My life is not my own

Six years ago tomorrow, I walked away from my old life, and decided to follow Jesus. On November 2, 2002, I was baptized by a woman who to this day has a special section of my heart, Nancy Myers. I had inquired about the women's ministry at our church, she met with me one day after church and talked to me. I told her my struggles of deciding to be baptized and I was somebody who would commit to something, but didn't know if I could commit to God. I didn't know if I could follow God all the days of the rest of my life. She took my hand and prayed for me. Two weeks later, I decided following Jesus was something I was going to do and I was honored to have Nancy baptize me.

Here I am six years later. My life has changed so much, you wouldn't believe me if you heard me talk about my previous life. My views of the world are not my own, they are God's. I see the world through God's eyes. Every single thing I possess, every single word out of my mouth, every single smile I show, every single breath I breathe....it all belongs to God. It is all His. My life, this life I live, is not my own. I forget that sometimes, it's very easy to get caught up in this crazy world we live in. But, through it all God has been there, grabbing hold of my hand and pulling me back close to Him when I get too far away. Reminding me who I am, who brought me this far. Showing me that even though I still very much struggle with things in my life, sometimes even trusting Him, He will not leave my side.

Life is so, so beautiful, I manage to see God every day. It might be in a smile, a sunset, a kind word, a small child holding my hand. Every day, I am utterly amazed, completely awed, and found absolutely speechless by God. It really makes my eyes well up with tears just to think about how this life of mine has been saved, how this heart of mine has changed. I don't know where I would be if I hadn't found God. Honestly....I might be dead either from drugs or self-infliction. I wouldn't be a good person, because I had so many bad things coming at me growing up. I had bad paths to take, but chose not to take them.

Every year, I normally celebrate my "second" birthday somehow. This year is no different. And in the 6 years I have been celebrating, I have never celebrated the best way I can think of....

To watch another person be baptized on the same day as me. And this person isn't just someone I have never met, it's Dana, one of the girls who I have watched grow up in Children's Ministry, one of the kids that her mom says I influenced. Many times, I was her teacher, guiding her and her twin sister to follow Jesus. Always remembering that I am to show God's love because all of these precious children are watching my every move. I love teaching the kids at church because once they understand who Jesus is and what He has done for them, it's the most precious thing. Adults become inhibited about talking to people about Jesus, but kids aren't. They will openly tell anyone about this man named Jesus.

My life as a Christian has NOT been easy, I will not lie to you. I have lost relationships with family members and friends, I have been told that God is stupid and the Bible is full of crap, I have been talked about, hated, despised, etc, etc, etc, all because I decided to follow Jesus. I even got a tropical disease that I'll have the rest of my life because I wanted to go tell people in the Dominican Republic about this God I serve.

But I have also felt love, God's love shining through people. And every single hurt I have experienced, every mosquito bite, whatever, it all has been WORTH every single second my life possesses, and I wouldn't change a thing. To be where I am now, watching Dana be baptized is worth everything. As my "About Me" section says....Christ never said it was going to be easy, He only said it was going to be worth it.

Oh and it's so, so, so worth it.

Quote of the day: "I am no where that I planned to be in my life, but EXACTLY where God wants me." ~Me

It's all because of Jesus...

"...I'm alive. It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ."
I have been singing that song lately over the past weeks and now I know why. We have been going through a series called, "Carried Away" and it's about dying to our old self and taking up our cross and following Jesus. Not just believing in Him or just growing in Him, but ACTUALLY following Him, no matter what the cost.

This past weekend at church, they did something they have never done before. We have invitations where the pastor would invite people to come down if they needed and were ready to accept Christ, somebody would pray with them and then tell them their next steps.
But this weekend...oh this weekend was different. This weekend is one that will live in my heart forever. This weekend they did an invitation, however they invited people to come down to be baptized right on the spot.

There is a song by Hillsong United called "Mighty to Save". Part of the chorus goes, "Savior, he can move a mountain. My God is mighty to save." This past weekend, he also moved 427 people to come forward and be baptized. Yes, you read that right, FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY-SEVEN people died to their old self and decided to follow Jesus.

How utterly and completely amazing is that? Seriously, it really doesn't get any better than that. I knew a good number of people got baptized this weekend, however did not even begin to comprehend that high of a number. 427. *Shakes head* It makes my eyes well up with tears and realize once again how AMAZING this God we serve really is.

"At the cross you beckon me...draw me gently to my knees, and I'm so in love, so lost for words, sweetly broken, wholly surrendered."