Be a Friend!

"A man that hath friends must shew him self friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" Provers 18:24 (KJV)

College, work, or where ever can seem pretty lonely when we don't have friends. How willing are you to step out of your comfort zone in order to make new friends? In order to make a friend you have to be a friend. You have to reach out to them. In some cases they may reach out to you before you get the chance. In my opinion…. Be First. Don't be ashamed about it! The hand of Jesus works through relationships. You don't know if the person would end up being your best friend, spouse, or whatever the case because you never even said Hi to the person.

Don't worry about rejection. It comes. It's never personal towards you. That person just may be going through it. Instead still smile, still be loving and still say hello. People even when they act hard deep down they like to know that someone is taking the time to pay attention to them. Be that person! If you don't believe me. Get on twitter one morning and count all of the tweets of people talking about how they didn't get a good morning message. They may be acting like they are playing around but the truth is…. They really want someone to tell them good morning.

So today I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone. Say hello to someone new. Introduce yourself while standing in a line. Randomly tell someone you love them or that Jesus loves them ( it might creep them out but they will realize that they needed to hear it). Give a hug to a stranger. Do something that shows you friendly. Pay for someones meal. Anything. But make sure that you do it in love and that you are genuine about it, because no one and I repeat NO ONE wants a fake friend!

Now Go show yourself FRIENDLY! :-)

I Can Do All Things!

"12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, wether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me" Philippians 4:12,13 (NIV)

The first days of school are so crucial. "Why?" you may ask. I'll tell you. First you have already judged how easy or hard a class may be due to its name and what you have heard about the class from others. Second upon receiving your syllabi you confirm in your heart or tear down what you thought the class was about and your ability to complete the class. Many people have already given up on a whole semester by the end of the first day just because it seems like its going to be hard.

I used the first part of this verse because we know that we how we have gone through college:
What we already know we can pass
What we think we know we will fail
If we are going to be surrounded by friends
If we are going to be lonely

We have learned, well accepted rather what we have gone through as it always being the way it will go. But this is what I will submit to you. You can do ALL things through Christ that strengthens you!
You can pass every class make as many friends as you want. You can be completely successful as long you know that you are going to have to depend on Christ to get you through. You also have to do your own work (LOL) but he will help you and take away your anxieties if you just rest in him every day.

So for today I challenge you that when you hear your professor going over the syllabus that you say to yourself "I will pass this class, because I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me!" If you feel that doubt try to creep in you just  keep repeating it. Let God's truth cancel out the doubt you feel.

I hope you have a great 1st day of class! You got this!

~Chelsee

Starting Off Right.

"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank bearing all fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do." (Psalms 1:1-3 NLT)

With the upcoming school season I felt led to start a devotional, or at least to set up an atmosphere that helps usher you into your prayer or worship time which leads to a better day. It is my desire that I completely open myself up to God so that He may use me to encourage you so that you may find an eternal joy and have a loving relationship with God on a daily basis! I am so excited to see the things God will lead my hands to tell you, and all that I will learn from it as well. I pray that this will be a big help to you as you go about your day. With each devotion I would like to leave you with a challenge that you can try that will let you apply the things you have read, because it will mean more to you when you step out and hold the word to the fire to see God move in your life!

So for the first challenge its really simple.
I know the day is almost over but find a scripture that you can meditate on today. To meditate is just to think constantly about that verse all day. You think about how that verse can apply to you and you make pictures in your mind of you applying the verse as well. Go ahead and leave a comment of your verse. Your comments help others. ( After any devotional, unless it is more personal than you would like to discuss, go ahead and post it. Your testimony of that day has the power to help another!)

~ Chelsee