integrity

INTEGRITY: adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

Working at Chick-fil-a, I witness numerous people who leave where they ate with absolutely no accountability to how they left it... and I definitely think that is why some people leave their space utterly gross (I'm not just talking about crumbs on the table and the floor). When it's busy, there's no way for me to make sure I wipe each table clean and sweep under it before the next person sits down... so some other customers have to deal with the previous customers' mess.

I started thinking about what prompts people to do this, and I realized that they really don't have much integrity. It doesn't effect them after they leave... they don't eat there again and are not held accountable for how they leave it. So what does influence or encourage them to do right at all in life? It's when it benefits them. When in reality, we should do right to glorify God and to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

While thinking about this, it also made me think about what I read in Exodus yesterday about God's grace. I thought about how much I have sinned and not been selfess towards others (a whole bunch) and how many other people have sinned as well... yet our God is merciful and gracious. He gives us His son Jesus' sacrifice to redeem us and also gives us His righteousness!

"The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin..." Exodus 34:6-7a

So while I definitely tend to get angry at these people (and complain about them), I need to remember the abundant grace God has given me and give it to them as well... praying that God will work in their lives to show them the grace He offers them through Jesus Christ.

writer's block

So I haven't written on this blog in a long while... I guess because I feel like our life has been pretty boring :) I work at Chickfila for 30 hours a week and Chris makes calls and emails during the day. We haven't really met any new friends, so all we do really is hang out with each other and his parents (we are going to work on that by visiting another church... an Acts 29 network here since we are members of an Acts 29 plant in Athens). I am getting adjusted to Augusta life and starting to know my way around. We have seen some movement in support today... which is a HUGE blessing because it's been pretty much dead for a month. We got another supporter today as well as an appointment to speak to a Sunday school class in Statesboro on Sunday. I am going to be praying for BIG things to happen on Sunday. We are praying for $2000 in monthly support to come in in May... that would move us from 45% to 71%. This is BIG but I know that God can do it. We really want to be in Statesboro by August so that we can minister to the college students at the start of the school year. Sometimes it is a little frustrating... thinking about Luke 10:2

[And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.]

because the harvest is PLENTIFUL at GA Southern... I think there have already been 6 people who have accepted Christ since just TWO staff arrived in late October and multiple other students who are commiting their lives to LIVING for Christ and not just viewing Christ as fire-insurance. So we are really desiring to be down there to labor for the Lord, but are raising support... but we know that the Lord works for our good, is completely sovereign, and will do everything when He knows it's time.