Are you an influence?

FAITH:

"Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts." James 3:13 (MSG)

It all started with a girl named Debbie.

Debbie was about 18 when she attended my family's local Baptist church. I was 8 and entering an awkward stage. She was brunette and beautiful. All the boys wanted to date her, and all the girls wanted to be her. I just wanted her hair.

Debbie successfully got her hair to form glorious, sweeping cowlicks in the front, with perfection matched only by 70's singers on album covers. I admired it from afar, coveting its style. I bugged my mom so bad about wanting it, she finally decided to pick up the phone and ask Debbie how she did it. Seems a little Aqua Net and the blast of a hairdryer did the trick. At least for Debbie.

You may be interested to know that I never did achieve the style of my hair-icon Debbie. Apparently Debbie did not have fine hair such as mine. But boy did she give me a good reason to spray, tease and blow-dry my little heart out trying. She wore her hair so beautifully that I believed I would look just as beautiful if I had her style.

This silly childhood example reminds me of the very real influence we have on each other. Even as adults we see another woman's fashion style and we try to copy it. We watch another woman's success, and we try to match it. We want what others have...try to be what others are...and believe that we will be more and live better if we can only become like someone else.

The truth is, even though I want to be a trendsetter, an individualist, a unique woman with a mind of my own, I have to admit I am just as impressionable as the next person. Let's face it, no matter our age, we influence and are influenced by each other.

As ironic as this may sound, the thought of how impressionable we are gives me great hope as to how we can help other women find Jesus.
I Corinthians 11:1 talks about the type of influence we can have on one another -- a way of living that comes from within and attracts those around us to want what we have. "Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ," speaks directly to this type of Godly influence.

It's about wearing Christ with the authentic beauty of a heart that's been changed, giving other women a reason to want what we have. To look like we look. To live like we live. To be what we are. Make no mistake, our hurting girlfriends are looking for one good reason to change their lives. The reality is that our lives may be the only reason they find to seek out something different than what they have known. It's a beautiful, important responsibility.

May we always remember that our mission in life is not one of perfect hair or worldly achievement, but of living and breathing the message of Jesus Christ by our words, our actions, and most importantly, our life. May we embrace the privilege of imitating Christ, so that our girlfriends and others we have influence over will see something in us that they want desperately to have. May we wear Him well so His beauty is fully and completely represented. For the influence we have through Him will last much longer than a fashion fad...a social trend...or even, a coveted hairstyle like Debbie's.

Let's have what they want, and show them how to get it. by Lisa Whittle

FRIENDS:

Jesus, You are the reason to love, to live and to breathe. You alone make the journey possible. May we remember that we represent You always, and help us understand how to do that in such a way that it will lead others to a saving relationship with You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE

13. LUKE 17:11-19; 2 TIMOTHY 2:1-13; PROVERBS 11:16-31; NEHEMIAH 7
14. LUKE 17:20-37; 2 TIMOTHY 2:14-26; PROVERBS 12:1-14; NEHEMIAH 8

10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. The taste of ripe fruit
2. The smell of sheets that have been dried outside
3. The feel of early morning sun on your back
4. The touch of a loved ones hand
5. A rainstorm at night when you are safe in bed
6. A snail mail letter from an old friend
7. When too much to do becomes manageable
8. Being able to reach a compromise
9. Crawling out of a tent on a frosty morning
10. The smell of campfire coffee

FOOD:

Tito's oven-roasted beans
Roasting in the oven frees you from watching the pot cook and allows you to relax!
I use a large lasagna pan, but a nice clay pot would be fabulous or a Dutch oven. I prefer to cook these beans before I really need them, as I think they are much better the next day

The recipe is an idea, can be doubled no problem.Beans will double in volume when cooked. If needed, more water can be added. I like to have
the rich garlicky broth for soups.

2 cups cannellini beans, rinsed and soaked
4-6 cups water
1/4 cup olive oil
1 sage branch
1 head of garlic, left whole, but with the top cut off
salt, to taste
( Italians don't like to eat a lot of garlic, save the roasted garlic and serve the cloves spread on toast for those that
love garlic!)

Place all the ingredients in the pan except the salt and cook at 350 degrees until beans are tender. ( Depending on the beans can be up to 2 hours)

Stir the beans once or twice during the cooking time, approx 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours.The olive oil will create a "crust" on the top
layer of beans, this adds some texture, much like cassoulet, but can also dry that top layer, which is why you want to stir.

Salt the beans at the end of the cooking time.

FUN:

God is sitting in Heaven when a scientist says to Him, "Lord, we don't need you anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing. In other words, we can now do what you did in the 'beginning'."

"Oh, is that so? Tell me..." replies God.

"Well", says the scientist, "we can take dirt and form it into the likeness of you and breathe life into it, thus creating man."

"Well, that's interesting. Show Me. "

So the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold the soil.

"Oh no, no, no...." interrupts God,

(I love this)




"Get your own dirt."