Things I cannot post on LiveJournal

Okay, so I do have a LiveJournal as well. Most of the posts between here and there are the same. But the main reason I have this one is to post things I cannot post there.

I went away this weekend to a camp up north. It was really wonderful! I posted about it on my Livejournal, complete with pictures. A segment of my post is below. I checked this morning, and one of my lj-friends posted the following comment.

I so dig your God talk. Keep it coming.

I found that very encouraging. Very interesting. This is from a girl whom I've never formally met. I THINK I found her livejournal through the TechComedy site I post on from time to time, but I really cannot remember. In any case, she isn't a Christian. But I find it encouraging that my words about God encourage her.

This is what she was replying to:

...The best part was the whole nature thing. I really enjoy nature. I love taking in the beauty of the world around me. Last night, after the evening meeting, Herman and I went out to the docks. He took (or tried to take) some shots of the night sky. The moon was so bright and clear. It was breathtaking. I got my pillow and one of my blankets (it was cold!!), and Herman and I laid out on the dock and just stared up at the sky. There were so many stars. All the talks on God's love didn't matter in that moment. All the sermons in the world couldn't captivate that feeling of utter peace.

There IS a God, and He loves me. The Universe is huge. Yet God is bigger than the universe. He hung every star in the sky. He named them all and knows where each one is. He knows when a star goes out and He still creates new stars. And yet He knows me by name, too. I matter to Him.He knows every foolish thing I have ever done. He knows all my mistakes and all my sins. He knows my passions and my desires. He knew all this from the beginning of time.Not only does God orchestrate the entire universe, He orchestrates my life. Encorporating every decision I ever made or will make, He created a beautiful plan for my life. He laid it all out, like a golden tapestry, weaving in what I thought were ugly threads, to create a picture that is pleasing to Him.

How deep the Father's Love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
that He should give His only Son
to make a wretch His
treasure.

I went canoeing this morning with Herman. Woke up at 6:45 to be out on the lake for 7am.The water was so much warmer than the air (not hard, considering it was 0 degrees -- I checked a few moments ago), so there was steam rising up from the lake. That, combined with the sunrise, made for a beautiful morning. I don't think Herman quite agreed with me. He was pretty cold. I don't blame him, so was I. Still, taking those few moments early in the morning to
just soak in the beauty of nature was quite amazing. ...

It occured to me a little while ago that my journal is probably the most powerful tool I have at my disposal to use in non-intrusive evangelism. It is, or should be an ongoing witness to the power of God at work in my life through my relationship with Jesus. People can either look at me and my mistakes and say "No thanks. you're no different for all your so-called 'faith'. I'll pass, thanks." Or they can look at my life and say "Wow. I want some of that." I'd rather they say the latter. I want people to want what I have, because my relationship with God is the most valuable asset to make it through the crummy points of life.

How amazing if the life of even one person was changed because of reading about the very active role God takes in my life.