I just celebrated my 25th Birthday and it was grand in the most unique of ways.  My family and friends decided to take me to L.A. for the weekend to see all of the sights, shop ‘til I drop and basically have an all around blast!

We had an itinerary, but for the most part, we decided to wing our moment by moment search for adventure.  Starting our drive down the resplendent and infamous PCH, we gawked at million dollar homes and took pictures by the sea.

Our first attack on the city was at a place called “The Grove.”  We delighted ourselves in eating Kale salads and cheesecake at the Cheescake Factory (which everybody knows, completely balance each other out when eaten together) and gazed upon some of L.A.’s hippest fashions.

Having never been before, we explored every street, making it our aim to know all there is to know about the unexpected beauty found only in L.A.  During our brief encounter with what I call the “Italian Disneyland,” we ventured on to drift through random cockeyed streets of adorable homes and perfectly manicured lawns.  The Jewish quarter was my favorite with Israeli French Preschools and Synagogues all around.

I have traveled to many countries and all over the States hearing so much about L.A. and its diversity, but I really had never seen it the way I did this past weekend.

In the movies of course, we are told that there are Super Stars sitting and relaxing in front of every cafe, and that if you want to dress well and cannot make it to NYC, L.A. is the place to go.

So my family, being the ingenious bunch they are, found inexpensive and creative ways to make our trip one for the books.

We went in and out and all around Beverly Hills, catching glimpses of shrubbery that no doubt held magnificent mansions inside.  We discovered that Bel Air is in fact speckled with glorious and impressive manors atop hillsides overlooking the enormous city and of course took this opportunity to break out into the “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” theme song.

I discovered that UCLA may very well be the most beautiful University in America and that apparently it is a prerequisite to be absolutely gorgeous and/or Asian to attend.  Driving through Sunset Blvd did not disappoint with overarching trees and beautiful homes lining the street, not a one alike.

Sprinkles cupcakes gave us a unique “Paris Hilton” experience as we received a perfectly packaged Chai Latte Cupcake from the establishment’s adorable and musical bright pink “Cupcake ATM.”  (This may very well have been the best part of my trip;)

Ending our journey just on the border of the city, in Santa Monica, we absolutely fell in love.  What’s not to fall for in a city so full of color, glitz and seaside shopping?

At this point in my birthday tale, I’ll bet you’re probably wondering… “When is she gonna get to the Christianese spiritual hoopla all the other blogs have? … I’m getting there, I promise.  I just wanted to set the scene for you before I connect my experience with a conventional moral lesson.

Obviously, my birthday was wonderful, but it was not only because of my amazing sight seeing and cupcake eating…

My birthday was splendid because I received an indispensable lesson on SIMPLE LOVE.

In such a beautiful place, it is easy to forget that all of the smiling faces and ritzy clothes are covering up broken lives.

Sometimes being in my Christian home with my Christian family, I forget how much impact God’s presence in my life can have on those who do not know Him.

The love of God exudes out of me because I know how much He loves me!  So as we walked down elegant avenues and talked with other shoppers from all over the world, some store clerks, and even a sweet homeless man, it became very clear how desperate each of them was to know that love they saw in us.

When you know how much He loves you, His favor can be seen because you have become a carrier of HIS PRESENCE.

In one store, I acknowledged a young saleslady and asked her about her day.  She seemed stunned at the fact that I was actually wanting an answer.  Most people generally pass you buy when asking how you are, but God had me make a point of asking the young lady how she was and actually listening to her answer.

Between that simple gesture and my family’s warmth towards her, she could not do enough for us.  She blessed us with amazing coffee, I believe from overseas, and after finding out it was my birthday, gave something I could not afford as a gift to me!

Now don’t go all cray cray and think this is a “boasting blog” I’m honestly #1 In complete AMAZEMENT at my God’s Love and #2 Want you to know that His Spirit is attractive and can change other’s eternity with the SIMPLE LOVE He places inside of YOU!

Later on in the trip, we chatted with a saleslady in a different store, discussing our ministry and why we were in town.  She seemed very interested and, in true California fashion, began to tell us about her sapphire ring that protected her from harm and a necklace she wore to heal her heart.  Our response, although slight, made a world of difference.

We simply mentioned that if she wanted, Jesus could heal her heart.  That was all.  Nothing more.  We just let her know that we heard her and cared.  Before leaving, she placed her hands on her heart and said “you all have just made my day!” … Simple Love.

Later, when walking down the 3rd Street Promenade, Mom had a very nice conversation with a man who had obviously been homeless for quite some time.  He was an older gentlemen who needed to talk.  If you know my Mom, she’s the best for those sort of things …

Mom could tell he had some demonic activity going on, but Greater is He that is in [her] and all that … So she took his hand and prayed he would know Jesus intimately.

He could tell that she cared about him and so … decided to accept Christ, right there in the middle of a million shoppers!

In his heart, he had just been waiting for someone to show him the right way.

Telling people about Jesus is not complex!  Sometimes … MOST times … you don’t even have to speak.  God loves store clerks and homeless men more than we could ever know and He needs us to simply be who we are in Him so that others will notice and want the same.

My heart was and still is completely full.  We were in one of the most magnificent places in the world and people were being changed just because we decided to go shopping!!

If we are willing to let God use us, He will… and other people will not be able to ignore or resist His Simple Love.

Catch the Wave,

Victoria