Awesomeness Outside My Comfort Zone

    If my friend was standing in the middle of the road about to get run over by a semi, wouldn't I run screaming at her and push her out of the way?

If a girl I knew had a week to live because of a new type of cancer and I discovered the cure, wouldn't I tell her and her doctors about it?

    But what if one thing that is worse than getting mauled by a semi is spending an eternity in Hell?

And what if something worse than dying of cancer is living until the end of time away from the presence of God?

And I've been letting them die. 

  .....and then I went to Dare2Share. My life has been permanently changed. Tell me, friends. Do you not think this video is awesome?

    Yes, he was at the conference! Plus two other fine speakers. There were at least five skits (very well done, by the way) and I'm thinking about four worship/concert sessions with Desperation Band, including cool flashing lights and everything. :)

    After they pumped us (over 3,000 teens) up and equipped us with tactics and advice, we hit the streets. To witness. 

    Boy, was I scared. I mean, knocking on a strange door in a strange town handing out batteries for smoke detectors and asking people if they needed prayer? I can only imaging how crazy we looked. But in the end? It was worth it. Ten times over. One sweet lady with a kid peeking through the door had us pray for her sick mother, then thanked us profusely and hugged all three of us who were standing on her doorstep. 

    After the first few houses, my trepidation fell away and I found myself eagerly looking towards to next house. Something was working in me, because I am not an outgoing person. Like, I don't even like to knock on doors of people I sort of know. By the time we ran out of batteries, I was pretty pumped up. I would have been content to keep going for another hour! It was awesome, guys. And it was awesome in a God - type of way. 

    Back at the conference center, I learned (at least) two more amazing things. 1. God gave me a mustard seed of faith to partner with my brother and sponsor a little boy from Ecuador through Compassion (!!!!!!!!! I love him already!!!!!!). Faith because it's hard to pledge a monthly sum of money when I only have summer jobs, but faith says God will provide. 2. I love it when guys lift their hands in worship. There is something in seeing a strong young man with his hands outstretched to Jesus and his head bowed that really touched a chord in my heart. I've decided my husband will have to be an all-out worshiper like that. :) 

    Dare2Share pushed me out of my comfort zone. But there, outside Ariel's comfy bubble, I found a new type of comfort - that of trust. Once I let go of the railing and stepped out in faith, I knew the only thing holding me was Jesus' hands. So I clung to them and that was what made my experience awesome. 

    I'm going to witness again, friends. Soon, I hope! I've got a plan brewing along the lines of Valentines Day cookies and messages about the love of God to hand out to strangers. :) I'd appreciate your prayers!