Be The Change

The month of November has been a whirlwind of events in the Allen house. We will have had 4 different sets of people stay with us by the end of the month, I have 3 craft shows, and we made a trip to the Big Island for a church retreat. Whew, just writing that makes me feel tired. One perk of living far away from family and friends is we get lots of visitors. It doesn't hurt that we live in Hawaii which also is a pretty nice place to stay.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am interoverted through and through. Although, I have grown so much in the past 3 years of marriage to my very extroverted husband, I still would rather be with a small group of people than a large one, it makes me extremely nervous to speak to new people and I do not like to be in the spotlight. Having said all of that, I also struggle with having a positive outlook on hospitality. I love sharing our blessings with others, but the introvert in me gets nervous when people I have not spent a lot of time with come to stay in our home. But I STRONGLY believe when you push yourself outside your comfort zone to do something that God has commanded you will be Blessed. And blessed I have been.
Every new couple that has stayed with us over the past few years I have learned something from I feel. Our tiny one bedroom apartment leaves little room for alone time when we have company, making it a good enviroment to get to know our visitors. I could go through and talk about each guest we have had in our home and the impact they have had on us, but since that would be too long of a posts I want to just say a few things about the last couple in our home.
Last week Dave and Harmony Miller came to stay with us. My husband, Landry and Dave are friends from college and lived together after school for a little bit. I lived with Harmony one summer when I was dating my husband. The title of this post is from a quote Harmony told me one night when the boys went out and we stayed home. She said that she is always encouraging her husband to be the change. She was telling me she feels like we don't talk about God enough in our everyday relationships with people. She texts her husband when he left and reminded him to talk with Landry about how God has been working in his life lately. What a great challenge.
This thought really was an eye opener for me. Do I speak about God to those I come in contact with? Do my non-Christian friends know who is number one in my life? Do I check in on my Christian brothers and sisters and encourage them in their walk with God? My number one desire in this life is to please God.
Matthew 10:27-28
What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you her whispered, proclaim on the housetops, And do not fear those who kill the body, but can not kill the soul, Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:19-20
When they deliver you over do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. It is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
I want to be bold with my faith in Jesus. I want to not fear what others will think of me. I want to only fear what God thinks of me. My prayer today is to be the change, to be the person in my circle of influence who speaks the truth. Thank you Lord using me as your vessel. Speak your words through me.