"Don't let me forget to tell you..."

I say this every time I write that I do not know what I am going to write about before doing so.  But this time I do. I was having dinner with a new friend of mine and asked her what I should write about, just asking that question gave me my answer. I was like I am going to write about you.  She was like no you are not. She is going to kill me for doing this, but I told her I would.  I have known her less then two months, but it seems like FOREVER.  Anyone who have talked with me in the past few weeks have heard me rip and rave on her.  

This lady has come at a vital point in my life.  Last post I talked about reevaluation in my life and I know the Lord is using her in this time for me.  She loves Jesus so much and if you were to have a 5 min conversation with her you would notice.  In a time when I didn't want to discuss Jesus, she has made the gospel so attractive.  She is no fake, and its not super spiritual either, which is what I am trying to not fall into. She just really is transformed by Christ. Everything she does is in light of the gospel. 

Not only does this lady love Christ but she is HILARIOUS. She would blame it on me, but I have never laughed so much in my whole life.  I leave every encounter with her with swollen jaws. When we go in public people look at us because we laugh so much and so loud. The other day we were hanging with some high school girls at Panera (St. Louis Bread Co) and this older man came up to us and was so encouraged at our laughter. Not only is she funny in her home, or in public, but also in text messaging. I don't know if I ever met someone who was hilarious in text messaging. There has been times when I have checked my text messages at inappropriate times, like in VBS or at dinner with someone and I literally laugh out loud. Not ok, I know but she is too much. I save her messages so I can reread them later for good laughs. If you ever meet her do not let her tell you any different. 

Lastly, she always has a great story to tell, she always text me, "don't let me forget to tell you..." every time I am with her I enjoy talking about Jesus, laughing, and hearing great stories.  I hope I can be half the women she is when I get older. I pray the people who read this will find a dear friend like this. They are hard to come by.  I have many close friends, and many godly older women in my life and I wouldn't exchange anyone of you, but this lady is the first older black single christian women I have met and who have taken time to care for my soul.  

Lo, you thought you were the answer to my prayer 6 years ago, but I think she may be the answer. HAHA. I love you so much Lorali and Lo!! I love my dear friends in Knox, and St. Louis, and my Nashville girl!! And my now Dallas girl.

Lil Kim!!!HAHA! LOVE YOU GIRL!

I LOVE SODA

I received an email from one of my best friends and it merely said that I needed to write a new blog post. So here I go with this blog post. Like many of my blog postings it has no meaning and it is just my random thoughts flowing as my fingers make the tapping sound on this white key pad.

Yesterday marked a special day for me.  It was the first time in 6 years since I had drunken a SODA. I went to go watch the best/worst TV show (Bachelorette) with a good friend of mine who is moving out of town.  Before going there I had to call my brother because I needed someone to tell me that it was OKAY for me to drink a soda. He gave me the okay to drink the soda but told me not to drink too much.  I started off with a Pepsi, then later a Dr. Pepper. It was weird but great and worth it.

These past few months has been a time of self-evaluation. What does drinking soda have to do with anything? I really have not thought hard and long about it but I think I need to start evaluating why I do things I do, and why I believe the things I believe.  I don't want to continue something in my life just because its routine, or easy. I want to have purpose to my life. So why didn't I drink soda? Well when I went off to college I wanted to have a healthy life style. I wanted to get rid of pimples and I didn't want to gain the freshman 15. Well at 24 I still have pimples and I have gained the 6 year senior 40. It sickens me. So right now in my life not drinking soda doesn't benefit me.

Not only am I evaluating why I didn't drink soda but I am also evaluating my Christian life and my relationships. It was a busy last year of undergrad for me. I was interning, in three bible studies, living with a great family, involved in multiple bible studies a week, volunteering for a christian organization, working, and in counseling.  This all came to an abrupt end.  Honestly I didn't know what to do and did nothing for a while.  God was nowhere to be found in my life. So now in my life is when the evaluation comes. Why was I not following the Lord like I was and then Jesus was nowhere in my daily routine. Why am I loving my sin? Where is this Jesus dude they talk about and why isn't he transforming my life?  I came to realize that though I am a true believer of Christ, like a family member said to me recently, I had been hiding behind the church. I had been hiding behind being "the christian" in my family, and hiding behind godly activities.

I am done hiding. I am done pretending that everything is all great and easy as a Christian. I am done being surprised by my sin and others.  I am done doing the right things just because its in my routine.  I am done saying do this and don't do that even if my heart is not in the right place.  I am done not being transformed by Jesus a lone. I am like every person on this earth in need of Jesus Christ. I need him more now then ever. My prayer daily is that I will be transformed by Jesus not by good works or "christian" activities but Christ alone.

I don't know if this post makes sense to anyone, but it does to me. I need thee oh Lord.