosage with each visit. I was finally having consecutive days without pain! I couldn't even remember what that felt like. But the side effects were killing me. I was losing too much weight and I was constantly tired. It took almost 4 months just to get used to the high amount of medicine I was taking before I would have to return to the doctor to have the dosage increased again (did that make sense to ya'll?). 


Recently:
This past year, I've finally been able to go weeks without a headache. My last visit, 6 months ago, my neurologist was so impressed with how far I'd come the past year or so - he said we should start thinking about decreasing your dosage and eventually, maybe take you off. Do you know how encouraged I was to hear that?! 


Today, I went back to my doctor. After answering all the typical questions, he goes "I'm going to lower your dosage." I wanted to scream with happiness! I've been praying so long for this moment! A doctor visit where he doesn't increase my medicine - in fact the exact opposite happens!! Granted, it isn't much. But it's a start and it was an answer to prayer.


God does answer prayer! Maybe not immediately and maybe not always the way we want, but He answers our prayers in a way that's always best for us. So, keep praying! Even when you're discouraged. Keep praying for that unsaved loved one, for your physical need, for your financial situations - just keep praying. God will answer prayer in the most unexpected of ways :) 


I'm just so happy right now, I could just burst. Wow! 

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

This was totally just inspired by a good, good friend of mine on twitter - follow me @AngBowers. I have the best discussions on twitter with my friends.


Previously, I wrote about "Plan B." That post where I said "embrace the singlessness" if that's your situation. Well, this is exactly how I'm doing that this summer. 


This summer has been declared Girls Summer 2012. Why? Because it can be. We decided that it's time to go and do some of the things we've always wanted to. To laugh as much as possible. Be adventurous when all possible. And...no boys allowed - at least, no boyfriends. Maybe if the right one comes along. Maybe ;)


I do want to tell this story (ies) though when we were in Atlanta for a Secondhand Serenade / Boyce Anderson concert -


On our way to dinner (we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe), we were trying to find a place to park. Well, downtown is full of awesome one way streets. Bless those terrible one way streets. I went down a one way street the wrong way (on purpose) because there was an empty parking spot at the top of the street. Well, I was totally parked illegally. We were sitting there and this is our dialogue:
Susan: Ang, we can't park here.
Me: (yelling and stupidly pointing) COPS!
Susan: Yes, I know there are cops. I just heard the sirens.
Me: No! Right THERE!
*Both of us pretend to be busy and act lost*
There were cops staring at us as they were walking down the steps of a precinct office. I seriously was laughing so hard (I was staring at the street sign "wondering" where we were). So, I put my little Sentra in reverse and we got out of there and found a legal place to park.
Trying to find a place for the concert was even crazier. Somehow, we managed to park in a parking garage where the thing you pay at was broken - so we had to break out. For real. I owe them 2 bucks. I still wonder sometimes if I ever show up in Atlanta and get pulled over, I'm going to have a warrant out for my arrest. We pull out of that parking garage onto...yes, you guessed it...another one way street. The dialogue:
Susan: ANG! THIS IS A ONE WAY STREET!
Me: I know....
Susan: THERE IS TRAFFIC COMING!
Me: *thinking* I can totally make it to the parking garage without killing us
Susan: Turn around! Turn around!
Me: Alright. Alright. 
We managed to get to the concert safely and we met Secondhand Serenade (the man, John, himself).


That is kind of just a taste of what happens when Susan and I hang out. 


Our plans for this summer are awesome! Our "KickOff Event" was the Saturday before Memorial Day and we spent the day at a water park and went to the Melting Pot. We are registered for a 5K. Hittin' up New Orleans in August and going by train. The beach for a weekend. And revisiting Atlanta for a Braves game. Of course, every Thursday, you will find us at our favorite place in town for Prequel Night :) 


Girls Summer 2012 is going to be the best. 


Find those good friends who bring out the best in you. Those friends who are always honest with you, who will cry with you, laugh with you, and sit with you in hard times. Those are your true friends. That's really all the advice I have. 


Oh...and enjoy your summer! You only get one summer in 2012 - make the most of it!