It will be good

So, here's a question for you girls. What do you do when your friends, maybe even your best friends, seem to have different beliefs and convictions than you? I mean, aren't your Christian friends supposed to be on the same page as you? They go to the same church meetings as you, they hear the same messages, and they are involved in the same outreaches and ministry opportunities. So are you surprised when differences arise? I certainly was.

We are all created as different and unique creatures for God's glory. Yes, we are all created in the image of God, but he has given each one of us different gifts, talents, passions, and interests, all of which are designed to display his creativity and sovereignty. God brings relationships and friends into our lives for our happiness? Ok sure. Our enjoyment? Of course. His glory? Most definitely! And then there's this one--for our sanctification.

Our next "installment" of posts will focus on various relationships. I think you will come to find that no matter what specific relationship we are discussing, God intends for them to be a means of grace and sanctification in our lives, and this is not always easy.

So what do we do when we as friends have disagreements, arguments, even all out fights about our beliefs and standards? Maybe you can't identify with me on this yet, but trust me, you will soon. No friendship will be perfect, and not relationship continues without tensions arising from time to time.

See if you can identify with one of the following. Maybe one of your friends is allowed to watch movies that your parents won't let you see. Maybe your parents won't let you wear things that a certain friend wears all the time. Maybe you have a strict curfew and she doesn't. No matter the scenario, the heart issue is the same. Beware of jealousy, covetousness, and bitterness. These like to creep into our hearts so often. Don't let them! Fight off those thoughts girls! Pray earnestly for God to keep them captive!

Practical time: I went through a situation a few years ago where I had to stand up to one of my friends because we didn't agree on an issue. Neither of our parents were there, so I had to decide for myself which path I was going to take. I really found out what I believed in that moment. It would have been so easy to go along with "the majority" and respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit later. But, by God's grace, I voiced my concerns to my friend and told her that these were my standards and I was going to uphold them. It was scary, I didn't want to do it, I was afraid of being ridiculed and looking stupid. But God's grace was with me, empowering me to actually live out my convictions. My friend and I realized that our beliefs on some issues were very different and that our friendship wasn't really producing the kind of fruit we wanted to see. So, we decided to take a major step back from each other and allow our relationship with God to grow stronger and really evaluate the fruit of our friendship. Guess what? We're still evaluating!

This wasn't easy girls. Sticking up for your convictions, obeying your parents, especially in your relationships with other believers, is very difficult. Trust me, I've been there, I'm still there, and I will be there for the rest of my life. Every friendship has a season...remember that.

God has given us relationships to enjoy yes. But he has also given us relationships to sanctify us and make us more like him. Sometimes this requires him taking away certain things, even friends, especially if they aren't healthy for your growth in godliness. God cares more about your heart than your popularity, and he will make sure that your relationship with him is most important. It has to be the most important. We have a choice here. When God chooses to give or take away, we have to choose to say, "Lord blessed be your name. You are sovereign and in control." Do you feel like God is taking things away from you? Bless his name. Do you think your parents are extremely strict and find it hard to obey their rules? Bless God's name for giving you parents that care so much about you. Everything God does is for your good. It's right there in Romans 8:28, "And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Do you believe that? Then, live it out in your relationships.

This doesn't mean get rid of every friend that causes you to sin. That wouldn't be wise at all. God wants you to have relationships and good biblical friends. But I would encourage you to look at the fruit being produced from your friendships. Is there good fruit? Are your interactions focused simply on "having fun" or is godly conversation going on? Has this person brought you closer to Christ or farther away from him? These aren't meant to be judgmental questions against your friends, they are simply good questions to ask about every relationship you are in.

Put your relationships through an evaluating season every once in a while. This will reveal those friends that will help you grow to become more like Christ. Ask the Lord to reveal his will to you. And you know what? He will; and it will be good.

~Julie for the "TF" team

More than decoration: Julie's Testimony

I've always been exposed to Christianity, the local church, sound doctrine and biblical relationships. For the first 14 years of my life I was comfortable with who I was, where I lived, who my friends were, and what I was doing with my life. I had accepted Christ when I was 8 and I was living like I thought a Christian should. I was participating in things at the church, I had great godly friends, I was pretty obedient to my parents and got along with my brother most of the time. Sure I did things wrong, but I knew that if I asked God for forgiveness that he would grant that to me and that Jesus had already paid the punishment for my sin. I knew the right answers, I knew the right way to live, I knew the right scriptures to quote. But I didn't know that being a Christian was much more than that.

When I was 14 I attended the Xtreme conference at Metro Life Church, the local church that I had grown up in. It was the first time that I had been to the conference and I was really looking forward to it, and had a lot of faith for what God was going to do in everyone there. Everyone, except me. Sure I had a measly amount of faith for God revealing himself to me, but I honestly didn't really want that to happen. I like my comfortable little bubble and I didn't want God to pop in and change it. Here's a tip for you though...don't put God in a bubble...he will eventually pop it and radically change your perspective and your life.

At that conference I realized that I was not living my life completely committed to God. I was living with false assurance. All my faith was in a prayer that I prayed one night in my living room at the ripe old age of 8. I lived my life riding on the coat tails of my parents beliefs and convictions, without owning them for myself. Another tip...living this way produces nothing but empty, worthless fruit. It's kinda like the fake plastic fruit...looks pretty and real on the outside, but the inside is hard, hollow sometimes, and cannot be used for anything but decoration. I realized that weekend that I was nothing more than a decoration on the shelf of Christianity and that God would not take me off the shelf to use me unless I pleaded with the Lord to change me...to pop my bubble.

Over the past few years, the Lord has continuously and faithfully been changing and molding my heart into what HE wants it to look like. He has graciously allowed me to see his hand in so many things and has taken me on an incredible journey. He changed my perspective dramatically during my trips to Bolivia and China, he is still helping me grow in humility and patience with my sisters, he has given me amazing relationships with my parents and friends, and has provided me with jobs that provide many opportunities to share the gospel with my co-workers. But most of all he has drawn me to himself through the power of his word. God's scripture is amazingly relevant and full of life. It has everything you need for your life...it lacks absolutely nothing. The promises it holds about our Savior should change your life every day...and if they don't then please evaluate your heart.

Now don't get the wrong idea. I did not change overnight...ask my parents or my friends. But my heart began to melt, I began to have a passion for the things of God like never before, and I started to have discernment and wisdom about things, instead of relying solely on my parents to tell me what to do and how to behave. It's amazing how the Lord grants us the desires of our hearts when we truly submit to him and his sovereign care and discipline in our lives. It hurts, there are tears, frustration, and lots of questions about what God is doing. I've lost relationships, I've changed directions many times, I've fallen short even more times. But there is reward, joy, happiness and abundant blessing that comes from living completely surrendered to Him. My dad tells me all the time, "There is much reward in righteous living." He is right...and the reward far outweighs the difficulties that are on the road of sanctification.

My testimony so far is not what I would call extraordinary. But then I've realized that it's not about my specific story, in fact it's not about me at all. It's about God taking an ordinary sinner like me, and doing extraordinary things in her life. Only Jesus Christ is able to accomplish that. If I may take this moment to encourage you all to not just be a decoration. I lived as a "Christian" for 6 years without really doing anything for God. I was seeking to serve only myself, and as scripture says you cannot serve two masters. Now I know that I belong to God. My life is committed to him and I have never been more in love with my savior. I'm more than just a decoration...I'm a trophy of grace, a daughter of the King of Kings, a sinner that has been rescued by the redeeming blood of Christ, and I give my life to love him always. Don't be fake...God can see right through that. Be real, be genuine, and be open...share what God has given you. It is the most beautiful thing to see someone used by God in the way that he intends. So, get yourself down off the shelf, dust off your hearts, pray for change, and ask God to humble you and pop your bubble. He will do great things because he is a great God.

~Julie