Iron sharpens Iron

I don't think you need a special occasion or a reason to share the love, the wise words and teachings of God. It doesn't have to be at church, it doesn't have to be in a quiet secluded room. You can talk about God anywhere, grocery shopping, when hailing a cab, at a concert. Bring God everywhere!

I am thankful for my friends, my prayer warriors, who speak wisdom into my life on a regular basis. I am so blessed. Going off that note, a dear friend of mine shared some really good points she learned this past weekend, and I am so glad she took the time to tell me...

"The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays." - Soren Kierkegaard

• True prayer- when God's Sprit comes down and touches your heart with a transforming influence

Godly sacrifice: Do not do it for what they see, but for God. We never needed what we gave away in the 1st place. They are GOOD but not necessary.
Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. 
- 2 Corinthians 4:18

Ungodly sacrifice: Expecting a return. Ie) those who receive reward (attention and praise from others) are used to expecting something

Spiritual excellence is integrity, when outside matches the inside. It is not perfection. It is a constant longing for God to move, to render service with a good will for God.

My choices should not make someone else stumble.

If I do not serve, I do not have an avenue to practice my faith.

Someone who did not address their own issues cannot help someone else see and address theirs.
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.- Matthew 7:5

David & Goliath in 1 Samuel 17
David = Jesus, kingdom of God, Goliath = kingdom of the world, Israelites = us

Courage is the right thing at any given time.

Matthew 5: 10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted
2 Timothy 3:12 Suffering is the true mark of christian faith
Jesus was persecuted, so we will be too. Students never exceed their master. We are not protected from persecution.

We may not be persecuted because:
We cut off ourselves from unbelievers, we are too much like the world, we keep silent

Friends love who you are, not what you do.