@nataliegrant

Shopping With Charlotte

I went shopping today. So theraputic. and I had some wonderful company along with me which made the day that much sweeter. Two of our dear friends from england are staying with us. Charlotte is speaking at the Mercy Ministries 25th Anniversary Conference this weekend, and her husband and kids came along. They are from Abundant Life Church in Bradford, England. check them out.

I met Charlottle at a conference i did in Los Angeles about 3 years ago. We hit it off brilliantly and became fast friends. It was a total God thing. Bernie and I have now been to their church and it changed our lives. Talk about examples of servanthood. They are relevant yet still totally true to the gospel. She’s the kind of friend who speaks truth into your life but isn’t overbearing. She can be fun and silly, yet never shallow. we all need a friend like that in our lives.

The truth is, I’m not good at having a lot of friends. sure, I’m outgoing and bubbly and seemingly a “people-person”. But the truth is that I’m actually quite a loner. Maybe it’s having to be “on” all the time, I don’t know, but I have few close friends. but those I have I cherish deeply.
Do you have that kind of friend? Do you have many friends or just a few close ones? Just curious.

As for me, I’m off to have a spot of tea, as my british friend would say.

xo,

natalie

April 15, 2008  •  No Comments  •  Posted in Blog, Love Revolution, Music, News, Travel
  • Lindsey

    I am kinda the same way i don’t have many but i have a few close ones! I think the reason for me is being a cheerleader but also being a christian i don’t really hang out with the cheerleaders besides in practice. At some point with practice every single day for hours at the time that is like your family thst is sometime the only people you see. My close friends not only go to my church but go to a different school then i do!

  • Sissy4

    I have a few close friends. I would never guess that you were not the “everyones my friend person”!

  • Alix

    Hey Natalie, I am the same way I don’t really have that many friends because I think God has really been showing me what he means in his word about living in the world but not being of the world and that we should be a light unto them. And so most of my friends are a lot older than me because I see them only at practice for our worship team. But I do love being able to share the word with the world!

  • Michelle

    Hi Natalie! Love the new Blog! I’m kind of a loner myself. I have about three close friends that I do things with. It’s definitely more about the quality of the friendships than the quantity.

    Enjoy your time with Charlotte and her family!

  • Lindsay

    I’m like that to-it’s hard for me to meet people on a social level, because I’m a deep thinker and it’s hard for me to just make small talk with someone- especially someone my age! I’m def a loner- but that’s mainly because I choose to be one. I love how honest you were, though!

    Where did you go shopping? I’m in the mood for getting some sundresses! It’s in the 60′s here!

  • Sarah

    I have just a few close friends. Since I remarried and moved an hour away from them I don’t get girlfriend time nearly enough. I’ve always had just a few close friends – I think because I’m a little wierd! :) True friends are definitely a blessing!!

  • Kaitlyn

    I never would have guessed that you don’t have TONS of great friends. I guess I just assumed you would being around so many people all the time. But I’m like that too. I only have a few close friends. Lots of friends, but only a few really close ones. And like you said, I cherish them deeply. They mean so much to me! Well, enjoy your tea and the time with Charlotte and her family!

  • Jacqui

    Glad you had a nice day Natalie :) Shopping is fun…
    I’m friendly to everyone, but I only have a few real close friends who I trust :)

  • Jenny

    SWEET! Finally someone that loves shopping as much as me! I believe it to be very theraputic, especially when you find the amazing sales…..I seriously just bought a pair of shorts for 4 dollars on clearence at Target….so cute too!

    I am person with Few close friends….I can say that I know a lot of people but I really only have a few close friends, I just know a lot of people because my church is one of the biggest in the city….so I meet a lot of people. I cherish only having a few close friends, it’s better to have few close than a ton of aquantances.

  • http://www.myspace.com/clife_gws Ali

    Hey Natalie… I’m glad you are blogging. Hmm… I have a lot of “friends” but only a few close ones. Lately it’s been difficult to even have close friends though. I recently started counseling for depression and suicidal thoughts. They also put me on anti-depressants. Sometimes I feel like a bad Christian for feeling the way I do, but I have hope that someday it will get better. Anyways… so yeah, its been hard for me to have any really close friends lately. I feel like no one understands me, but thats okay. I hope you have a great day!

    <
    Ali

  • http://www.myspace.com/figskater4life4 Erin

    honestly, i’ve got to say a few close friends are better than lots of friends. before i had a lot of friends. but i felt so alone. then one day i met an amazing girl, and we instantly became best friends. i know shes always there for me, and i can turn to her with everything. i dont feel alone anymore. so i still have friends, but only one very close friend. and i like it more than anything.

    but ill be your friend natalie!

    and shopping=loveee lol

    xx

  • allieb

    I have a few close friends that I spent last night at the Mercy Ministries Celebration Concert with. You were our favorite performance of the night! It was the first time I have seen you in concert…Awesome. Glad that you were able to have a little fun before you went out there and gave it your all:)

  • Cassie♥

    I have acctually alot of friends… and sometimes i wish that i didnt becuase it is alot and each of them are always expecting alot from me…. i do have my close friends though that i will tell alot too….. and this year in school i am in 10th grade and i opened myself up to more people and i havent gottan hurt yet but i think i will…. i guesss you can say that most of them are just friends i have about 6 best friends that i can tell anything too and they can tell me anything too… thanks for asking that question it just made me think of them and how amazing they are…. have an amazing day ♥

  • nicholei

    hi natalie =) i would say that being out of college, i’ve learned that it’s important to know which friendships to invest into and to have peace knowing that i can’t maintain a lot of friendships. i’d rather have a few close, deep, friendships than many shallow ones. as life only gets busier and busier – i’ve learned that i have to fight for certain friendships. friends can come easy when someone is in your daily sphere of things but not so much when they aren’t. have you ever noticed that?

  • http://snowjunkie.wordpress.com Alastair

    I used to go to the Men’s conferences in Abundant Life every year when I was living back in the UK. Very good worship band there too.

  • Jalyne

    i guess you could say that i, in a way, have both. i have a significant amount of friends, but i also have a few close ones that i’m closer to than the rest. i do have some trust issues so i tend to chose real carefully on who i chose to get close to. and all but one, i do believe, of my close friends are in college so i tend to go to them for advice more. and i also have a friend, in college, who i tell pretty much everything to and when i do or say something stupid or that i know i shouldn’t but do anyway, she tends to get on me about it and then i realize that i messed up. and it’s nice to have a friend like that. she also has this look that she’ll give and if she gives it to you, then you know for sure that you’ve done something wrong and know that you’ll be having to talk to her about it very soon. lol but i love her. :)

    the one thing i don’t really like about knowing so many people and being friends with so many people is that i tend to not be able to go anywhere without running into someone i know. lol which of course isn’t a bad thing, unless i’m in a hurry and then…yeah. lol

    but i also have some friends that aren’t Christians but who don’t seem to mind that i am one. and i want to try to talk to them about coming to church sometime just to check it out and what not, but i’m not exactly sure as to how i should do that. do you have any suggestions Natalie?

  • http://www.myspace.com/singin4theLord April

    i am a very bubbly outgoing people person on the outside but very few people know me VERY close. I have a few close friends including my husband who is my best friend and soulmate! I am guessing your non-christian friends know you sing…well if your ever singing at your church..invite them and tell them your singing and you would love to have them there and I would just pray God would use the words of your songs and your pastors message to melt their hearts and prepare them for them to see they need a savior! Your amazing natalie..just being you is probably a great light of Jesus for them! I pray everyday that God would help me be a reflection of Him and not me, in all I do, say and think! I definitely helps me! Love, april

  • http://www.myspace.com/singin4theLord April

    haa haa…i am so silly…i read the girls comment above mine and thought it was your blog…silly me…i was giving comments to you about helping your non-christian friends come to church when it was the girl above asking you for help…sorry about that…man do I feel stupid now! laughing at myself!

  • Esther

    Natalie,
    It was so FABULOUS to see both YOU and Charlotte in Nashville. You both spoke volumes into my heart. As a current Mercy girl you have touched my heart in SO many ways. Every time I see you speak and sing I end up bawling. You are an inspiration to all!!!!
    I love that you are so honest and raw and you don’t pretend like life is all that…like when you had to change your baby girls diaper in the sink at the church in Shreveport..that is so HUMAN!!!!
    Love your ministry and pray you will keep building the kingdom!!!! YOU ROCK!!!
    Esther

  • Courtney

    I love your song Natalie! My friend just got me your collectors addition album for my seventeenth birthday! Unfortunately it didn’t have the song I really wanted on it which is “I will not be Moved”. I listened to it before my track practices and meets last year and it gave me hope and courage to do my best.
    Thanks,
    And keep up the good work!