I pray...

Today I turned 26 years old. I can honestly say that I don't feel that old, but I was going to arrive here at some point. I know that I haven't blogged in a while, but it is not because I don't have anything to say. I think it is mostly that I don't know how to say it. My hope is that my 26 years of life have had a positive impact on those whom I have come into contact with. Not for my benefit, but for the gospel. This is the month of my birthday, but also 9 years ago I accepted Christ and decided to follow Him and love Him with all I had. It has been a long journey, not always easy but I always made it through. I think my desire all along has been to make a difference in the lives of the people I meet, because I know how much Jesus changed my life. It did cost me some friends, some personal dreams, etc. but when I look at where I am now I see that it was all worth it. I have decided that from this year forward I am going to be more intentional about sharing the gospel. Nothing makes me happier than doing it, but sometimes I just get nervous, and don't. I want people to know that I really care about them, that I really love them, and that when I say I'm going to pray for you (I actually do it). I have listed a few things here that I pray for this year.

I pray that the people I come into contact with can see me for who I really am, for what I really desire, and not for who the moment shows me to be.
I pray that people I come into contact with will know where I stand on the issues, but know how much I love them.
I pray that I can be a minister to all people, that I can love the sinner and still speak against the sin.
I pray that I would not disgrace the cross of Christ with selfishness.
I pray that I would always love with all my heart and nothing less.
I pray that I would be a person of integrity.
I pray that I would be funny, but be taken serious too.
I pray that God would use me to minister to those the church writes off.
I pray that I would be trusted by those who know me.
I pray that I would not compromise my beliefs for friendships, but that I could be a friend anyways.
I pray that I would be the gospel, not in actions alone but with my words. People don't know the gospel unless we tell them.
I pray that I could be a person anyone can talk to about the problems. That I would be a listener first, and a problem solver second.
I pray that I would be a minister with my friends, but to them also.

I hope that you all see my heart. I love you. I really do. I want you to know how much God loves you. I just want to make a difference.