Birthday GLADness & 2016 Resolutions

“24 doesn’t mean much... it’s not a milestone…this year isn’t one I’d like to really remember anyway…no reason to draw it out even further…celebrating only stops time…everyone is done with Christmas and now fixated on ringing in the New Year… I don’t want to be a burden…woe is me.

[[wah wah, Charlie Brown]]

I mean, really Kalynn Smith… that is just depressing, but these thoughts have plagued me especially in my teenage-adult years when concerning my December 29^th birthday. I listened to outsiders who’d say: “that must really be the pits;” “I bet you hardly get gifts on your birthday and instead have a combined celebration on Christmas…” (things of that nature). I necessarily didn’t find the latter true, since Mom and Dad were always good about making my special day worthy of celebrating just as if it were in June. As I got older, I started to believe the first statement and began resenting the timing in which I was born. (Believe me, this sounds pathetic to me too, and I’m the one writing it. I must lay my immature, pessimistic, and twisted former way of thinking first. Yes, because there IS good news! God gave me His perspective! He took what I could choose to keep festering on and continue to be bitter towards and He totally turned it into something I couldn’t have thought of for myself! I pray this brings you some hope as well, because *you* being born was planned meticulously by your Creator, your Heavenly Father.

This year, as you know (if you’ve read my previous posts), was heartbreaking. I knew it was going to be for the glory of God, but my faith was probably one-tenth the size of a mustard seed. Heartbreak for the Kingdom: becoming totally vulnerable with God Almighty. Fully surrendering to the will of God. Allowing Him His time of demolition on my weak heart. Breaking. Stripping. Ripping. On my knees, cracked to pieces, “I need a healer, I need Jesus.” Heartbreak for all the RIGHT reasons. I was able to SEE and BELIEVE that I am not able, but with Jesus… with Jesus, I am saved. Not only am I saved for eternity’s sake, He is blessing me on earth, PRESENTly (pun intended). He blesses me with His Holy Spirit. He lives in me. He fills and satisfies the emptiness my soul longs for…the voids I bandaged throughout my previous years of self destruction and hurt by others. He forgives me of my trespasses and restores my hurting heart and mends me into a new creation!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” -2 Cor. 5:17-19 Amen.

Before I saw the Light (Jesus) at the end of the tunnel, I made those pitiful conclusions…”It’s been a hard year.” Well, I should’ve put my foot in mouth because I definitely spoke too soon. I was walking faithfully, yes, but I was no saint; I was negative on countless accounts. But thankfully Jesus loved me too much to keep me in the cares of this world. He cared about a relationship with me. It matters to Him when we turn to seek temporary “lovers…idols” instead of seeking His face. It matters because He selflessly died for us. And the more and more I say that, the more and more real it becomes for me. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. With that said, all the breakage was WORTH every bit. Every single bit. So this birthday, I turn 24, but I feel (and act on some occasions..) one year old. In the sense that I am new in Christ. “A year of reversal.” Who woulda thunk it!?

I grasped the true meaning of Christmas this year.

Jesus. The Babe, wrapped in swaddling cloths.

God in the flesh to live, die, and resurrect into the heavenlies.

THE ONLY atonement for my sins.

Praise God!

And one day, He will return.

It was Jesus who turned my year around! The most absolute best year yet!

And now I can celebrate my life with GLADness instead of madness. I can celebrate 24 and all the years to come (God willing) with great JOY because I have a Creator who thought of me before I was formed in the womb. I have a Creator who loved me and still gave me life knowing I would betray Him. And because He knew this, My Creator sent His only begotten Son to die for me, so that I could be saved for eternity!

God’s perspective on His daughter’s December 29^th birthday:

“I knew the day of your birth. I knew you were entering into sin, because of Adam and Eve, so I’m sending my Son, Jesus, to die for you so that you might be saved. I’m sending Him first as my gift to you. You will be born after the fact. You can accept Him as your Lord and Savior. I will be with You, and I will be waiting to partner with you.” At 23 I accepted His gift. I accepted His Amazing Grace. And I can celebrate this gift on my 24th birthday and forevermore. I will bring Him into the New Year, now seeking the will of God.

-His perspective on my birthday is not exclusive to December babies. It’s a truth for every birth date. Advent truly marks the beginning of the year. So His children come after, even the ones who were born on His day. He did the work on the Cross at Calvary many many years ago.

“"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them." -Psalm 139:13-16

(That’s a heck of a reason to celebrate! YEAH!)

He knows the very number of hairs on your head. (Read Matt. 10:30, Luke 12:7)

If I have any piece of advice for our New Year’s Resolutions it would be to seek God. We can make plans. We can set goals, and rightfully so. But without God, it’s all for naught.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my good to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:1-3)

God is love. Why? Because of His Greatest Gift, Jesus. Without Jesus, I am nothing.

There are so many kind-hearted, good, genuine people. But they do not have love… aka, Jesus. And their good works, and “good way of life” will not bring them into heaven, and that makes me sad. But as long as I am given life, I will remain passionate about lost souls. And with that, there is always HOPE.

I’ve selfishly wasted away my years because I wasn’t seeking God and the very purpose I was created for. I share with you my story to help save you from any regret and years of missed blessings. I share with you because I care about your soul. I share with you because I want you to experience the fullness of God. Don’t burn daylight by walking your own path. Don’t waste your days like me, like Moses, Abraham, David, and many more examples. It took them many years to seek God’s will fully. Let it be a lesson to us. We can only learn by getting in the Word. That is your starting point and your focal point. I also encourage you to subtract something, or some thing(s) that serve as a distraction from hearing from the Lord. (i.e. the cares of this world)

So, you were wanting to know how to find the will of God? I do not have the answer to your unique destiny, but I know where to start!

His Word says: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” –Romans 12:2

Remove the distractions. Remove the idols. Nothing else matters if you don’t have Jesus. I promise you. Nothing.

Don’t worry about getting it all right, becoming whole right away in the areas needing mending. Matthew 5:33 says “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

I don’t know how more clear it could be. The days on earth pale in comparison to eternity. And we have a choice to make: either a life of eternity spent in hell or eternity spent in heaven. "...Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." -2 Corinthians 6:2

Dear sisters and brothers, we are not promised tomorrow. Your day of salvation can be right here, right now behind the very screen of your computer, or smart phone. It can be like me, on the floors of a client’s bathroom. “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved.” –Romans 10:18-19

That’s it! It doesn’t come with any prerequisite. No specific place of where you should be or what specific time. Just believe and proclaim it!

Mark 4 is a great chapter to mention. In The Parable of the Sower, Jesus explains 4 types of people. Don’t be the first, who hears the Gospel, and lets it fall by the wayside. A heart so hardened. It’s ideal that we would “hear His Word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some hundred.” (v. 20) Some may at first be receptive like stony ground, “immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the world’s sake, immediately they stumble.” (v.16-17) Others may have thorny receptors: “they are the ones who hear the Word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (v.18-19)

Why do some people lose their fire for God? They have no roots.

In this upcoming year, I encourage you…

1. Do the obvious pruning. Out with the old habits and old ways, no matter how addicting.
2. Be still.
3. Seek God.
4. Wait on Jesus. Wait on the Holy Spirit. (TIME IS YOUR FRIEND)
5. He will root you.
6. He will water you.
7. If you remain faithful, you WILL bear fruit.

Some of us need to forgive ourselves.

Some of us need to let go of bitterness towards those we have been severely wounded by.

***This is important. Maybe you are “saved”, and this might be the only thing you take away. Let it be this: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt.6:14-15)

If you believe you are saved, you know Jesus has forgiven you and your brothers and sisters’ sins. Saying you can’t forgive, sets you on a pedestal above God Almighty. Wow, and believe me, when I heard it that way, my heart changed right quick like!

Some of us have been hurt by the “church” and other “Christians,” and we call them hypocritical.

***Your faith was in man, not God. A real Christian is still a sinner.

Some of us just need to be taken by the hand of God and let Him pour out His love on us.

Let go. Let God.

Commit to Him.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this opportunity to share with others what You have given me. Thank You for allowing me to rejoice with my sister and brothers in Christ who have heard of your Good News and walk in Your ways. Bless them for their faithfulness. Let them bear the fruit! For the ones who desire Your Son Jesus as their Lord and Savior, I pray You would soften their hearts; let Your seed fall upon good ground, so that they would accept Your word. I pray for those with stony and thorny receptors. May their fire be lit for Jesus and may it never be extinguished by the cares of this world. Reach the lost soul today who comes across Your message. Thank You for another birthday, one in which I can celebrate with gladness, with Joy in my heart. Thank you, Lord, in advance for 2K16! I trust You with my life. Continue to show us what is Your good and perfect will. You are a good good Father and I love you. Thank You for loving me first.

It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

With the love of Jesus & yours truly,

K-SMIZZLE … ……. …..

XO

:-)

Salvation and My Testimony

Hey, friend.

Grab a cup of coffee, I found my voice!

My story of the good work God has done in me is unique to my own journey; However, *the message* of my testimony of Jesus Christ is available to all.

Today, I felt the Lord prompting me to elaborate on the point of my previous post. I laid the foundation of my testimony by sharing my story. But maybe I only in a round-about-way specified what that actually means. I can’t help but get excited about the Good News of the gospel and sometimes I forget to make my point clear, but, the Lord is my best teacher and I learn a lot when looking back, in hindsight. He felt this follow-up post was important, and therefore, I do too.

Salvation.

That’s *the message* of the testimony of Jesus Christ.

That is what I have gained, by believing in Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Salvation gives me life forever in heaven with my King. Salvation saves me from death: everlasting punishment in hell with Satan. (Read Matthew 25)

Our God, the Father, cannot dwell in sin. (Read Isaiah 59:2)

This is why He sent His Son to save us.

We have our God…that is our Father

We have the birth of Jesus Christ…that is the Son of God

We have the birth, and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ…that is our salvation “IF you confess with you mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) …and at the moment of conversion (the moment we are saved), we are filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)

(That is the Trinity: God is… our Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit)

I called myself “Christian” and I believed in God. I also “believed” in Jesus… because I heard that’s what the bible teaches us if we want a ticket into heaven. I didn’t comprehend human sacrifice… God himself, God Incarnate, dying for the punishment of my sins? It wasn’t real for me, it didn’t change my heart because I didn’t allow it to; It was only a belief that I pushed into the back of my head. I had accepted this at a young age (10-11 years old) one day at church, along with my childhood bestfriend and a few other kids. The pastor was preaching to the youth group about Heaven and Hell and Salvation. He talked about hell and I remember the sanctuary being dark (literally and figuratively). That’s not a place I wanted to go and though our eyes were suppose to be closed at this certain time, I opened mine and peeked at my friend, who apparently didn’t want to go there either…she was already making her way to the altar. That’s where Pastor called us up if we chose to accept Jesus as our Lord. I soon followed. Pastor Tommy baptized me one Sunday morning afterwards in front of the congregation at Chestnut Grove Baptist Church (a church I only sometimes went to, but I am thankful for the times I attended and the people who carried me). It starts with a family member’s mother who needed a ride to church so my mom would take her some Sundays, which then stirred something in my mom to go. The mornings Mom attended, she would take me too. Also, I am so grateful for a family dear to mine who would take me when I spent Saturday nights over at their house (the family of my childhood bestfriend. We were both baptized on that same morning).

So here’s the next 14 years or so (give or take a year) -as a “Christian”- summarized at the best of my ability:

…not very active in church

…attended VBS, sometimes, with a family who watched my brother and I during the summer

…never studied the bible & prayed weak prayers in my mind

…never active in a community or group, other than sports teams
...sometimes went to Wednesday Night church service with a childhood friend
...went on one church retreat to Tennessee with a group of friends and their church and I came back pretty sick. (not a coincidence)

…had two seizures at age 11 and 13…I say that, first because all neurological tests, CT scans, and whatever else was done to find the cause…nothing came back abnormal, except the theory that hormones were the culprit. Secondly, read (Mark 9:17-22,25), (Matthew 17:14-20), (Luke 9:37-42), (Matthew 4:24), (Matthew 8:16), (Matthew 12:22), Casting out demons. If you believe that the Bible is the Word of God, then you must believe it to be true in it’s entirety. Those books are listed in the New Testament and make up the four gospels. This is real. (What God wants to further reveal to me about that part of my life, let Him have His way…what I do know and have is complete peace…shalom… and I know “affliction will not rise up a second time.” (Nahum 1:9) It is well with my soul.)

…My parents divorced when I was 13 years old.

…Mom accepted Jesus Christ into her life and I watched her change, as her faith grew. It was contagious. It affected me and got me curious.

…Mom tried to get us into a church; we visited several and became members of one, but had to eventually end up leaving, due to very real reasons. My mom received the spiritual gift of discernment and felt called to leave. That is all I will say.

…the spiritual battle was raging. After my parents’ divorce, my mom and me and my brother moved into a house off of “Battlement Circle.” Are you seeing the symbolism here? The city of Loganville, Ga…”Home of the Red Devils.” (Mom has correlated that one.) The neighborhood we lived in was built on a certain piece of property. Don’t miss this... The lady (Mrs. Watson) who my mom took to church was the very same lady who sold her house and property to this person who then sold it to that person, and eventually built the neighborhood we moved in to (Watson’s Mill). There was a deeper spiritual battle going on when Mom accepted Jesus Christ. Satan hated it. Mrs. Watson was a light and she planted a seed in Mom along the way, and there was a deep spiritual battle warring on 3360 Battlement Circle when Mom was stepping into her new self, her new life with Christ. WOW. just WOW. Only by God can I find symbolism in that and correlate/compare the spiritual to the reality.

...I learned a great deal about spiritual warfare, demonic forces, and witchcraft even. Something that happens still today, and very few are willing to admit that or allow themselves to believe it to be true.

…I began to build my faith around Mom’s faith. Because she shared a great deal with me about her testimony and experiences, I too, felt a part of her story. God wanted me to leave the nest and have my own story and testimony…nothing against my mom. At all.

…Sophomore year of highschool, somewhere in the middle of Mom’s conversion and the apparent spiritual warfare, I developed an eating disorder called anorexia. It was traumatic. I had a lot of stress from the divorce, and from factors I neither could control nor comprehend, so I picked something I could and the devil used it to my disadvantage. I had poor self esteem and bad body image. I lost friends and felt worthless. I was dating a guy throughout middle school and highschool and we broke up. I felt numb. I just didn’t care about anything.

…I, then, wanted to gain weight and find healing. I remember a guest speaker one day in my highschool elective dance class. The woman was a counselor coming to speak to the class as a whole about the severity of eating disorders. I felt the message was directed at me, and me alone. My parents were obviously very much concerned, too, and they of course tried to convince me to get medical help. I stubbornly declined. It was when Dad said he was going to take me, did I try to muster up courage to make the decision myself to eat more.

…I gained weight, but through bingeing. So I went from one extreme eating disorder to the next. (This is explained in a previous post)

…My eating disorders were “my story.” It’s what I shared when asked about my testimony. The youth leader laughed at me- That was my perception. So I kept quiet. Just kept being a listener. The devil didn’t want me to find my voice. “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Gen. 50:20). Amen to that, sista! Amen to that, brotha! **Cue “Roar” by Katy Perry** GO GOD!
...In the middle of my eating disorders, Dad got remarried. They soon divorced, also.

…I got back together with my boyfriend, graduated highschool, went to college and freshman year we (my family...Mom, me and my brother) had to move into an apartment.

…August 12th, 2012- My brother was hit by a car while crossing the road. (also talked about in a previous post of mine). He was in the ICU with an induced coma for a week and went through months of therapy, surgeries, and recovery. His full recovery, with the exception of minor headaches from the brain trauma, is a complete miracle. The fact that he is still alive, can only be because of God. Thank You, Lord. Thank You! I witnessed the peace Mom had when I saw her in the emergency room that night. That was God.
…Things happened with me and my boyfriend at the time and it was time we went our separate ways.
...My mom got remarried. God called her out of a life of singleness and brought my step-father and her together. She and I moved in with him and his three boys into their house. My step-father is a man of God. His boys were raised in church and they know the Word and I see their fruits.

…Seeds were starting to sprout in my life. I wanted what Mom had. I desired that so much. I desired, also, what she and my step-father had (i.e.  their time in prayer together and God bringing it into fruition, their Marriage Covenant, and honoring God with their relationship)

…Mind you, I was continuing to live in unrepentant sin.

…I found other things to mask the loneliness and wounds I caused on myself (the sins) and ones that I had no control over (i.e. parents’ divorce).

…I busied myself in self, in my ego... anything and everything (but Jesus) to make me feel accepted and loved. It worked for awhile. The world drew me in. I was promiscuous to a certain degree that was enough for me to look back on now and be disgusted by. I displayed my body in unacceptable ways on social media. I had no self-respect. I was overly proud. I enjoyed the attention.

…It was temporary and as it was fading and as I was trying to get closer to God, I was dissatisfied.
...I was still dealing with eating disorders and I didn't understand why, God??

…Feb 2015 I was encouraged by my “What Happens When Women Walk in Faith” online bible study to leave my idol, which was covering the wounds caused by past sin and the current sin. It was filling the void. I let the idol compensate for the healing power of the blood of Jesus. "I have this under cover God, no big deal." That was a control issue. And an act of fear. Fear of failure/rejection.
...God used an older (than me) woman to speak Truth over me.. "slow down." So that's what finally encouraged me to leave what I was putting before God. The idol was causing me to live a chaotic, anxious life...it caused wreckage (literally and figuratively)

………………………..time in the tent with God……..”in the wilderness” (Hosea 2:14)………..

[intermission…if you must :) ]

...I joined an in-home bible study with a fabulous group of girls. God lead my bestfriend to join and she, in turn, invited me. We all engaged with one another in fellowship and with the Lord in His Word and in prayer. We initially went over the beginning of the the book of Luke. That's where God stirred my heart and used Luke 1:45 to give me Hope of His promises. I only attended a handful of times, but the Lord blessed it. I am thankful for those women.
...God was preparing me for His Grace. He used one of my dear friends to show me what that meant through our dispute and reconciliation. God brought it around full circle.

…I joined the next bible study “The Mended Heart” in July 2015 and asked God to expose the wounds I had self-medicated. He did. (July 6^th)
...I felt worthless when He did expose them. I was unable to forgive myself. God put a very special cousin of mine in my path to shine a light of Truth and she did it with Love. The way I was seeing myself wasn't an accurate picture of what Christ has done for me. I was basically denying the work that Jesus accomplished on the cross! "When you are wrapped up in guilt and condemnation, you need to forgive yourself! You can go through deliverance, but if you don't forgive yourself for the mistakes you've made, you won't experience the breakthrough that you need to be totally set free!" WOW. It was like I was saying I know Jesus died for my sins but IIII can't forgive my sins. I was saying I was mightier than the Almighty? Essentially, yes.

…Thursday, July 9^th 2015 The day my life changed forever. I was in the middle of cleaning and dealing with the resurface of my wound that I had asked God to reveal. I remember the moment clear as day. I turned on Pandora to the Francesca Battistelli channel. I was in some real need of uplift and encouragement. The first song to come on was “Healer” by Kari Jobe. “Jesus You’re all I need…You’re my healer.” I proclaimed it first in my mind and then confessed it with my mouth. I wept. This revelation brought me to my knees and the Holy Spirit showered me with love. I don’t know how to describe the feeling. No words would do it justice.

…I was dating amongst all of this. I obviously wasn’t ready. I can see that, in hindsight.

…I knew nobody could make me whole, nobody but Jesus. But God wanted to reveal much more to me than that. I didn’t know the extent and depth of how badly I had been affected from my parents’ divorce. I didn’t know how fearful I was that I would make the same mistake. I held a lot of expectations, which inevitably puts a lot of pressure on another. And, I was unintentionally laying my personal convictions on others. :(

…When I stopped loving the idea of love and fell in love with Jesus, I found peace. I found my walk of faith. Trusting Him is not always easy and there are days when I want a bigger view of my future than just the day that I have been given. “One day at a time,” I have to tell myself.
...I went to and still go to church on Sunday mornings, and sometimes I would honestly skip because of insecurity. I've gone with others to theirs and have enjoyed the sermons. God has always been working through each and every sermon, each and every person he brings into my life (I love you all! and I couldn't be any more grateful and blessed by you!) and through every act of my obedience.
...I have a close knit circle of friends, who have listened to me and have prayed over me through it all.
...I have desires to get involved in community. Do less and BE more.
...I believe I am healed from my eating disorder because Jesus fills me and I am satisfied.

So, *grasps for breath of air* that’s as transparent as I come, minus the exception of some personal details- maybe used for one-on-one, face-to-face conversations. Whatever the Lord wills, I ask Him to use me where He sees there’s a need.

God can only work in us and use us as much as we make ourselves available. I’m on fire for God! You can be too!!!

So this is a general overview of my testimony:

1. I knew God, and knew Jesus as only a “theory.”

2. I had unrepented sin in my life. The sin had consequences.

3. I had wounds from them that I caused and others had caused.

4. I chose idols to help fill the void and used them to self-medicate.

5. Nothing I did relieved the pain.

6. I found Jesus to be my Healer. He forgave me, and wiped my slate clean.

7. He did a good work in me and will continue until the day He returns.

8. I can walk in peace. I can walk, being fulfilled with the love of Jesus and I can serve others without losing myself.

9. Because I have Jesus, I have purpose and joy.

10. Because I have Jesus, I am free.

My dad raised me to be grateful and I learned what a genuine "thank you" can do. So, thank you Daddy! I wouldn't be the woman I am today without your kind heart. AND I am so thankful God has allowed this time for us to make new memories as we have lost some over the years not living together. Also, thank you to everyone I have EVER crossed paths with...for showing me love in your own unique way! You've been the hands carrying me home.

Finally, thank you so much for listening. 

I hope God uses my testimony to touch your life in a way only He can. Jesus is the only One who can save your soul. Believing in God never made me a Christian; I never knew for certain where I was going when I left the earth. Now, I have no doubt in my mind, that I forever belong in the Kingdom of God, and will spend eternity in heaven with my King when I leave earth.

Dear God, 

Thank you for this sweet sister, this sweet brother who you lead here today to read my story and the testimony of your love and sacrifice. Lord, I pray that her heart, his heart wouldn't be hardened to this truth. I pray you would reach the depth of her soul, his soul. I pray your invitation of eternal life would weigh so heavily on them that they would have no other option but to accept and forever be changed. Thank You, Lord for what You are doing, even for the things that I may never see. You are good and I can rest assured knowing none of this was in vain. To yours be the glory forever and ever. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

With so much love,

xo.

A Well Considered “Yes”

“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” –Luke 1:45

Mary was the chosen vessel to nurture the Messiah.

Elizabeth was told of the place her son (John the Baptist, *see Luke 1:5-25, 57-80) would hold in the divine economy.

Each accepted her role and that of her son with humble obedience. Though different in age and in season of life, Mary and Elizabeth were the same in their commitment, which prompted each to offer herself to the Savior.

It’s important to note the scripture here. Mary went to the house of Zacharias to greet Elizabeth. As soon as the voice of Mary was heard, John leaped for joy in the womb of his mother, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit (v.40-41 & 44).

We see Mary respond with a hymn of praise, known as the Magnificat. It spoke of the deliverance of Israel, both spiritual and physical; but it also told of the illumination that would come to the Gentiles.

Her song in Luke (chapter 1, verses 46-55) was made up of bits and pieces of a bunch of different Psalms. Some suggest that the literary masterpiece could not come from a young peasant girl. However, such conjecture dismisses divine inspiration, which by definition surpasses human ability and giftedness. Divine inspiration is able to place a heavenly message in an earthly vessel. I believe it’s safe to say, Mary knew her bible… in the very least. The angel, Gabriel, called her highly favored one (v. 28). Let us read Mary’s song:

“And Mary said:

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in

    God my Savior.

For He has regarded the lowly

    state of His maidservant;

For behold, henceforth all

    generations will call me

    blessed.

For He who is mighty has done

    great things for me,

And holy is His name.

And His mercy is on those who

    fear Him.

From generation to generation

He has shown strength with His

    arm;

He has scattered the proud

    in the imagination of their

    hearts.

He has put down the mighty

    from their thrones,

And exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with

    good things,

And the rich He has sent away

    empty.

He has helped His servant Israel,

In remembrance of His mercy,

As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and to his seed

    forever.’

Mary actually described herself as the maidservant (Greek word is doules, “female servant”) of the Lord. There is no hint of an oppressive bondage imposed by another but rather a self-determined submission to the will of God.

Pastor John’s words from today’s sermon:

“The angel shows up and says to Mary, ‘Hey, God loves you and favors you and wants to do something amazing in your life.’ But it’s troubling, challenging, costly and potentially painful for Mary. So, she engages with God. One commentary explains it like this…Mary did not submit to the will of God, rather Mary surrendered to the totality of her being, engaging the will of God… She says a well-considered “yes” to what God is doing.”

{Yes, God is always doing. Never resting. Omnipresent. God does not force or impose, but He stirs and invites. He wants to do something amazing in your life! I wish I could grab each of you by the hand and look into your eyes and tell you personally, because it’s YOU who He loves and favors. Maybe someday I can. Someday, like Mary and Elizabeth, maybe our paths will cross.}

This Christmas is one I shall always remember.

How could I forget God’s lovingkindness?

This season is why we can live free. The birth of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection-it's what's saved humanity for all eternity.

But we have a choice to accept or reject the invitation.

Jesus has saved my life forever!

…He calls me out beyond the shore into the waves. And it’s His love- wave after wave- that crashes all over me! I have been washed by the water! A couple posts back I wrote about Faith and where the journey with God takes us. Since then, He has yet again, revealed more and more to my spirit. I use the words in Mary’s song for personal shouts of praise to my Heavenly Father.

Saying “yes” whole-heartedly to God started near the beginning of this year for me. As I have mentioned in a previous post, it took God’s wisdom to acknowledge the idols I had placed before Him in my life and His strength to deny myself and my selfish desires. This is my testimony:

February 21^st is when He spoke through one of my good friends. “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” (John 13:7) His word couldn’t have been any more true to me at that moment. No, Lord. I do not know what You are doing. I don’t understand it. Why am I having to walk away from something that makes me “happy”? Although immature, I was still responding to the will of God, progressing in my spritual maturity and walk with the Lord. I decided to remove the idol, which happened to be the gym (for me at the time), from my life until God made me whole in that area.

A little over a month later, I remember God speaking to me again through His word concerning the same matter because I still didn’t understand His purpose. I had been running and exercising outside, doing things in nature. On this day, April 1^st, God gave me comfort through Isaiah 43:19-20: “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen.” I had just gotten done with a run at Stone Mountain and packed a bag for afterwards to study out in the warm, sunny spring day. I parked my toosh on a rock facing a lake with the mountain behind it. The scenery couldn’t have been any more true to the analogy that God was about to speak to my spirit. “…now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?” Actually, God, I do not know it, no. But I know that it is good and I trust that you are, in fact, doing a new thing! That day brought me hope for what He had already begun. Like Mary, I too was surrendering to the totality of my being. It was the acknowledgment of my idols and sin that was leading me to repentance and a life completely dependent on the fullness of God’s love. I didn’t walk away from those things because I thought it would make God love me more. No. He loved me first. That’s the whole message of the gospel. That’s the reason for the season… for Christmas!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

“If we think God’s love is simply a barrage of mandates reigning down from On High, then we don’t know God the way Mary knows God” –Pastor John

AMEN!

“…the world through Him might be saved.” We have a choice. The invitation to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is not exclusive to Christians, but to all of His creation. You and me, sinners. You and me, male and female, You and me, differing in race. But it’s you and me, who are loved equally by God who calls us to be set-apart Christians. Devoted Christians. Not half-way in the water, but fully immersed and sanctified by the truth that God is love. We just have to choose! Choose to dive in!

Change is difficult and challenging; it can be costly and painful, and it can be lonely. I can only imagine being in Mary’s shoes perhaps feeling burdensome or fearful of such great news. In her day, a woman who was pregnant, or had sex out of wedlock was stoned (see Deut. 22). However, we don’t know for certain how often and how regularly that happened. So with that in mind, and the fact that she was a virgin, How could this be true? (she asked the angel, v.34). We may ask the same question regarding Mary’s story and even our own, but great faith defies all logic.

Satan whispered lies to try and real me back in. He works through the world, you know. Through commercial ads, through pop-culture music, through media…telling us that we are not good enough, tempting us back into our old ways so we can feel accepted by the rest of society. All of that is garbage and a tool used by the enemy. We are not called to “fit in.”  We are not to conform to this world (Romans 12:2). He called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) Jesus says it best: “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” (John 17:15-18)

The months proceeding were difficult to say the least. I was being stripped of my old self and my old ways to follow the Lord, in order to put on a new self. I felt barren and naked. I felt exposed, wounded and broken. Maybe not to others in it’s entirety, but to myself and that alone, was enough. God revealed to me during those months much of my brokenness, and none of it felt good. I knew that I had to remain faithful. I had to endure and trust that He would never leave me nor forsake me. I had to believe that His strength would continue to bring me through; it would pull me out of the pit that I was headed for. He knew that I had to learn. He knew that I had to see what it was that He was healing. Otherwise, how could I bring Him praise? If I am His hands and feet, what story would I have to offer, personally, to the testimony of Jesus Christ had I not walked through the fire? Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Because I was working out all the implications from all that I had said “yes” to, I did feel isolated, in a way, from the rest of “mankind”. I had to busy myself in Jesus plus nothing. I am thankful for the friends and family who have stuck with me and have allowed me this time. To the ones who love me enough to accept this season of my life, when you could have easily walked out, I thank you for sticking through and being my praying warriors. You the real MVPs ;)

This is not to bring myself any credit. No. “I am a nobody, just trying to tell everybody about somebody who can save anybody.” God has brought everything that is good into my life. But it does take effort. It takes work. Seeking the Lord is a choice we must willingly make. Becoming His whole-hearted servant and not just a toes-in-the-water-type-of-Christian.

So I devoted time. TIME!!!! Allotted TIME. I had to MAKE SPACE in my “oh-so-busy-schedule” to engage with God. Not rushed prayer in between breakfast and brushing my teeth, but I made it a point to get into His word daily and wait for His voice. I have to be in tune to the Holy Spirit’s guidance throughout the day, so I feel there is no other way than to start the day with the Lord."We must exchange whispers with God before shouts with the world."-Lysa Terkeurst
I made it a point to find inspiration and encouragement in bible studies and spiritual readings. I bought prayer journals to write and reflect in. Prayer journals help me so much! I can look back today and marvel at the good work He has done in me! I don’t take His mighty power in you and I lightly! It’s so amazing to bare witness to the love of Jesus Christ.

The destination to my journey is far far away in the future, far many years from now, God-willing. I am always evolving and growing. This is the biggest transformation in my life, as I can see it. I have a true testimony!!

I remember meeting with a lady, whose name shall go unmentioned. I was sixteen at the time and my mom was looking for a home church for her, my brother, and me. Every thing about meeting with this lady felt strange, odd, and uncomfortable. Though she was the youth leader (at the church we were currently visiting), it still felt random that she wanted to meet with me, but I complied. We met at a mutual Starbucks. She wanted to hear “my story”. All I had to offer her was how I had just went through a serious eating disorder. “That’s your testimony?” (she snickered). I felt shamed and wrong for uttering a deep personal issue with this stranger. I felt that mustering up enough courage to just even speak, was being spit back into my face. Everything felt wicked and dark and unloving. At the time I didn’t know the deeper spiritual battle warring around me. My flesh did not like this woman. I did not want to give her the power, so I waited to cry until we were no longer face to face. And if that wasn’t enough for me the bury myself and zip my mouth shut for the rest of my life, the devil put the icing on the cake when she and I were departing. I had my very first job interview later that week and I asked her if she would pray for me. She looked at me and said “ok,” but her body language read “ok, rightttttt.” and she did actually snicker aloud. Though she smiled, my perception read that she was laughing at me. Maybe I didn’t have a true testimony then, but I was on my way and the enemy saw it too. He tried but you already know who won!!!

Just recently, everything has seemed to come together, that’s why its now that I am sharing! December 9^th, God lead me to Hosea 2:14 & 19-20 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. …I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me. In righteousness and justice, in lovingkindess and mercy; I will betroth you to me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord.” So, THAT’S what You were doing, Lord!!? I did not understand it then, but now I do! You have paved the narrow road in the wilderness, and you have been my living water. You bring me NEW LIFE!!! And my heart is content with Your plan for me. You know the thoughts that you think towards me, thoughts of peace not of evil. That scripture from Hosea was from a devotional I receive via email and I decided to check it that day. The very next day, God once again used Hosea to confirm His purpose/plan and this time He spoke through my Proverbs 31 online bible study “Unglued” by Lysa Terkeurst. It was Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.”

“…break up your fallow ground.”

He was tearing down all the unsteady walls I had built against Him. I am no carpenter and I was building on a weak foundation. God saw that and stepped inside the door of my heart and began a day of demolition, so He could lay a new, strong foundation. Amen, amen, amen!!!

I never worked on my “underbelly.” I stored my mess in the closets of my heart and swept them under the rugs. I bandaged them with worldly things. I tried to portray a life of togetherness to the world, but inside I was crying. Behind closed doors, I was breaking.

“Doing all the tough work on the underbelly will pay off down the road when I know all the pretty décor is not covering up anything but rather enhancing the architecture. And this is exactly what the underbelly of my life looks like. Isn’t this what we do in our personal development and spiritual lives? We are in such a hurry to look good that we put on the pretty décor to appear as if we’re all together, but so often we don’t take care of the underbelly. And, man, this is hard work. Some days it doesn’t seem like I’ve gotten much done…I still get offended when someone asks a question in a way that makes me feel like I’ve failed. I still want to retaliate when someone hurts me. I still get insecure when I don’t feel comfortable. I still get jealous when someone else accomplishes the thing I dream of doing, The underbelly takes tough work that isn’t always immediately visible, but it’s the foundation to our health- emotionally and spiritually. (1)” –Jenny Catron

After He had already used more than just a few verses in Hosea, I felt God leading me to read the book of Hosea in its entirety. Had I not, I would have missed “…’But Me she forgot,’ says the Lord.” (2:13) and “I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. When they had pasture, they were filled; they were filled and their heart was exalted; therefore they forgot me.”

I forgot You, Lord. I forgot You. Oh, the sadness my soul did feel reading over that truth. Oh the tears I wept for forgiveness. When I had “pasture,” (i.e. worldly acceptance and validation) I was “filled.” This idea of fullness conveys the sense of complacency, leading to a false sense of self-reliance so that my heart was exalted. Therefore, I forgot Him. I am so sorry, Lord. I was the promiscuous Gomer. I was a selfish harlot in my own way. But God shows compassionate and unconditional love for His people and His anger at our disobedience. Gomer’s life also illustrates the depth of God’s forgiveness and restoration. The Lord told the prophet, Hosea, to marry Gomer- the wife of harlotry and adulteress- and redeem her as a picture of His relationship with His people. How amazing!

I do pray that God will use His story and work in me to help you have faith to say “yes”, or to help you trust your “yes”, or to give you hope in the blessings of His promises because of your decision to say “yes.”

Like Mary and Elizabeth, we can rejoice in His goodness and lovingkindess, in His blessings and the miraculous power of His love. We can have peace because the ultimate sacrifice has saved our souls, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

“For with God, nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth.” (Lamentations 3:25-27)

I encourage you to lay the foundation in your singleness and while you are young (also see Proverbs 3). I so strongly want God to break the curse of divorce that runs in my family. Being a child of divorced parents, God has made me passionate about the way He views love and marriage and has changed my misconceptions my former self had me believing. Thank God He came through. I’ll save that for another blog post, perhaps. Anyway, my brokenness from that, was revealed over a decade later, because that’s when I finally decided to allow God in and mend me.

I could seriously go on and on. But I'll have time, if God allows me to share more and more. And quite honestly, It’s too late to have a fifth cup of coffee… that’s a lie, a third. Just two today, y’all!

Until next time,

I pray “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

MUCH LOVE and Merry Christmas!! It’s not too late to say “yes” to God and experience Jesus in a fresh way this season!

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

xoxoxox

Notes:

(1) From Jenny Catron’s blog “Leading in Shades of Grey.” This post titled “The Underbelly”

 http://www.jennicatron.tv/the-underbelly/.

Also, Pastor John’s words and sermons can be found off the Grace Snellville website (gfc.tv) I do encourage you to come visit one of the Grace locations if you are searching for a church family! It’s much better in person, and God knows we need community! (“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."-Matthew 18:20