Post by shorti on Dec 29, 2009 9:12:52 GMT -4
So I've had such an overwhelming year & these past couple of months have been tougher than usual for my family as well as many others that are very close to me.
We can debate here on what we believe & why we believe in it or why we don't and for the most part these have always been based on soomething in the news or an educational stance... So I'm not offering this up for debate, but for those of you who are interested to read & possibly understand why I am so incredibly passionate about certain things and maybe it will spark an interest in what I believe... either way, I feel compelled to share what I have experienced... and just the recent stuff...
Without going into alot of my past - I can tell you I wasn't a really nice person at most times & I there were times I wasn't a "good" person - even to some of the worlds standards. I've mentioned before - I was a skeptic... So about 3 years ago, I contacted who is now my pastor to see if he would marry my husband & I. Neither of us wanted a church wedding or to get married at a courthouse... so it was literally, well what's the worst he could say? No?? well fortunately he said yes. The rest is history from there... Won't go into all the stuff from the beginning, let me just tell you what I have experienced personally recently in the past few months.
I've watched my family grow in their relationships with Christ, individually as well as corporately. I see my almost teenage daughter proudly post on her myspace page that "true love waits" and that the most important thing to her is her relationship w/ Christ & in order to know her, you should know Him! I've watched my teenage son tell his friends at school about his relationship w/ Christ in a way that they would understand & when he is having problems w/ communicating that, he turns to our youth leaders for direction. And in all of this... they don't care about the reprecussions of what they are saying... I wish i was that brave at their age... even now... it's hard to share your faith because the world says it's not PC or because my "self" says well what will they think of you???
I've watched my husband be more open to sharing w/ friends & co-workers. I've watched how our relationship w/ Christ has strengthened us as a couple & in turn a family. We deal with difficulties differently. For those of you who know me, know we are in some pretty tough storms right now too.
That's my immediate family - let me tell you about my "other" family. My church family. I've watched those I love dearly fall from Christ & cause storms that are unimaginable upon those closest to them and others due to the ripple effect. But through that I watched those who were the ones closest trust in Christ and be a reflection of Christ-like love like nothing I've ever seen even when they are consistently being hit by the storm directly. And because of this trust, I've seen this person persevere and overcome all the obstacles that have come their way. I've watched people who weren't "good" by the worlds standards change. It's a beautiful thing & until you personally get invested into someones life & witness this it is so hard to explain how beautiful it is. Imagine trying to explain the beauty of the most beautiful sunset to someone who didn't see it - you just can't do it justice, you know?
I've seen families lose loved ones in one way or another & know that there is a plan & have a peace that most couldn't fathom. I've personally experienced that peace, it exists. And the only thing that was different in my life was my relationship w/ Christ. I've watched people lose jobs & not be able to find another one, yet still be happy & have a joy that nobody can steal and miraculously, their bills are paid - they don't have excess, but have what they need for that moment. I've watched those who have lost their jobs tithe because as Christians we are told to be obedient & that's part of it - the 1st 10% to Him because He can do more w/ our 90% than we could w/ our 100%. And out of this obedience - blessings that most wouldn't understand - and that peace & joy.
I've seen the surprise on peoples faces when we do an outreach that it's all totally free & we don't want anything other than to share w/ everyone this gift that we have been given. See as Christians - New Testament, Bible-believing Christians, we are commanded to share our faith with as many as we can. I know that God puts people in my life to either verbally share or to show them the change & make them ask - and they have... and wondered...
Most recently I've watched a person who was in such a bad place gradually open up & listen & allowed themselves to be loved on & showed that while it won't be easy, He will see them through the storms. I've watched this person go from hardly talking much less smiling to slowly seeing a glow on their face starting to emerge from the darkness to smiling alot - even the whole time being scared as hell, but in their heart of hearts knowing it's all gonna be ok just stay the course. This person knows that they have others that love & care for them and will be there if they need us. I watched this person give his life to Christ and accept Him as Lord & Savior knowing it won't be easy but there was a new person that came out of that baptismal. It was AWESOME! I've watched people be so transparent and openly admit their faults and failures on their walk and still be accepted - actually be embraced! we all fall... it's the getting back up that matters - the how you get back up... on your own strength or on His through you...
Alot of this sounds like hooey to alot of you... but when things like this are happening right in front of me & there is no other explanation but God, i cannot deny it. I never did... I just never shared this way before. The more obedient I am, the more I am able to see & the more blessing that comes... not necessarily the blessings that many will talk about... i'm not talking about financial blessings - He knows i have financial issues - but you know what... He continues to provide for me & my family in miraculously ways! I see Him working in so many lives of friends & families that i know... it cannot be denied.
This as well as much much more is why I am incredibly passionate about my faith... It's been so misconstrued by others... which is actually what kept me from any church for many years - the hypocrisy... there are so many people that claim Christianity because they go to church every Sunday - but come Monday through Saturday... their life isn't saying their Christian. I know there are probably times that mine isn't lining up either, but I get up everyday & say "Ok Lord... I'm yours... the answer is yes, please show me the question. Keep me on your path & when I go off track, make sure I get that needed 2x4 please" and I know I'm a work in progress and will be until I go home... i'm a sinner in need of a Savior... if I didn't need Him every minute of every day... there would be no need for a relationship no would there be? I rely on Him for all in my life. Granted there are times that I think I can do it on my own... and i normally end up in a worse place than where I began... so i go back & say... I messed up... again... guide me, show me... and He does... sometimes it's not what I want to hear or do either... HA - actually alot of times it isn't... then i know this is not my thinking... it's something so much more than me.
I wish i could show you what i have seen these past few months... the highest of highs & the lowest of lows & through all of it - the love, peace & joy that isn't comprehendable in the circumstances.
I've been saved by grace through faith in Him - not by my works, not by anything else, but by His mercy & grace because of my faith in Him and because I take him as my Lord THEN my Savior - not just my get outta hell free card...
I hope this makes some of you think & some understand my passion. If you know me... I'm not a Bible-thumper... I'm a normal person, with normal problems, with a normal life... the only difference is Him and my relationship w/ Him.
anyone wants to know more about this relationship or this peace or joy that I've mentioned... feel free to contact me...
We can debate here on what we believe & why we believe in it or why we don't and for the most part these have always been based on soomething in the news or an educational stance... So I'm not offering this up for debate, but for those of you who are interested to read & possibly understand why I am so incredibly passionate about certain things and maybe it will spark an interest in what I believe... either way, I feel compelled to share what I have experienced... and just the recent stuff...
Without going into alot of my past - I can tell you I wasn't a really nice person at most times & I there were times I wasn't a "good" person - even to some of the worlds standards. I've mentioned before - I was a skeptic... So about 3 years ago, I contacted who is now my pastor to see if he would marry my husband & I. Neither of us wanted a church wedding or to get married at a courthouse... so it was literally, well what's the worst he could say? No?? well fortunately he said yes. The rest is history from there... Won't go into all the stuff from the beginning, let me just tell you what I have experienced personally recently in the past few months.
I've watched my family grow in their relationships with Christ, individually as well as corporately. I see my almost teenage daughter proudly post on her myspace page that "true love waits" and that the most important thing to her is her relationship w/ Christ & in order to know her, you should know Him! I've watched my teenage son tell his friends at school about his relationship w/ Christ in a way that they would understand & when he is having problems w/ communicating that, he turns to our youth leaders for direction. And in all of this... they don't care about the reprecussions of what they are saying... I wish i was that brave at their age... even now... it's hard to share your faith because the world says it's not PC or because my "self" says well what will they think of you???
I've watched my husband be more open to sharing w/ friends & co-workers. I've watched how our relationship w/ Christ has strengthened us as a couple & in turn a family. We deal with difficulties differently. For those of you who know me, know we are in some pretty tough storms right now too.
That's my immediate family - let me tell you about my "other" family. My church family. I've watched those I love dearly fall from Christ & cause storms that are unimaginable upon those closest to them and others due to the ripple effect. But through that I watched those who were the ones closest trust in Christ and be a reflection of Christ-like love like nothing I've ever seen even when they are consistently being hit by the storm directly. And because of this trust, I've seen this person persevere and overcome all the obstacles that have come their way. I've watched people who weren't "good" by the worlds standards change. It's a beautiful thing & until you personally get invested into someones life & witness this it is so hard to explain how beautiful it is. Imagine trying to explain the beauty of the most beautiful sunset to someone who didn't see it - you just can't do it justice, you know?
I've seen families lose loved ones in one way or another & know that there is a plan & have a peace that most couldn't fathom. I've personally experienced that peace, it exists. And the only thing that was different in my life was my relationship w/ Christ. I've watched people lose jobs & not be able to find another one, yet still be happy & have a joy that nobody can steal and miraculously, their bills are paid - they don't have excess, but have what they need for that moment. I've watched those who have lost their jobs tithe because as Christians we are told to be obedient & that's part of it - the 1st 10% to Him because He can do more w/ our 90% than we could w/ our 100%. And out of this obedience - blessings that most wouldn't understand - and that peace & joy.
I've seen the surprise on peoples faces when we do an outreach that it's all totally free & we don't want anything other than to share w/ everyone this gift that we have been given. See as Christians - New Testament, Bible-believing Christians, we are commanded to share our faith with as many as we can. I know that God puts people in my life to either verbally share or to show them the change & make them ask - and they have... and wondered...
Most recently I've watched a person who was in such a bad place gradually open up & listen & allowed themselves to be loved on & showed that while it won't be easy, He will see them through the storms. I've watched this person go from hardly talking much less smiling to slowly seeing a glow on their face starting to emerge from the darkness to smiling alot - even the whole time being scared as hell, but in their heart of hearts knowing it's all gonna be ok just stay the course. This person knows that they have others that love & care for them and will be there if they need us. I watched this person give his life to Christ and accept Him as Lord & Savior knowing it won't be easy but there was a new person that came out of that baptismal. It was AWESOME! I've watched people be so transparent and openly admit their faults and failures on their walk and still be accepted - actually be embraced! we all fall... it's the getting back up that matters - the how you get back up... on your own strength or on His through you...
Alot of this sounds like hooey to alot of you... but when things like this are happening right in front of me & there is no other explanation but God, i cannot deny it. I never did... I just never shared this way before. The more obedient I am, the more I am able to see & the more blessing that comes... not necessarily the blessings that many will talk about... i'm not talking about financial blessings - He knows i have financial issues - but you know what... He continues to provide for me & my family in miraculously ways! I see Him working in so many lives of friends & families that i know... it cannot be denied.
This as well as much much more is why I am incredibly passionate about my faith... It's been so misconstrued by others... which is actually what kept me from any church for many years - the hypocrisy... there are so many people that claim Christianity because they go to church every Sunday - but come Monday through Saturday... their life isn't saying their Christian. I know there are probably times that mine isn't lining up either, but I get up everyday & say "Ok Lord... I'm yours... the answer is yes, please show me the question. Keep me on your path & when I go off track, make sure I get that needed 2x4 please" and I know I'm a work in progress and will be until I go home... i'm a sinner in need of a Savior... if I didn't need Him every minute of every day... there would be no need for a relationship no would there be? I rely on Him for all in my life. Granted there are times that I think I can do it on my own... and i normally end up in a worse place than where I began... so i go back & say... I messed up... again... guide me, show me... and He does... sometimes it's not what I want to hear or do either... HA - actually alot of times it isn't... then i know this is not my thinking... it's something so much more than me.
I wish i could show you what i have seen these past few months... the highest of highs & the lowest of lows & through all of it - the love, peace & joy that isn't comprehendable in the circumstances.
I've been saved by grace through faith in Him - not by my works, not by anything else, but by His mercy & grace because of my faith in Him and because I take him as my Lord THEN my Savior - not just my get outta hell free card...
I hope this makes some of you think & some understand my passion. If you know me... I'm not a Bible-thumper... I'm a normal person, with normal problems, with a normal life... the only difference is Him and my relationship w/ Him.
anyone wants to know more about this relationship or this peace or joy that I've mentioned... feel free to contact me...