all that jazz

oh the importance of surrounding yourself with those that have a desire to serve Jesus.

paul writes: flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

it's really hard for me to seek to pursue all of the things mentioned above, when i'm not surrounded by people that are trying to seek the same.

and - i don't want to be one of those christian sticklers that say you can't hang out with anyone that is not of your faith, or that you can't befriend someone that cusses or drinks - but, it's just really difficult for me to keep my mind on God when the 'desires of youth' are clouding my vision.

but, i really think that it's essential (i hate that word) for us, as a people whose hearts belong to God - to share him... no matter the difficulty.

...the testing of your faith developes perseverance. james 1:2

if i wouldn't have gone through trials and all that tough jazz, i wouldn't be as in love with Jesus, or as confident in him as i am today.

the ultimate goal of missions is to surround yourself with people, and share Jesus with those that are not following the Lord, or that claim to have faith in another god. people that have not heard the gospel, people that won't. unless we - a nation chosen by God, reach out to their hearts.

and we can reach out to hearts in our very own community. whether they cuss, or drink. whether they're just plain mean, or they think they don't like God.

we just need to be strengthened in the grace of God, so that our love for Jesus rubs off on them, more than they rub off on us.