Every one of us has a story, a testimony of what our lives were like before something happened and caused our lives to be forever changed. Whether this change was caused by tragic events, a loss of a relationship, or hitting rock bottom, someone or something forever changed the trajectory and course of our lives. Whether you have found this life-change in a man named Jesus or not, I encourage you to look a little deeper and reflect on your life. Maybe you will recognize that the change was caused by something Greater....
I have a friend who was wrongly imprisoned for many years. He told me that if he had not been incarcerated, he may have never found Jesus. This man has no bitterness or animosity towards a legal system that failed him miserably. He now lives to make Jesus known to everyone he meets. I'm sure he would appreciate your prayers as he now lives his life for Christ.
I look around at my family and friends and see how their lives have been completely turned around. I see in God's Word, how there were many people whose encounter with God left them forever changed. Abram seemed to have his life all planned out, until God spoke and asked him to uproot his family and go to a new land. Joseph was the sibling that we would all want to choke, but God stepped in and turned a slave into a right hand man to the pharaoh. Moses lived in privilege in the pharaoh's house but remembered his heritage, committed murder, ran away into the desert and then was spoken to by God through a bush on fire! David was a shepherd boy delivering lunch to his older brothers in battle, saw a situation that no one else would step up and confront, and allowed God's strength to help him launch a rock as a missile into the forehead of the taunting enemy. To the disciple John, He was the One who loved him. To Peter, He was the Son of God, the One he would never leave or betray. When he did swear he did not know Jesus, he may have felt unusable in his own mind. He may have felt that he had disappointed Jesus to the point that he may not be forgiven. But Jesus talked to him privately and restored him. Undeserved but never Unforgiven.
This is where I'd like to step in and share my story. Like Peter, I said that I would follow Him to the end. Like Peter, I have denied that I even knew Him, I've refused to share Him with others. I have, in my own mind, disappointed Him to the point of not being able to be forgiven. The trouble was that I did not comprehend His Unconditional and Unfailing Love. I discovered His love for me in a very difficult circumstance. He walked with me through that time and even helped me to share my story at the time with others. As I began to understand how deeply God loved me and how committed He was to me, it made all the difference.... I could truly love because I was truly Loved. I could forgive the unforgiveable because He had Forgiven the Unforgiveable in me. I was unfaithful but He remained Faithful. His Love for me has covered all of the shameful things I've done and thought about doing. He took them and nailed them to His cross.
As I go through life now and continue this journey, I know that I do not walk alone. When the crashing waves come and life gets intense, I have a peace that I did not know before, for He is in the boat with me. I have found that I do not have to worry and stress about things that I am not in control of anymore. He allows things into my life, in order to grow me up in Him.Things that are for my good and His ultimate Glory. No, I can't say that everyday I like what happens to me, but there is a light inside that reminds me that I am his beloved child. My heart has found it's Home and it is my delight to attempt to serve Him everyday by serving others and trying to show them His Love inside of me. Moment by moment, I try to resolve to follow Him. Sometimes I am able to do this well, sometimes not so well; stumbling, fumbling, crawling, but He helps me back up every time as I confess my sins and fleshly attempts to try to walk without Him or to step ahead of Him. He is patient and loving with me, forgives my sins and sets my feet back upon a rock and on the right road again. This is the difference He makes......
I have a friend who was wrongly imprisoned for many years. He told me that if he had not been incarcerated, he may have never found Jesus. This man has no bitterness or animosity towards a legal system that failed him miserably. He now lives to make Jesus known to everyone he meets. I'm sure he would appreciate your prayers as he now lives his life for Christ.
I look around at my family and friends and see how their lives have been completely turned around. I see in God's Word, how there were many people whose encounter with God left them forever changed. Abram seemed to have his life all planned out, until God spoke and asked him to uproot his family and go to a new land. Joseph was the sibling that we would all want to choke, but God stepped in and turned a slave into a right hand man to the pharaoh. Moses lived in privilege in the pharaoh's house but remembered his heritage, committed murder, ran away into the desert and then was spoken to by God through a bush on fire! David was a shepherd boy delivering lunch to his older brothers in battle, saw a situation that no one else would step up and confront, and allowed God's strength to help him launch a rock as a missile into the forehead of the taunting enemy. To the disciple John, He was the One who loved him. To Peter, He was the Son of God, the One he would never leave or betray. When he did swear he did not know Jesus, he may have felt unusable in his own mind. He may have felt that he had disappointed Jesus to the point that he may not be forgiven. But Jesus talked to him privately and restored him. Undeserved but never Unforgiven.
This is where I'd like to step in and share my story. Like Peter, I said that I would follow Him to the end. Like Peter, I have denied that I even knew Him, I've refused to share Him with others. I have, in my own mind, disappointed Him to the point of not being able to be forgiven. The trouble was that I did not comprehend His Unconditional and Unfailing Love. I discovered His love for me in a very difficult circumstance. He walked with me through that time and even helped me to share my story at the time with others. As I began to understand how deeply God loved me and how committed He was to me, it made all the difference.... I could truly love because I was truly Loved. I could forgive the unforgiveable because He had Forgiven the Unforgiveable in me. I was unfaithful but He remained Faithful. His Love for me has covered all of the shameful things I've done and thought about doing. He took them and nailed them to His cross.
As I go through life now and continue this journey, I know that I do not walk alone. When the crashing waves come and life gets intense, I have a peace that I did not know before, for He is in the boat with me. I have found that I do not have to worry and stress about things that I am not in control of anymore. He allows things into my life, in order to grow me up in Him.Things that are for my good and His ultimate Glory. No, I can't say that everyday I like what happens to me, but there is a light inside that reminds me that I am his beloved child. My heart has found it's Home and it is my delight to attempt to serve Him everyday by serving others and trying to show them His Love inside of me. Moment by moment, I try to resolve to follow Him. Sometimes I am able to do this well, sometimes not so well; stumbling, fumbling, crawling, but He helps me back up every time as I confess my sins and fleshly attempts to try to walk without Him or to step ahead of Him. He is patient and loving with me, forgives my sins and sets my feet back upon a rock and on the right road again. This is the difference He makes......
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