Monday, January 5, 2009

Persecution - Attacks from Non-Believers

I can only imagine how painful it must of been for Jesus to be persecuted because of his Father's blessing on Him and purpose for Him. When we are persecuted, ridiculed, or disliked because we are Christ Followers it is just a grain-size amount of pain and sorrow in comparison to that of the pain that I imagine Jesus endured.

It hurts so much to love someone so much and be persecuted, rejected, insulted by them for living with the love of GOD!

Everything reminds me of him - places, people, things, comments, etc. I find myself yearning to hear his voice, feel his embrace, see his face - OH so very often. At the same time my hunger and thirst for God's love and a desire for a deeper relationship with God is more evident than ever. I have found so much peace, joy, and happiness with God's love that it would only be normal that I would want to share my experiences with those that I love the most. My prayer is that one day he may get to know the peace, joy, and happiness I have found in God's love.

It hurts to be persecuted, rejected, and insulted by him for my belief in God and for accepting God's love for me. I know that scripture says that "Blessed" are you when people persecute you because you are a Christ Follower. (see Mathew 5:11) It is hard for me to see that as a blessing right now, but I understand why it is a blessing - IT SURE IS!! It still hurts. My wounds are fresh, but I have faith that my blessing will come and I will understand why it had to be this way in time.

Why is it more acceptable to be hanging at bars, clubs, or any other places than at church? What better place to hang than at church!! I refuse to conform to the worldly, acceptable 'hang out' spots for singles nowadays - even if it means loosing someone that I love so dearly. I am doing good deeds while at church - feeding the homeless, volunteering at the church, hugging people that are hurting, encouraging those that are down, etc. So why does he find this so wrong? That is what hurts the most.

Lord continue to give me the strength, courage, and wisdom to surrender my love for **** to you. You have me and him in your hands and you will take care of our hearts and our paths. May your will be done. God I know that you love me and that this too will only make me stronger and wiser. Thank you Lord for the lessons and trials. Thank you for your ever so present peace and overflowing grace. Amen

Friday, January 2, 2009

New Year - New Beginnings

Happy New Year! Welcome to the year 2009....

The new year is here and I feel so blessed to enter this year with a "new lease on life" (as the phrase goes). It will soon be exactly one year since I accepted Christ back into my life and what an amazing experience it has been. A time of healing, repentance, forgiveness, commitment, and so many other things (just a total overhaul! lol..) God has transformed me, renewed me. His love, grace, and peace have now filled my heart. Thank you Lord.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17


This year is going to be a year of many more new beginnings for me and Briston. We are going to continue to move forward with our passion and thirst for the love of God so that we can continue on our life journey of reaching our "God Potential"!

God has a great plan for us and I am excited about what God has in store for us this year. What new challenges? What kind of blessings? Who will we be blessing? Where does God want us to go? In what ways will God use us to bless others? I can dream of many things, but I can not even come close to imagining what He has in store for us - it is always bigger than what I can imagine!

God wants the best for all of us and has good plans for all of us. It is all up to us to accept His love! May the peace and grace of our Savior Jesus Christ be with you all! Happy New Year.....