Suffering for doing good?

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July 29, 2010 – 8:36 pm
Emilee, Jesus

8Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
11He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. 1 Peter 3:8-22

Seems like a crummy thought doesn’t it? Suffering for doing good. My Americanized idea~doing good means I get a reward right? I get a prize, or compensation, or at the very least praise! A little scenario played out this morning while at McDonald’s with my youngest. She went to the counter and asked for a bag to be able and take her breakfast with her. After returning to our table the lady behind the counter brought two cookies over and asked if Emilee could have them. She explained that Emilee was so polite and had really good manners and she said that is something rarely seen anymore. (Don’t get me started~that’s a whole other blog post!) Emilee takes all this in and after the lady walks away, Emilee looks at me and says-I’m going to do that more often! I asked if it was so she could get more cookies! She said no, it was because the lady was happy with her and it made her feel good. We’re all kind of like that. We want the recognition that we did good and someone was happy about it. If we don’t get that feedback then somehow we’ve been slighted or insulted.  We certainly don’t want to suffer for doing good! I see so many people around me in my life that “quit” doing good because there’s no return. The whole mentality of…then what’s in it for me? If it doesn’t make me happy or I don’t get anything good from it then I’m just not going to do it! I felt like that wasn’t really something I wanted Emilee to think was okay. I wanted her to know that you do good not for the recognition of others but for the blessings that come from our relationship with Jesus and because He calls us to be obedient to His ways. His ways are so much better than our own!!

We were reading in 1Peter last night in our cell group and I was so struck by this particular passage and have read it several times. I need Emilee to understand that her blessings don’t come from this life, but from a Father who loves her more than I ever can. It is so important that I don’t continue with the thought it’s all about my “prizes” that I get for being the best Christian ever. I don’t want to be that kind of example to my children. Sometimes we get so surprised when things don’t go smoothly because we invest so much time trying to be pleasing to those around us and it never turns out the way we think it should! When we’re doing that we forget about the cross and the sacrifice that was made there because of our sin and selfishness.

My prayer is that God continues to strip off my sanitized “rose-colored” Christianity glasses. I’ve realized that this life is not about my comfort and happiness. It’s about being called by my Father to love those around me, be humble, share my faith, and not always be expecting a prize for good I’ve done. May I always recognize the blessings that sometimes come through uncomfortable situations and yes, even suffering.

May I always remember to be thankful…..

Thanks for reading!

Living in freedom,

Mel

My constant…

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June 12, 2010 – 8:39 pm
Freedom, Journey

con·stant

–adjective

1. not changing or varying; uniform; regular; invariable
2. continuing without pause or letup; unceasing
3. regularly recurrent; continual; persistent:
4. faithful; unswerving in love, devotion, etc.
5. steadfast; firm in mind or purpose; resolute.

I love words and definitions and writing and yes, I even love spelling. That’s the hidden English major coming out in me! I was thinking about people and moments in my life today and that word above popped into my head….”constant”. There are some people and some little routines I have that I consider a “constant”, I was reminded of those things today. I realized how much I take those things for granted. I expect them to always be there because they have always been there.  They, whether people or circumstances, are the same every day. I can depend on those constants, I feel secure and like the world makes sense in some way. Those things provide me with comfort and when they are gone it leaves a longing inside of me. A moment today made me realize that those things can be gone in a second, never to be done again….never to be experienced.
I’ve been reading chronologically in my bible and as I’ve read through the Old Testament I find myself getting to know God in a different way. I’ve always believed there was a God, even before I experienced salvation…but I never really took the time to get to know Him. I realized today as I was thinking about all the different “constants” in my life how God fills every one of those definitions above.  Never changing or varying the same God I read about in the Old Testament is the same one I seek today. He’s never paused or given up on me. He is continuous and I love that He is persistent. It’s the last two lines that really get me …He is~faithful; unswerving in love, devotion, He is~steadfast; firm in mind or purpose; resolute. He is that one thing in my life that is “constant”.  He fills that empty ache and longing that I used to get. That hole that I carried around in my heart, that I tried to fill with a lot of my earthly desires it could only be filled by Him.

A little update….

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June 12, 2010 – 8:29 pm
Emilee, Family, Journey

Michael & I have prayed for a very long time that Emilee would meet Jesus in a way that would forever change her life. Emilee is our child that will never know a time when Jesus wasn’t the entire focus of this family, the love of our lives, the leader of our hearts. A relationship with Jesus had to be her decision, something we couldn’t do for her. So we have prayed for God to fill her life with his love. Next Saturday we will joyfully participate in Emilee’s baptism & celebrate with her as she publicly declares that Jesus will forever live in her heart! Many of you have been amazing and wonderful examples of God’s love in Emilee’s young life-thank you for that.

So many things coming up for the Goldsmith family over the next couple of months! Michael and Seth off on mission trips. Michael to Haiti and Seth to Baja, Mexico with the Newsboys. I know that these moments will forever change their view of the world. May they gain an awareness of the needs of others that will lead them to a life of outward focus.  July will also bring a trip to the Lake to honor John Howser at the Howser Music Fest. What a great way to spend time with others and honor John’s legacy and his impact on our lives. This summer finds me headed back to school and while I’m both excited and a little nervous I am already looking forward to being done! I’m also back to working only as needed-no more full time hours right now.

So much happening, it kind of makes my head spin! I’d appreciate it so much if you could join me in praying for the guys while they are away from home and prayer for Emilee as she starts her own journey with God as the center of her life…that would be so great. Prayer is a powerful thing! If you could pray for me as I start class that will help me get through this next year-I know I’ll need a lot of prayer!

Looking forward to sharing some more “quiet thoughts” over the summer as well. My husband did mention I should write a little more often so that each post doesn’t seem like a novel! I’ll see what I can do. I might have to change the name of the blog to Mel’s Rambling Thoughts! As always, thanks for reading.

Living in freedom,

Mel

Choosing Forgiveness…..

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June 6, 2010 – 7:26 am
Books, Freedom, Journey

May was a month of storms! I talked about them a lot here, they came up a lot at church as we looked into the life of Naomi and Ruth, & we  experienced a couple of crazy spring storms..one that Michael and I rode out in our vehicle!! Storms will always be around! What I think God has been teaching me lately is…that no matter the storm-He is with me!! I believe that, I always have but I didn’t always recognize it. Like a little child sometimes it was easier to go through the rough stuff with anger and bitterness in my heart. Throwing a temper tantrum because my life wasn’t going as I had planned it!! I’m truly thankful that God continues to love me even in the middle of that big attitude! Michael wanted me to remind you how awesome God has been to me through the storms I’ve experienced. So I wanted to end this time of storms with a look back at the changes!!

I could go into a whole story of how God brought my family through some storms, but that might be better left for a book someday!! Too many words!! I do want you to know that out of the storms of my life God is transforming my entire person…my beliefs, my attitude, my proud spirit! One of the things I’ve found recently is God’s loving teaching on forgiveness. I’m really bad about holding a multitude of sins against sinners, including myself! I realize the anger and bitterness I sometimes hold onto during  a storm comes from a very strong desire to protect a very broken heart. (and obviously not trusting God to heal my broken heart!) We’ve all been broken-hearted in some way or another, either by choices we’ve made or by circumstances completely out of our control. Sometimes, I want to blame God, because that seems easy and then I don’t have to take any responsibility for my own actions. But if I remember correctly the Word tells me God doesn’t have any plans to harm me….but to prosper me! Blame can be a dangerous game to be engaged in, sometimes when we’re busy pointing the finger somewhere else we ignore the thumb that’s pointing back at us!!

I learned a lot about bitterness as we studied in Ruth this past month. Remember Naomi?  Call me Mara…which means bitterness! How many times have I found myself in that very same circumstance! Call me Mara! As you continue in Ruth’s story, and what a great story it is, you realize it’s about redemption and God’s grace in our lives! A lot like some of the chapters of my own story! I don’t want to live my story clouded with bitterness and anger anymore! When I gave up control of those situations I began to see God’s amazing work on my heart!

Above you might have noticed a picture of a book…Choosing Forgiveness. I just finished this book and I can’t tell you how it’s impacted my ideas on forgiveness! I thought I’d share the title with you, as maybe your in need of some talk about forgiveness. There have been some people in my life I’ve had to go to and ask their forgiveness, which is never easy! There have also been people I’ve needed to forgive, which for me is even harder! And sometimes it’s me that I need to let off the hook and forgive! Surprising, huh? Whatever circumstances you find yourself in Ms. DeMoss’s book will certainly challenge you to take a good look at where you are! She shares some great scripture through out the book and I plan on keeping those close to my heart!

I pray this morning that if you find yourself trapped in anger and bitterness that you find love and forgiveness in whatever situation is holding you captive. Because, dear one, that’s where you are- trapped, held captive in unforgiveness…….that is all anger and bitterness will bring you. It doesn’t heal your heart, it just holds you prisoner.

It must always come back to this picture for me-a perfect God in the form of an earthly man, shouldering my sins and hanging on a cross-to die a brutal death-FOR ME, FOR MY SINS….so I could have forgiveness! The truth is I did nothing and continue to do nothing to deserve any of it!  It defies human understanding. But I have learned this-if I never translate that to my own life and extend forgiveness to others then I am just selfish and foolish and I really don’t get it! You can’t talk about grace or love or joy or any of those other words we like to throw around without living a life of forgiveness…extended to one another. It makes Christ’s sacrifice on the cross seem unimportant….when it is the ultimate sacrifice that only a most Holy God could provide. It must be the center of my life…it is a story of forgiveness, grace, love, sacrifice….and ultimately joy in His resurrection.  See…He’s not in that grave anymore and there are a lot of us that say we love him that live like He’s still there. Not me, not anymore and hopefully not you! There is a mighty power in going through life’s storms. I hope you find yourself running to them and not resisting them because I can tell you in the storms of my life I’ve found Him! Not a glossy pictured  “happy” Jesus…but the Jesus that would hang naked on a cross, mighty to save…even a sinner like me!

Living in Freedom,

Mel

Guest Blogger: Audra Hibbs

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May 16, 2010 – 9:06 pm
Community, Journey, Women

Out of life’s storms come….hope! A hope- for better life circumstances, a closer walk with God, a realization of what is truly important! I have this amazing blessing of sharing life with some beautiful, Godly women who have these amazing stories and they live life willing to share their stormy moments in the hopes that it might bring hope to someone’s journey.  My friend Audra is one of those women. She has this amazing story that has had a huge impact on my life and I thought it would be great if she would be willing to share a little of her story here.  When I approached her about writing her story to share on the blog…she was absolutely agreeable.  Audra’s story is a story of hope and relationship with God and a “more excellent way”.  Audra and I had the unique experience of getting to know each other during my years as flag corps sponsor with the FHS band. Audra was in my first flag corps at Fredericktown, which that’s been 11years ago now! We were both much younger! I had just turned 30 and Audra was probably all of 14! She has had a huge impact on my journey with God. It was through her example as a young girl who loved Jesus with all her heart that encouraged me as I started my journey with God. After our paths had gone in different direction for several years God has put Audra and I back in relationship over the last two years….He always knows what we need!! During a very dark time in my journey God sent Audra and her story to give me hope and I don’t even think Audra realizes how important her words were to me at that time. Audra is a lot of things and I could write pages about her amazing character but what I want you to know about her is that she loves Jesus with this fierce and intense passion that is truly contagious to all around her. She is wise beyond her young years and she writes the most amazing, God-inspired words that are honest and raw. I hope when you get done reading her words here you’ll jump over to her blog-incomplete ramblings… and read some of her posts, they will impact your life!

Without any further “ramblings” on my part, Audra’s story………..

Dark Days

I’ve always loved rainy days.  Few things recharge my soul like an afternoon spent curled up under a fuzzy blanket, reading a book and listening to the gentle way rain hits the glass on my window.  And the distinctively green smell of the world after the rain passes.

Much like my affection for rainy days, the Lord has instilled in me over time a love for life-storms.  It seems counter-intuitive, really, and it hasn’t always been that way.  There was a specific period of my life that I refer to as my dark days.  At the time, it felt like every worst-case scenario that could arise arose…all at once.  My long-term relationship ended when the man with whom I’d been planning a life told me that he was homosexual; that moment alone created an epic war in the battleground of my heart in which Jesus and Satan battled it out for control over my perception of my femininity over the course of several years.  My brother and his wife, who had been like a second set of parents to me, separated and filed for divorce.  In the span of one year, three of my close friends passed away.  My childhood friends and I began to grow apart, simply because of the wear and tear of time and distance.  Change lurked around every corner, so much that it disoriented me on every possible level.  It felt as though a part of me was dying; every part of my life that I thought I could count on began to tear away at the seams.  And as that happened, my heart went through the same process of tearing and mending, ripping and healing.

But looking back on my life, my dark days, my great storm…they changed everything.  It took away from me the mediocre and gave me the extraordinary.  It took from me a life that was comfortable and sensible and predictable and gave me a life that is daily unexpected and unpredictable and vulnerable and infinitely more rewarding than anything I could have dreamed up on my own.  I have a career and a ministry and a circle of friendships and a husband that I would never trade for anything; each of them things and people that would have been forsaken had my former life stayed intact.

One of my favorite scriptures is I Corinthians 12:31: “But eagerly desire the greater gifts, and I will show you a still more excellent way.”  This verse has become the most accurate description of the way I view the storms we encounter as believers or, more broadly, as humans.

I believe it’s easy for us to desire the greater gifts and get stuck there.  To dream up the life we desire, and to desire it so much that our brains can’t even comprehend anything more wonderful.  And yet, there’s always a more wonderful adventure to come; we always have a Creator whose nature is more extravagant than we can imagine.  And sometimes, when we become so stuck in those “greater things” we’re desiring, I think the Lord finds that the only way to get us to let go is to tear down those things long enough to show us His “still more excellent way.”

I believe there will always be another storm to come as long as we’re ardently chasing Christ; because as long as we’re chasing Christ, there will always be another level to His more excellent ways, at least until Heaven comes to Earth in completion.

So eagerly desire those greater gifts.  And when the Lord uses the storms of this life to tear them down, live not only in contentment but in hope, knowing that He’s about to reveal to you another of His endless progression of excellent ways.

Psalm 29

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May 15, 2010 – 10:52 am
Freedom, Journey, Uncategorized

As I read through the Bible I find myself hearing more and more from God. Funny how that works!! Recently I posted about storms in my life and what that means to me…how it has impacted my life.

I watched a video recently where Mandisa talks about hearing from God and how she believes that God still speaks to us. I have that belief and faith that God is still speaking. I often wonder, “Do we still listen?” After my last post I went to church and of course, we talked about storms. We’ve started a new series at church on the book of Ruth that is having a huge impact. God is speaking!! So this topic of storms has come up a lot since I wrote my last post. While reading this morning in Psalms-you guessed it-storms again in Chapter 29. David talks about the might of God and His storms. The chapter starts with shouting Bravo, God Bravo!!! Gods and all angels shout, “Encore!” They are awesomely praising God for this crazy, huge, awesome storm that just sounds insane and scary. Not usually my first reaction to a storm and asking for an encore seems a little crazy.

The very next verse David talks about “being in awe before the glory, in awe about God’s visible power!” Catch that word “visible”? That’s what I find myself looking for most-a visibly present God in my every day circumstances. Although, it is God’s “visible” power that I so often overlook because of my own fear and indecision. I also get too wrapped up in dreaming life, that I forget to “live” my life. Or I get too worried about failing to try anything. He’s teaching me to stop waiting for the best circumstances and just jump. I’m learning on this journey that failing is no longer a bad word, it’s a step to learning. If I don’t ever fail….then I’m probably not ever going to learn!

As I read about David, I’m really starting to get to know him better and realize why he is a man after God’s own heart! And in the midst of all this crazy storm in vs. 9 David says, “We fall to our knees-we call out, “Glory”! What other response could you have…when you are seeing God’s visible power. I don’t think people do that enough anymore, fall to their knees. I have seen that one time in the last 8 years of church attendance….one time that someone fell on their knees in front of God. That’s a whole other blog post to write!!

My favorite part of the chapter comes at the end. (And no it’s not that the storm is over!!) It’s when I read-God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace. What an amazing promise….through the storms we become stronger and in the midst of it all we find peace. I’m learning to take the storms for what they are and to not fear them as much but to learn from them. I’ve decided to take the storms because He is with me through every one and I’d rather be with Him than go back to living the way I used to when I was lost!!

I know this chapter shouted out to me this morning and I know a lot of people are facing storms right now in their lives-so I hope that you found peace in the words of Psalm 29.

The Storm.

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May 1, 2010 – 9:25 pm
Freedom, Journey

“There’s a storm coming in the distance.

Some will run to it and some will resist it.

Our eyes will turn to the sky.

With desert hearts looking to the heavens, desperate for your holy fountain, our eyes will turn to the sky.

Rain down on earth, Father. Rain down on earth, Spirit. Rain down on earth, Jesus. Rain down on earth.”

~Carlos Whittaker

Storms….Do you run “to” them or do you “resist” them? Me? I fall on the side of resisting them.  I don’t like storms one bit and as far back as I have memories  I’ve always feared them.

Last night Michael & I got caught right in the middle of a huge storm coming home from Farmington. The lightning started out looking like the picture above but when the rain and wind came it was flashing so fast it became a blinding white light. That light wasn’t illuminating it was disorienting. For a while I wasn’t even sure we were driving on the road anymore. But we just kept going, forward, moving very slowly and just as slowly the storm started to let up. That’s the best thing about a storm-that it has an ending. It doesn’t last forever, although sometimes it seems that way, there is always going to be an end.

I’ve thought a lot today about how overwhelming some of the storms in my life have been. I also realize if I hadn’t experienced those storms I would never be any different. I would be  making the same mistakes, I’d never learn anything new, and I certainly would never have allowed God total access to every part of my life. I know that the storms are going to keep rolling and they won’t be comfortable but I believe in how they can shape me. I have come to the painful awareness that life is not about what I can accumulate in the way of possessions, it’s not about my status or how important I think I am, and it’s certainly not about arriving at death safely. It is however about giving away everything I have to follow Him, it’s about relationships and community and it’s about living life to it’s absolute fullest. Storms included!!! The moment those ideas became real in my life…I realized I’d never be completely “comfortable” in this life anymore. I don’t think we’re meant to be comfortable here. Wouldn’t it make heaven seem insignificant and unimportant? Don’t you think?

I love the lyrics above, they are beautiful and honest and very raw, the moment I heard them I felt their impact. No longer do I want to resist…..I realize it’s in those stormy moments that God fills me with what my heart has been looking for all along~Freedom, joy, love without measure…and peace in the midst of the worst storm. I desire the rain, it changes me..forever. No longer do I feel trapped by the same old things.

I hope in the midst of whatever storm you are experiencing that you meet God there, it will forever change you and may it encourage you to live dangerously and boldly, in complete joy and freedom with love and peace always invading your heart.

That is my prayer for you…..

In quietness….

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April 15, 2010 – 8:08 pm
Journey, Life

……”In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” Isaiah 30:15


How many times do I find myself fighting and struggling, and sliding right back down that slippery slope? Which slope you might ask? The one where I am forever unsure and always doubting. I have found as I’ve journeyed through life that the farther away I am able to keep God the easier my life is. At least that has always been my perception, which has worked well for making me the kind of Christian that talks about God but never really lived life with Him. I was a great slippery slope kind of gal!! Several years ago I started down a path where I knew that I would never be content to live my life in this parallel way. Always keeping myself in proximity to God but not committing to the hard stuff. I wanted to know he was there but participation was on my terms not his. That makes for a dangerous Christian and not one I wanted to continue to be. If you pray dangerous prayers to God, like giving up everything to follow him..that’s when things really get crazy. Gone are all the comforts of belonging to the right “crowd”, gone is the ability to ignore his voice speaking into your life, and gone are all preconceived notions of people and situations and shiny, earthly things.

I liked being invisible. I liked being a friend to very few and an acquaintance of even fewer. I liked living my life without any emotional inconvenience. I really just liked things going in an even direction with very few bumps. The last few years, how can I even describe these moments? It’s like riding across an African Savannah at 150 miles an hour on the back of a mini-bike hoping you don’t get thrown off in the middle of lion territory. If that makes any sense!!.. and for those of you that have experienced it…it makes perfect sense. It’s a weird kind of transformation, but that’s what the experience has been a transformation.

I’ve always heard people say that God’s gonna love us wherever we are, but he’s not going to leave us there! I’m still not sure how I feel about that idea, I think sometimes he leaves us right in the middle of our wallow in the mud. At least that’s where I found myself for a time. Probably the best thing that could have happened. It teaches you a lot about yourself, about God, about his grace. Suddenly nothing seemed like such a chore anymore-being a friend, being joyful, being obedient, forgiving and letting go, learning to be humble, finding patience, walking in quietness. Learning to listen instead of just talking constantly to fill up the air!!

I don’t want to be the end of that verse in Isaiah. When God is speaking to me promising me amazing things and telling me how to get salvation and strength…I don’t want to be the one that doesn’t get it, that would have none of it. I’m still a work in progress, I’ve learned recently that I will always be that. I’ve learned through circumstances that life here will always be difficult and more than likely a lot of things will happen that I won’t ever understand on this side of heaven. But someday this life will fall away and I’m working on learning what I need to know along the way, to get ready for what comes next.

Here’s to continuing the journey!!


People of the Second Chance

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February 6, 2010 – 9:37 pm
Church, Opinions

“People of the Second Chance gives voice to a scandalous movement of radical grace in life and leadership. We challenge the common misconceptions about failure and success and stand with those who have hit rock bottom in their personal and professional lives. We are a community that is committed to stretch ourselves in the areas of relational forgiveness, personal transparency, and advocate for mercy over judgment.

We are not ashamed of our scars, wounds, or failures and leverage them as a source of strength and character development.

People of the Second Chance have experienced a second chance so we  actively support social justice organizations and advocate for the vulnerable, forgotten, and left behind.

We are People of the Second Chance.”

I wanted to share this website. I’ve been following these guys for a long time, back in their “deadly viper” days. They seem very sincere and humble in their own lives, or they at least admit to it when they aren’t! I love the concept of radical grace and the more I grow in my relationship with God..the more I believe it and embrace it and want to practice it in my own life. I have realized the people most willing to give someone a second chance….. are the same people who have needed a second chance in their own lives!!

From experience & some up close observation of situations and the way they are sometimes handled-I would say this is a concept the church often gets wrong. Radical grace doesn’t seem to exist in the “big business” that some churches deal in. You can certainly run church like a multi-million dollar business, but I think when you do that you lose the best of what God has planned for His church. The living life part-the learning to be humble, the dying to self, & most definitely the working through conflict part. It makes you better-working through rough times and conflict-it makes you stronger, it refines your character!  A little something I’ve come to realize over the last few years. It seems a sad example the way the Western church seems to be able to deal in the souls of it’s parishioners as disposable and list them under the heading of “collateral damage” when tough situations come up. It seems almost arrogant and prideful to decide which of God’s people are disposable-I’m grateful God doesn’t find me disposable. It’s strange to me that God always forgives but yet at times church leadership would rather crucify than forgive, shun rather than love. Those guys…those are the bad guys that give all churches a strike against them. Those are the churches that turn people against anything to do with God. It’s sad that we don’t teach grace and model relationships of love-the good and the bad parts-so people know that we are not so different after all…that everyone needs a second chance-that everyone deserves a second chance. Because, the last time I checked we are all sinful, we all fail in some way, we all make bad choices at one time or another.

I love that my God is a God of second chances….because once again without grace where would I be? Certainly this life is painful at times and we’ve all experienced painful situations. There have probably been people in your life that have walked away, turned their back on you…but know that God….He never turns his back, He never walks away. He is the Protector of our souls, our strong tower in times of trouble…the giver of second chances! My prayer for you tonight..if you are finding yourself in a situation where you need a second chance…I pray that God sends you people that know what it means to need a second chance, people that are willing to stand by your side and remind you of your second chance. And I hope, should God call you to be that for someone else…that you don’t turn away!

Unbreakable

4
January 24, 2010 – 10:43 pm
Journey, Music, Opinions

Where are the people that accused me?
The ones who beat me down and bruised me
They hide just out of sight, can’t face me in the light
They’ll return but I’ll be stronger

Those are the opening words to Fireflight’s song Unbreakable. I had the pleasure of seeing Fireflight in concert Friday evening with Winter Jam 2010. Love this song and it’s message. Ever had those people in your life? We all have. What I’ve finally realized about people who accuse me or cause me pain and hurt me….the only thing I’m called to do….is love them. Weird. Yep, it’s just weird. We don’t get to punch them or scream at them or even justify ourselves or our reputation by talking badly about them. We are just called to love them. For me it’s been the ultimate test of whether I take this Christian life seriously. Is it possible to return stronger after a painful experience or to  just fall back into my old ways? ….of not trusting, of guarding my heart, of withdrawing. I stand before you and I say….wait, I scream- Yes!!! It is absolutely possible and I am living proof that God can redeem any experience. I am proof that you can learn and you can have joy through all things and you can dream again.


God I want to dream again, take me where I’ve never been
I wanna go there, this time I’m not scared
Now I am unbreakable, it’s unmistakable
No one can touch me, nothing can stop me

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cried out to God that I want to dream again! I’m so ready for whatever is coming next! God’s filled my heart with His Word and pointed me in the direction He has for me. He’s shown me that He doesn’t leave me and He’s refining me and He’s preparing me. Painful times will come and what will I choose to do? Will I want to take back control, will I fear? Faith is moving without knowing…I love that line. That’s exactly what I plan on doing. I’m just going to keep moving. I’m moving through life now without all the baggage and the fear. When you hear the words God can change anyone from the inside out…I hope I come to your mind. I hope I’m able to show with my actions and not my words that I am indeed forever changed.

Sometimes it’s hard to just keep going
But faith is moving without knowing
Can I trust what I can’t see to reach my destiny?
I want to take control but I know better

I’ve used fear as an excuse…a crutch. But it is no longer my goal to arrive safely at the end of my life. It is my goal to live life boldly, without reservations, risking it all. Sometimes my biggest fear is just simply of failing. As I’ve gotten to know me better and definitely as I’ve leaned into God and His plans I’ve realized how silly that seems. If I never fail- how will I ever know if I’m headed in the right direction, how will I ever learn what He needs me to know? The time for worrying about what other people think , or fitting comfortably into what is acceptable to the masses-it’s over. It’s so over! I’m living for the acceptance and judgment of One. That really is all that matters.

Forget the fear it’s just a crutch
That tries to hold you back
And turn your dreams to dust
All you need to do is just trust

It’s getting late and I need to go spend some time with someone who shares my dreams. My question for you….where are your dreams, not dust I hope, and what could you accomplish if fear was erased from your life? Could you step out of the group and dare to be different, dare to be free, dare to live your dreams….dare to do that one thing…..live that one secret dream that swirls round and round in your thoughts? Crazy talk , right? Are you sure? Maybe it makes more sense than what you would let yourself believe……