Thankfulness Part II

Earlier this week (before I started Fasting February) I was watching the Bachelor. This show is well known but for those who may not know, the show has a bachelor who picks through a series of weeks from 30 women who he would like to marry. When I watched this show, I realized how broken our world is when it comes to relationships. Some of these women on there would talk about how this was their last chance for love and blah blah blah. I realized how they don't realize that they ARE LOVED; just maybe not in the way they think. They are loved by the Creator who died to have a relationship with them. 

Watching this show also made me realize how thankful I was that God has currently placed in my life some really godly men who I am soooo thankful to know. They help me keep in mind qualities that I am looking for in a guy and how true men of God act. I am so thankful for the way these people have influenced my life. 

The first man in my life is of course my Dad.

My Dad is one of my favorite people. He has a great testimony that I was so proud to be a witness to. I love telling people about my Dad, his faith and how it impacted mine. When I was younger my Dad was working all the time. For this I do not fault him; it was because he had such expensive daughters to take care of. However, at this time he rarely came to church with us. If I had a "God" question, he wasn't the man that I went to. When I was a freshmen in high school, my church did the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren challenge. It changed my Dad's life or at least I think so. When this happened my Dad started coming to church and doing daily time alone with God. It was so strange at first to see my Dad growing in his faith. As time went on and I realized that this was not a phase but a true change, I was so amazed and challenged by this. If my Dad could do this, then so could I. I started trying to imitate my Dad and the change that he had (with God's strength) brought into his life. He was and is now the man I go to when I have questions and need  wise counsel. Without the example my Dad set, I probably wouldn't have had half the changes I made in high school. I love my Dad so much and how he has always been there for me and challenged me; challenged me to tithe: money, time, and everything that I had to God. 

The next couple of men in my life that I want to talk about are my best friends. First I will tell you about Casey. Casey Neil Jordan has made a huge impact on my life. Even though when and if he reads this, he will probably be surprised and then give me a hard time about all the nice things I am about to say about him.

Casey is a great guy. He listens to me; if you don't know me very well, I talk a lot. He is always interested in my life and what's going on. Casey loves God and that is one of my favorite things about him. Casey also loves to sing and when he is combining both in worshiping God he smiles a lot. It was so strange for me to see him worship the first time I did. When I was in high school, the Christian guys around me didn't think it was "cool" to sing at church, especially not passionately or with excitement and true joy. When I saw Casey among other guys singing with their full heart, it overjoyed me. I was so happy to realize that what I thought was strange in high school was indeed strange and not how it should be. Casey loves to joke around and play practical jokes or pranks. He helps me stay focused on the lighter side of life and not all the studying and stress that I so often get tied up in. I'm super blessed to have Casey as a guy friend who points me in the direction of the Lord. 

So the next guy in my life is Rob. Rob is one of the most biblically knowledgeable men that I know. Rob learned how to read Greek so that he wouldn't have to deal with translations. That is CRAZY. 

 This semester Rob and I normally have really good conversations on Mondays because we both happen to have an hour break at the same time. He is so challenging every time we talk. If I am slacking in something, Rob always has a way to encourage me to do better. He loves talking about what he sees God doing around him. I love this! I love hearing about the DNOWs that he gets the privilege to be apart of. Hearing what God is doing in other places makes me encouraged that he is doing great things in my own life. Rob loves to share and ask about what God is doing in my life. This is something that always amazes me; that he can stay so sincere in wanting to be around other people. He is an extremely genuine guy and I'm so thankful that God has placed him as such a good friend in my life. 

How to describe Andrew Thaddeus Martin? That is the question.

Drew is probably one of the funniest guys I know. So often I get stressed out and Drew is there to say, "Woah! Lauren chill out." It is great to have that in my life. How many people get to say that they have someone in their life who automatically makes your day happier with one hug of encouragement? I do! Drew loves to joke around and be funny and sarcastic but one of my favorite things is when Drew opens up and we can have great conversations about things that Benjamin has told him that impacted him or things that God has been moving and molding in his life. Drew loves to give hugs and it is so great. When I have a bad day, there is Drew to encourage and help out. It also helps that he lets me be motherly and take care of him sometimes.

Overall, these men that God has placed in my life are people that I love and are important to me. College would have been so different without Rob, Casey and Drew. Life would have been just completely unimaginable without my Dad. These men are such good role models for the people around them. They love Jesus and are my brothers (or Dad) in Christ. I love that I have the opportunity to be encouraged by and to encourage them.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

- Hebrews 10:24-25