prayer request

I know, I know. Prayer requests for your animals can be kind of lame. They are only animals.
But if you've ever had a pet you know what it's like.
My puppy, I've shown you pictures, my lovely puppy and best friend; I found her with nothing but an eye that looked funny and now she might have either a brain tumor or eye cancer. Or maybe something else, but I'm so nervous. My mom works at a vet so we took her there yesterday, and they tried everything. She wasn't blinking so her eye was getting dry; so they looked but there are no scratches, no irritation in that way, no infection. They sent off blood to be tested for more things it might be. My mom was going to take her back to work ( the vet) tomorrow to get results and have the other vets that work there look er over as well but, with all this stupid snow I'm not sure that my mom can get her there tomorrow. I'm so worried ya know? The more I think the more i worry but the more i worry the more I get nervous and I don't really wanna think about it cause I hate thinking the worst but I just don't know.. I don't know what to do. I pray about it.. and thats what I'm asking you guys to please do. I just ask that you don't pray for her to be okay, but that she'll be okay if it's God's will. I just want His will to be done. I told Him not long ago that no matter what it is, He can take it away from me. And I believe that ya know.. because I know whatever He does it is for my good and that I'd rather be in pain, rather be in 'danger', than to be outside of God's will. I just do ask that you'd pray for me and her. Yeah, yeah, she's a dog. But she's also my best friend, and I've never really lost anything before. Yeah I've lost a dog before but I wasn't as close to her as I am to my dog Dumpling. For all I know she'll be okay, but for all I know she won't. I'm trying to be positive it's ust so hard.
Thank you guys
Laura

new year

joy.
it's something missing.
to be honest, I'm quite a happy person.
I'm really energetic, loud, happy.
but what about when I'm not? yeah, everyone has their down times.
But how much time do I spend complaining?
I drag my feet around whining and being stupid because of something that I'm already so blessed with.
it's pathetic.
with tomorrow being a new year and all, i'm going to try to be more joyful.
something I really want is for people to see Christ in me.
I think joyfullness is one of the easiest ways to do that.
Be happy, you have a reason to.
My best friend is the God of the Most High, the Savior & Creator of the world.
I pretty much have no right to ever complain, right there.
So be happy, have joy, and people will notice something different.
happy new years
-laura

crazy love.

it's so incredible. I've never felt so small. It's like the good-side of feeling worthless. at the end of reading chapter one of Crazy Love by Francis Chan, I got slapped in the face with how big God is. I felt so unworthy to be in His presence. But it was like I couldn't get out. It was the best and worst place to be. I just couldn't believe that a God with that much power, and that much.. muchness, is the God I pray to when I can't find my pencil or don't know what to wear. Francis Chan says in chapter 1: Not being able to fully understand God is frustrating, but it is ridiculous for us to think we have the right to limit God to something we are capable of comprehending! What a stunted, insignificant god that would be!"
God is so amazing. That God.. that amazing God sits on a throne before seven blazing torches, surrounded by the elders saying, "holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come" non stop, day and night. Around the throne looks like a rainbow made of emeralds, and that He looks more like radiant jewels than flesh and blood.
That's the God I serve. But that is also the God I don't have time for because I'm on instagram, or fall asleep watching movies, or because i really don't feel like it. I don't want to get up to go to church and shower and everything..That is so pathetic, selfish and stupid.
I don't deserve to have a relationship with Him. I feel like I don't even deserve to know His name, much less spend eternity with Him. I can talk to this God at any time, yet I take it for granted. I'm so stupid. He is so holy.

one another.

John 13: 34-35 NLT
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13: 34-35 the message
34-35 “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.
this summer at youth group, we've been talking about one another. for each week we talked about each different one--
love   >
forgive >
teach    >
serve    >                      one another.
worship with >  
pray for   >
encourage   >

I love this quote by a friend of mine ;) - "Love is always the answer. For every action against you, love is the perfect reaction. Don't hurt yourself by hurting others." -Manwell Reyes
I think these things are really important when we're going back to school and everything coming up. I want this year to be different for me, and all of us. That even if, like me, you don't spend a lot of time around unbelievers, I still want people to see Jesus in me. I want to love like Jesus, forgive like Jesus, encourage like Jesus. I want Jesus to shine through me, so that I'll be seen differently, I won't blend in, I won't be like the rest. And for the ones who don't believe, you might be the only Jesus they'll ever see, ever meet. don't waste what might be their only chance to see Jesus.

remember those things this year. love, forgive, serve, worship, pray, teach, encourage.
If you're truly living by the ways of Christ, you're not going to be the same as everyone else.
Do you think Jesus blended in and acted like the world?
He stood out, and so you're going to have to, too.
and please be praying for my life group leader and laura ashleys grandpa :)
xxxxx

not soft

when reading in Romans last night, I found this part saying, "God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life change."
Everything that he does, When God puts you through hard times, when you're upset with God, you have to realize that everything he does, though maybe it doesn't seem right at the moment, is always for the best for you, is always done in kindness. Remember it.

trade your soul

'For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his own soul?' Mark 8:36

There are so many things we want in this world, definitely. But when it all comes to an end, at the end of your life; you may have everything, the nicest house, cars, all the money, but for what? You spent your life working to have the nicest things, for what reason? So maybe it made you happy at the time, but only true joy can come from the Lord. At the end of your life, do you think you will be okay with not spending a moment with Christ? The only one who can save you from eternity in hell?

Don't trade your soul for this temporary world.
it isn't worth it.

love-

love- it isn't a feeling its an action.
'the love that's described in the Bible is steadfast. It doesn't leave when feelings fade or times get tough. This is an incredibly important concept for you to understand: if real love- Jesus Christ- gave up when the going got tough, there would be no salvation. 
Jesus loved when it wasn't easy to. He was beaten, spat upon, and mocked. He bled on the cross, but still He didn't reject the people who had rejected Him. Jesus' disciples realized what was about to happen to Him and walked away in fear, but Jesus endured the torture. He didn't give up on us, even though we gave up on Him. God's love helps us to understand what real love is- and Jesus shows us a love that has little to do with how it makes he lover feel. It's an unselfish love that puts other person's needs first.
True love is patient in the face of difficult people. It refuses to keep a record o everything people do wrong. It endures anger, suffering, and pain. It doesn't always feel good all of the time. And the human objects of its affection aren't always perfectly lovable.
When love is all about you and how good you feel, then that isn't true, biblical love.
So, you're to love God with everything you have and love everyone else, too. That's a tough one. Which is it? Can you do both? The idea is this: If you're to love God with everything and love others as yourself, then loving others must be a part of loving God. One way you love God is by loving His children.
And that's why Scripture has so much to say about love for difficult, trying, and even mean people. Because love really isn't about you; it's all about God.
In order to love, to truly love,..You must live to serve Him, and, in doing so, learn to love others in the most selfless way possible.'
excerpt from Obsessed by Haley DiMarco 

xxo Laura

worry-

Did you know worry is a sin? Don't believe me?

"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. ...Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion- do you think it makes that much difference?" Matthew 6:25-34

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Philipians 4:6

"Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret- it only causes harm." Ps. 37:8

'Now you know the answer: worry is a terrible sin because it calls God a liar. Worry says God won't protect you doesn't have the best for you, and isn't even paying attention to you. Worry says God is a bad Dad, who like a delinquent earthly father only thinks about Himself. But the Bible tells a completely different story about God.'

"For I know the plans I have for you- this is the Lord's declaration- plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

"We know that all thins work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

'When you belong to God, nothing can harm you except what He allows. And if He allows it, then you must be convinced that it is for your benefit. Incredibly terrible, sinful things happen to us in this world, though, and sometimes understanding how God can allow that or use it for His glory and our benefit is difficult. That's when we have to trust Him and lean upon the promises of His Word. And when you live with this kind of attitude, worry leaves your life because you have nothing to fear and an all-powerful, loving God to trust.'

"With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else He wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? WHo would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us- who was raised to life for us!- is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. DO you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture..." Romans 8-

two rules about worry:
Rule 1: Don't worry about the things that God has under control.
Rule 2: God has everything under control.

'Sometimes looking back is the best way to see God moving.'
'Looking back at times gone by, can you see some things you worried about that you don't worry about anymore? ...Think aboutt the way you used to worry, then think about how things turned out. ...Take a minute and look back over your life. When was a tie when God came through for you? ...Now remind yourself that God is just as involved today as He was during that situation.'
'Worry is unacceptable in a life based on faith.It makes accusations against God and calls His faithfulness into question. If you want to be free from obsessing over things by worrying, then confess the sin of worry today and turn away from it. Change your way of life and reject worry the next time it pops up its ugly head.'

Fear-

"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will no leave you or forsake you." Deut. 31:6

'There are no second causes with God; everything that happens, happens for a reason.'
Even the worsts of things that happen to you, though at one point you are going to think they are bad, will always be for your good. Whether its bringing you closer to God, maybe there is a lesson to come out of it- everything is for your good. God uses those things for purposes. 'When you fear the things that are happening or may happen in your life, you're distrusting the loving hand of the Father.'

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides." James 1:1

'Reverence for God overpowers your other fears, because you're able to rest in His words, trust in His character, and be certain of His power. Because you know who God is and understand His worth, your other fears fade.'

'When you reverence God, even the bad things in your life aren't as bad as the could be because you trust Him and know He has the best in store or you. When you worship and honor God over anything else in your life- fears included- you lack nothing because He is truly all you need. When that's your attitude about God, those moments in your life when you lack something physically or emotionally become beautiful chances to fall at His feet and worship Him.'

"You who are His holy ones, fear Yahweh, for those who fear Him lack nothing." Ps. 34:9

"In the fear of the Lord, one has strong confidence and His children have a refuge." Prov. 14:26

God is our refuge when we are in fear- He is our hiding place where we can rest.

thank you.

You know, when you share something, or say something, you never know how much that might mean to someone. It could be more than you know. Its so amazing to be on both ends of that. God puts people in the right places and times, with the right people, for reasons. 
I just wanted to say.. how much all you guys mean to me. Just in the past 6 months or so, when I've got to meet and talk to all of you guys, and I started going to a new church youth group, I've just grown in God so much. And you guys.. I just love you guys (: You've been friends to me when I needed them most. You guys have just all been right there for me like.. always. its means more than you might know.. so, I thought you should know! <3 

passionate

God is so unbelieveable. people often say how he has everlasting love, mercy, grace. its so true. i have witnessed it, experienced it so often that it is just crazy. God is so crazy amazing. crazy.. wonderful. he is so abundant in love, mercy. he just forgives every time. it feels like soon enough he would just want to forget about me.. give up all hope on me, but he doesnt. he keeps giving me another chance. he clears the slate and lets us start over. everyone of us, every time. he is so amazing. I just feel like there is nothing of my capabilites to truly thank him, praise him, and give back to him what he has done for me. there is nothing. what can i do? i just want to live my life for him, i want to give him all of me, my heart, my soul, my life, me! but then the devil comes along, and ruins everything. I'm so tired of the sins of this world. its so hard. its so tiring and so repetitive. its so frustrating. its so hard. you know what? i feel so so so sorry for the people without God in their lives. i cant imagine it! i would feel so empty, so lost! which is how they end up trying to fill up that hole with the things of this world. you want to know something else? i cant even look at a picture of One Direction right now because it breaks me, it kills me to think that not just them, but so many people I love and know will not get to go to Heaven. Someone has to reach them with Christ and I want it to be me. I want to change this world, one person at a time. But i dont know where to start. what to do. the life i'm living of doing school and watching disney channel then going back to bed is not the kind of life I should be living; thought I don't know how to change that. but i only have one life to live, and I want to live it full blast for God. I cant let all these people I love go to hell for ever and ever and ever and for all of eternity. I can't. It just puts me into overflowing tears everytime I look at their face. I can't do it! I love them too much. I can't believe that there are already so SOOOO many people in hell right now that have NO escape. They will be in there burning forever. Never ending. non stop. for ever. ever. and EVER .that is nothing to take lightly! That is not something to just whateverever pray about and skip along in your life! That is not how it is supposed to be, not how it is intended. if you think about it, about 3/4ths or more of the people you walk past or see each day, will be spending their eternity in hell. you know, people have often talked about being 'on fire for God' .. and I have always wanted to feel and have that passion.. I believe God literally set me on fire tonight. Its just SO hard to be on fire, yet be stuck at home. I don't have much of a choice but to sit at home and read about radioactive waves in science tomorrow, like every other day. typical. My mom always says I should be studying the Bible, and becoming closer to God so that later, when i am older and have more opportunities, I will be ready! but thats not the point! there are people dying and going to hell, now! this second! I bet you 100 people went to hell just in the time that i wrote this post! that was just a random guess and i have no facts behind that .. all i'm saying, is that it is urgent and not something to not care about. it is crazy. and i want to change, it. i have the chance to help these people. if you didn't really know the story of Christ, you needed to be found, would you have rathered someone just sit at home and watch TV rather than tell you about Christ?

Easter

Being a Christian is the biggest blessing of my life. I am so proud to be a follower of Christ. I want everyone to know that I follow Christ, whether they look down on me or don't care. I follow Christ and I want to share it. Today in the service the Pastor was talking about the president of some other country who was on his deathbed; and his last words were: I don't want to die.
That breaks my heart, that he was so scared. He didn't have the peace of Jesus in his heart. Yeah, I'm slightly afraid of death because it is the unknown. But I know where I will spend my eternity and I don't have to be scared about it. That man is [most likely] in hell right now. Forever. No end. For the rest of all eternity, all time. Never ending. Never a break. For.ever.
Our life time is SO short compared to all eternity that we will live after the moment we are born. The things we get worked up about are the smallest and most unimportant things in God's eyes. These words are heard so often, but they are so true: God sent his son to die because of one reason: He loved us. Gods love is so unfathomable. I can't, no one, can explain how deep and everlasting it is; how strong it is.
Christ died, was beaten, torn apart, and bled to death so that you can spend eternity with Him. There is nothing you could ever , ever do to deserve His grace. Nothing, never. But you can accept it, because Christ offers it. Christ died, so that you can live; so that you can have an eternity with Him.
Happy Easter , guys! I hope its the best and I hope you can truly celebrate that Jesus has saved you. <3
xxo, Laura

I'm Thankful For #2

I'm thankful for-

My family. My family can be a very crazy, stressful and retarded one, but also the best. I have three sisters, and two parents. One big happy family. <3 well, not so happy, but, it was so fun when I was little. But I'm so thankful that God put me in this family. My family is expanding as we get older but that makes it only better. I love it so much and God is so amazing :)

xxxxxxxxxxx L

Thankful for: #1

something i'm grateful for:
My best friend. Hunter and I have been best friends for almost seven whole years. She is so amazing. She is just.. so amazing. We can be totally ourselves around eachother and I'm pretty sure our brains are like connected sometimes. as weird as it sounds, we are like identical, and opposite all at once. all I know, is that God totally blessed me with her and she is just totally amazing and I love her. I don't know where I'd be without her and she isn't ever getting rid of me ;) Imma stick with her always
xxx Laura

too blessed.

do you ever feel too blessed? like, you don't know what to do? like you don't deserve it all? like you want to pay God back for everything He has done? I don't deserve this. I'm so amazed. I'm so blessed. I'm so grateful, but not grateful enough. I need some way to pay Him back. Why does He continue to bless me and give me everything I need and more? I have done nothing to deserve this. Nothing! But He doesn't stop! Yeah, my parents are divorced. Yeah. That is just about it. I have lived one of the easiest lives! no, we aren't rich! No, I don't have a completely happy family! No, I don't have a ton of friends, a boyfriend, a mansion to myself but I am still one of the most blessed people I know. I complain about the things I go through but when I compare them to the things I've seen other people go through, I should be ashamed. God says to have joy through your trials. I'm just so blessed. And please trust me this has nothing to do with bragging. I'm just so amazed at was God does! I'm in awe of what He has done for me and what He has given me. I have a best friend that is always there for me, I have a family that is encouraging, helpful, dependable and amazing. I have everything I want chalked into one disastrous room. I have 6 animals to always keep me company. I have a dad that loves me. I live in the most safe place I can ask for. Most importantly, I have been given salvation and life in Jesus Christ. The one I can't live with out. The one that give me never ending mercy and grace. The one that just doesn't stop giving me everything! Why?? Why me? I feel like I don't even want this stuff because I just don't deserve it!! I don't.. I don't deserve it and I feel like I can't take it. I am spoiled and rotten to so much stuff. I complain about things that happen when I then realize that I have everything. Everything. Family, friends, love, and a God who is faithful. I have an education, a home, people, and a God. And that is just back bone, I have so much fluff. Why does He bless me? What have I done for Him? Not much! I know that for sure. I just don't get it. I don't know why He cares. Why He loves. Why does He love me?

light of the world

Matthew 5:14
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
(( Jesus Speaking ^))

Christs' followers are like a City on a hill. We are set apart and we should look that way. People should see us and see that we have the light of Jesus in us. 

John 8:12
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." 
( Jesus speaking again)

Jesus is the light of the world, so those who follow him are, as well.

1 John 1:5-7
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one an another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 

xx  L

D-Now

I was completely blessed to be able to attend D-Now this weekend. It was SO amazing, I don't know where to start. I was just so thankful for every little thing that happened. First off, I got put with my one friend in the youthgroup, and her friend, who became my friend. So just 3 of us and an AMAZING leader got put in a host home, who was two AMAZING people! Everyone I was around that weekend was the most amazing, sweetest people ever. It was so fun, tiring, but really fun. So we had sessions at our home, just like little bible studies. Then we had 3 services.  They were aaaamaazzzinnggg. I'll be posting stuff from those later. I know, I'm keep saying amazing, but the whole thing is pretty much summed up in the word Amazing! but anyway, the worship music... well, it was beyond amazing. We had our old worship leader back(he moved away) and his band, they are amazing too. But, the worship was just soooo moving. The songs were so fitting, so true in my life, and as another person there said, "I looked around, and there wasn't a single person there not worshiping." Even the people up doing the sound booth thing were worshiping with all their hearts. You could just tell that God was there. You could see it, and I could most definitely feel it. I've really been realizing over the weekend how incredible God is. It sounds so simple, yet it is so big, so deep and his incredibleness just keeps going and going. I've just realized how worth it He is. He is worth giving my life up for. He is worth sticking out, He is worth losing friends, He is worth EVERYTHING. He is worth it all. He is and always will be. He is worth it. 

"don't blend in, don't make sense, don't be normal, be different in the world."

If you are blending in, if people don't think differently about you, if your just normal, whatever, then something is wrong. You shouldn't blend in with the world. If you are giving and living your life for Christ, Your life should look different. 

Romans 3:28 // 5:1 // 10:1-10 

I have such a burning passion to share the amazing love of the Lord but I don't know who and how to reach people. I guess that is a partial reason I have this blog, it is just another way to reach others. I want to tell people! I just need ways! But I feel like this blog isn't doing much. Reaching 10 people isn't really what I wish for, but, I guess , well, actually, I'm sure that it is better than nothing. Even if it isn't reaching people to Christ for the first time, but even if it is encouraging people who are Christians already.. all I know is I just want to tell others and to serve God. He deserves it ALL. EVERYTHING. Every molecule in my body he has made, and that he deserves. 

"All that I have is Yours. My soul will praise forevermore. I come alive in you. My soul will shout, forever more. Forevermore, forever I am YOURS."

i'm sorry I have neglected this blog for a bit, but I think it was needed. 

xxx Laura

What will the world think of you?

What does the the world think of you? What will it think of you?
Galatians 6:14 (different versions)

¹⁴ I hope I will never boast about things like that. The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is my only reason for boasting. Through Jesus’ death on the cross the world is dead^[a] to me, and I am dead to the world.

¹⁴ But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom^[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

1. Jesus saved you, he deserves you! God deserves to have you sacrifice your life to Him. Have no interest in the world, the world doesn't deserve you. Give your life to Him.
2. Desire the world to dislike you. Have the world's interest in you die! You should want the world to realize that you are too far gone to try with. You should be too far gone in the Lord that it can no longer have a chance with you. You should want Satan, and the things of this world against you. Don't go with the flow. Stand out, be different. Go against it all. Be on Satan's Most Wanted list. I hope I am.

x Laura

Matthew 5:38-48

Go the second mile:

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’^[a] 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. ⁴⁰ If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. ⁴¹ And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴² Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Like I said in one of the last few posts, Don't give someone what they deserve. These verses pretty much speak for themselves. Well, not the verses, but, Jesus. Jesus says it himself. I don't have anything to say here. <3

Love your enemies:

^43-47 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

⁴⁸ “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

again? He speaks for himself. 
by the way, prayer request! first driving lesson today! haha! should be fun.. and scary. So, I'm fasting from TV and secular music this week. HARD! I listen to secular music like 24/7 .. I'll turn it on when I get up and (of course im going in and out my room,, but,) turn it off around three in the morning. ha! yes. so, its been hard, but I can't go without music period, so I've been trying hard to find really good Christian music. Of course, I'm in love with Group1Crew, but I LOOVEE finding new music. Best thing ever. So anyway, I might share some of that with you soon?

xxLaura

Matthew 5:13-16

¹³ “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

^14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

I've always loved that saying, phrase, or thought. To be a light.. a city on a hill. Christians really are a city on a hill. But that city needs to be a welcoming, shining city. Not something dull, closed up and unwanting. 

xx Laura