October 6, 2013

Good morning all-

I was reminded yesterday that God can do miracles, change hearts and win souls.  I know this already but as I read the paper, watched the news or looked at world events sometimes my views get clouded. Every day someone is murdered, someone seeks revenge or they drown in sorrow looking for an escape.

This is what is real. There are no questions to the turmoil around the world but there is a God who knows all and it's within us to hear His call.  What does it mean to follow Christ? Is it a sacrifice, or dangerous? Not in America. There are places in the world that leading a life for Christ can and will get you killed. It's odd that over 2000 years later blood is being shed over Jesus.  Yet, it is.

I think about my life a lot and although I have struggled personally; I have never feared for my life.  After Columbine, I remembered wondering could I have faced a gunman and proclaimed Jesus?  The girl that did was stronger than most and although she lost her life she gained far more.  She was one of the few who died knowing who she believed in and why. She was probably only 17 years old and still today I remember how I admired her courage and her faith.

We walk around in selfishness.  I do too.  You know the way we belly ache about life.  Why can't my circumstances be different, why do they have more, and why can't I?  Silly when you think about it really.  As much as I wish some things were different, our lives are His to orchestrate. I want to be a woman that walks and has faith. I want to stop looking at the world with dark glasses and begin to look at events through the light of Jesus. Bad things happen everywhere and yet, babies are being born, teenagers are living for Christ and souls are being won.

We are not in control and the sooner we realize it, the better we will be.  I asked a question and hoped people would respond, no one did so my hope is you thought about it.  Faith comes when you believe that God is who He says He is!  Looking at circumstances will make us doubt, I know I do it all the time.  Our pastor always says, "Don't walk by feelings, walk by faith."

Eve ate an apple because she believed that it wouldn't hurt her and yet, years later we still have pain in child birth, we desire our men to understand us better and now, women are taking control where men used to lead.  We are confused in our roles and in who we are.  What seemed a simple act destroyed the garden, made man toil and left women doubting who they are.

Thanks to Jesus, I'm starting to know who I am in Him.  I've quit being frightened of ridicule and have forged on my life's path.  If you had asked me years ago if I would pour my heart out to strangers, it would have been absolutely, no.  Yet, here I am writing on a blog to strangers talking about the most controversial topic in the world and praying God will use me to win souls for Him.

We are His.  Our lives belong to our Savior. It's time we begin to pray for change!  Silence, being skeptical and fear, hold us back from knowing Him more.  We can hide for a time but we were born for a purpose. If your struggling with issues of doubt, fear or sadness, reach out, be bold and get prayer.  This world is filled with women that are living for Jesus, take the plunge, it's worth it!

As I sit in my living room the sun is coming up and a new day is dawning, carpe diem my sisters!

     I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:12-17 NIV)