Who’s riding in your bus?

    Over the past couple of weeks I've been trying to think of what to write about because of how much chaos has taken place in this world. The army of demonic forces that are against us is astonishing and they are present everywhere we go. I find them taking over when I'm easily frustrated or end up in a situation with someone who is not my favorite and I become a person that I don't want to be. When I was in college I had a friend who was trying to dive deeper in her faith and our pastor at Gardner-Webb told her “remember that the most important people in your life are on your bus”. What he meant by this was that everyone in life is driving on their own bus and those we have with us are the biggest influence on us. It can be either positive or negative, but the real question is, are they influencing your faith at all? I love my friends dearly but I choose very carefully who I want “on my bus” because I know that I am a product of my own environment and I want those who are going to keep me on the straight and narrow. 

    The one verse that keeps coming to my mind when I think of standing alongside those who have the same beliefs as you but also push you to be better in your faith is in Ruth. In verses 16-18 of Chapter 1 Naomi is telling her daughter-in-laws to go back to their own cities and marry again since Naomi's sons and husband have died. Orpah her first daughter-in-law did as she was told, but Ruth stayed and told Naomi that wherever she was going or whatever she was doing Ruth was not going to leave her. Now that is the kind of person I want in my bus! Do you stick this close to the people who need it? Or do you have people who stick this close to you? When the going gets tough you have to have people who are in your corner telling you "No, we can't be bitter because God didn't give us what we want. We praise Him anyways.", "stop acting as though you have no sin. All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.". These are all things that I wish people would say to me when I am acting like I have nothing to be thankful for or am crying "woe is me". God owes me nothing and you have to have people surrounding you that remind you that He is still good and present. The Lord gave up everything for me so I owe Him all. 

 Now the real question that is surrounding this whole post is do you have the Lord riding in your bus? We can say all we want that we go to church and have a faith but if it isn’t actively practiced you have nothing. As Christians we are to practice love before anything else and if you can’t see the love of God in your life do some self-reflection this week. I know I had to this week because I was so hateful and angry. The accumulation of being overwhelmed, tired, and stressed hit in full force, but I had good people in my bus who are quick to forgive and listen which I’m very grateful for because if I didn’t, I wouldn't have the faith I do today. God knows we're going to mess up and not be like Ruth 24/7. But, the Lord is placing people in your life that need to be with you and have an influence on your faith. Guard you heart and be prayerful with those who you have relationships with. 

May the love and peace of God be with you always,

Leah Carpenter Hagaman