This weekend was one of those reflective weekends for me. It started by remembering the life of a friend who died in a car wreck a few years ago. Saturday, September 26th would have been her 35th birthday. All weekend I thought about her life, her influence, and her impact upon the world for Christ. I continue to ponder why her life would be cut short and watch for ways that God can continue to use this tragedy for His glory.
Later on Saturday we celebrated my youngest daughter’s 9th birthday with a party. In the time span of a few hours, I went from pondering death to reflecting upon abundant and energetic life…twelve nine-year-olds have a lot of life. As I watched these girls playing and squealing, I thought about who they may become in the next ten or twenty years. What type of influence will they have upon others? What kind of impact will they make upon their world?
And then Sunday evening we started our season of small groups. Almost every Sunday evening, until the end of May 2010, we will have a “family group” of high school girls in our home. As we met these girls, some for the first time, I wondered what this year would hold. How would this small discipleship group influence their lives? What kind of impact does the Lord want me to make? What kind of impact will these girls have upon my life and others around them?
It seemed that God wanted me to remember something important through the events of this weekend. He wanted me to remember the people who have had a profound impact upon my life—those who have challenged me to become everything God desires me to be. And He wanted me to remember that in every season of life He has placed people all around me who continue to influence and impact my life.
Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” A true friend, a mentor, or an influencer in your life sharpens you. Specifically, they sharpen you spiritually. God uses those people to speak truth into your life. He uses them to challenge you so that you don’t become dull spiritually.
Who is God currently using in your life to sharpen you? In the midst of being a girls’ minister, a mentor, a teacher, and an influencer, do you have others in your life that challenge you and speak truth into your life?
Think about those people in your life who have made a huge impact upon you. Thank them if you can…or at least for today remember and be thankful.
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