Time for an update

Hello there I haven't been blogging for a while-- crazy business. Well hopefully I can start this up again without lagging. I'm actually going to do a lot of writing for the future. I've been wanting to write more than I've let myself in the these past years. So here goes....

First of lets back track.
June: Highlights
Resolved 2010: Jesus Christ --- Great time of worship, fellowship, preaching and overall convictingness --Before Resolved I think I was just content with my relationship with Jesus. I mean he is my all in all and I love my savior--- but did my actions and more than that my affection towards him really display the magnitude of what he did for me... hmmm I don't think they did.. well that's gotta change.
Before Resolved part 2 --- I've been planing this amazing road trip to Louisiana to see my old hommies b/c i missed them but then little things kept bringing me down and I was wondering if I should even go on the trip at all. First all the stuff and money I had to put into my car... yike lady Vic is expensive to get road trip ready but she's worth it. Then I decided finally on the dates.. right after resolved but dad was on my back to stay a few days extra oh and mom decided to go along.... grr at first then well yay afterwards. Anyways this trip was getting pricy and not at all as I envisioned.. Why was I going anyway? Oh right to see everyone b/c no matter how much people say they will keep in touch well they won't... even as I write this I'm exhausted but know I have to be the pro active one to stay in their lives... Ok so here we are
Resolved Weekend.. did I loose you. don't worry your quick and will catch up.. not to the road trip part...

RE: 20210 Jesus Christ
Somethings that stuck with me though many of the sermons were very good.
Portrait of Astrid's Life before Christ : Go to Mark 5:1-20 Story of the demonic possessed man and how Jesus Christ's power to save changed this man's life. I still think about the image of this man.. breaking thru his chains, legions of spirits in his eyes, naked, crazy, cutting himself with stones... and I think wow that man was me prior to conversion... It seems overwhelmingly insensitive to say so about oneself but it's the truth.... as the passage goes on Jesus commands this converted man to go and tell his friends what has happened to him. Jesus says you are the example of my great and vast grace and power... Go tell. Who? -- Friends. God was saying Go tell. Who? You friends Astrid. Go tell Tiffany, Angela, Stephen... all of them Go tell your friends.
Ok God I guess that's what this trip is all about.

Fast forward: Road trip/ Visiting with peeps in Shreveport/Bossier Area
So I get there and I'm very eager to see everyone but trying to schedule in time. Well this is when that crafty devil gets to work.. He too knew my mission was clear. His mission was now
Go stop Astrid from telling. So of course everyone on my heart who I really wanted to talk to and share what God has been doing in my life is practically unreachable.
Keep trying Astrid. The reason you are here is to tell them about Jesus Christ and what he's done in your life.

After much avoidance finally open opportunities and who knows when the chance will happen again so it's Gospel time. I felt really burdened to remind my dear friend Tiffany who Jesus is. I shared with her in one of the only two times I would have seen her on this trip... at the playplace in McDonalds. I knew I went for her and her daughter. She is in desperate need of a savior and the life that she is currently pursuing is destruction. Her voice, the pain in her eyes said it all. One day God. As you are faithful. You've given me hope
So next my dear old friend Stephen-- searcher of truth only the truth that is not found in an exclusive God.

Pause -- Flash back to Resolved again

Another truth that rang in my head while I was driving and then while I was visiting my friends what from another sermon Jesus as King and his rightful judgment as King in Revelation 19:6-21 In this passage there are two banquets which Jesus will attend. The first is the marriage supper of the lamb where his saints-- of which I am graciously one, will be dinning with our Lord at a great feast, singing his praises.. the second banquet is the one where he pours out his judgment on those who've rejected him and they will feel the full wrath of our Lord.. Read it's pretty graphic --- v15 reads From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the wine press of the fury or the wrath of God the Almighty. That's just the beginning. v18 describes how he will eat the flesh of men and captains...
Back to trip
So why am i dwelling on this horrible picture.. well simple. I know people who if they died today would be at table 2. Go Tell them Astrid. Even if the response is rejection... they have to know.

So here I am spending time with my friend Stephen and he brings up the Exclusivity of God and how he cannot ponder believing in a god who only allows for his name to be praised.. I shared with him about how I in my shame did not even deserve the love and grace of a God worthy to be praised for his sovereignty. After more discussion I realized that my job was to present the Gospel clean and clear. He understood that his choice was to stave off accepting this precious gift and should his life come to an end soon he deserved his end... while this is true my heart ached at the capriciousness of his thinking that God's judgment wine press and all would be unfortunate.
As he will continue to seek the knowledge of this world God's word "Psalm 19:7-9 God's word is the only thing that is true. Also I and I'm blanking on the reference but the grass withers and the flower fades away but the word of the Lord endures forever.

Last but not least. My friend Ang. Have always shared the Gospel with her in letters and on the phone. Now it's time for the face to face.
Another dig from the devil.. He is trying hard to keep my friends from hearing any truth. Sorry Satan and well you already know this My GOD is BIGGER than you and there is nothing you can do... So once again my heart is racing and at the 11th hour or however they say... before heading out Friday morning at 8 one last stop thurs night at 9.. This is an important meeting.
Ang and I go way back in our Gospel. I share with her I think in every letter I've sent to her and her response is it's not for me Doc or one day but right now no.
SO I try this again and I share with her about the character of God and I relate a personal story of forgiveness I've just recently encountered. She understands my forgiving this person but has trouble understanding the forgiveness of God through the blood of Christ. I explain to her that her live as independent as she may be is not her own to live to life. She once again says to me that she wishes she could have my kind of faith but isn't ready.. Frustrated Astrid cries in her mind Why?
Ready for what. To deserve his love... That's Never... We don't deserve His grace or love. Ang doesn't quite understand but she is starting to realize more... Keep telling them about me AStrid
You just share and I've already written out the plan...
My lessons in all of this is I went not because of my selfish plans but because God used me to share with those who needed to hear just like I had people share with me all those years ago in my apartment VBS. Go tell. Who? Your friends Astrid... and then your family, your co-workers, everyone. There's more to the story but it's time for a break. Night.