An Example.

For a few months we've had these boys come to our church. Three cousins. that all live together. They're a handful but oh so much fun. Recently i've had the oppurtunity to become really close with one of them. He's lived a rough life and he is on the path to success.

Yesterday as we were driving one of the cousins heard me beep at a dumb driver and said to me
"Austyn, your a christian. you can't do that"

It got me thinking. If the simplest things like beeping show my love for Christ or lack there of than WHAT on earth kind of example do i really set. Scary.

Here these boys are, coming from inner cities and living the life that i could never imagine. They don't know God's love, they don't know how to live in his light. To serve him and love him. I've stepped into that at a glimpse. I could never. I would never survive.

Here i am complaining that i don't have $50 to fill my gas tank. But i have a beautiful house, lots of clothes, plenty of food, 3 meals a day and a smile on my face. How dare I complain about something so stupid.

This particular boy has been through things i would never ever ever survive. He tells me about it. I want to break down and cry and hug him huge. Tell him it's okay, life is better now. I often wonder just exactly what he thinks of the example i set. I love him uncondtionally, take him all over, treat him like my little baby, spoil him rotten, drag him with me to church and VBS and save him a seat in Sunday school but what does he really think of my actions when im not smiling and at church?

I often find myself laughing that i call myself a christian yet im so unperfect in every way. I try to hard to love God and serve him and his kingdom but yet i fall so short. I catch myself all the time doing things that are not glorifying him. But he is just so awesome that he will forgive me and love me in return.

If i teach this sweet boy of mine anything i want him to know the love of Jesus. I want him to feel it, be confident in it and realize that no sin could ever lose his earning to the love of Jesus under his presence in his heart. God is oh so good to us and his love is everlasting.

What kind of example are you setting today? One of God's love or a lack there of?

I hope that in our 5 days at camp next week, I will be refreshed in God's awesome divine power but that these boys will come to know His love that no one else could ever give them.

-Austyn :)