When I came
back home five years ago I was bruised, beaten-up and broken. I had never
intended to come back to Red River Parish nor did I intend to come back to
Martin Baptist Church. But God had a different plan. His plan for me was one of
reconciliation, healing, renewal, and recommitment.
I came back with
a heart filled with bitterness. Even I didn’t realize the extent of my
bitterness. I had spent years building walls between myself and whatever I
found unpleasant and I had become an expert at doing so.
As I began
to get back into church, the Holy Spirit began tugging at my heart and
softening the hardened places within me. One Wednesday night Piper Welch was
leading a women’s Bible study and the subject of bitterness came up. Piper said
that bitterness was akin to hatred. I knew I was somewhat bitter, but hatred? I
was a Christian; how could I possibly have hatred in my heart?
I went home
that night enlightened; a blazing light burning in my mind…and in my heart. With
great clarity I realized that for years I had been giving lip-service
to the act of forgiving others. Years of unforgiveness had built-up inside my
heart and had turned into a rock-hard bitterness.
Only when I
repented of this un-confessed sin in my life was I able to truly forgive others,
forget how I had been injured and enjoy the forgiveness I so desperately needed.
The healing process began.
I
recommitted my life to Christ and began to pray daily that I fully surrender to
His leadership; to His will and His way. I prayed to be filled with the Holy
Spirit. My speech changed; my taste in music and other forms of entertainment changed.
I began to read my Bible again and for the first time ever, I read the Bible
from cover to cover.
Today I find
myself longing for God. I have discovered for myself what James meant when he
wrote, “Draw near to God, and He will draw
near to you.” James 4:8a, HCSB
The more I learn about our great and
awesome God, the more I want to learn. I believe it is a craving that will not
be satisfied this side of eternity. I believe it is the spiritual craving of
the redeemed for the Redeemer; I believe the spiritual soul seeks nourishment
just as a newborn creature seeks nourishment from it mother.
I understand what David meant when he
wrote:
“God, You are my God; I eagerly seek
You. I thirst for You; my body faints for You ...” Psalm 63:1, HCSB
God brought me back home; back to my
roots. He healed my brokenness and opened my eyes anew and afresh to His love
and mercy and grace. He has opened doors of service for me that I never expected
in areas I never expected or even thought possible.
Because of His love, mercy, and grace
I am no longer content to sit still. I want to be a part of God’s call to
action. God never intended for us to sit on the sidelines and be spectators. As
believers, we are called to active service; we are to worship God and work for
His Kingdom. Exactly how we execute those two responsibilities depends upon
the spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities with which God has blessed us as
individuals.
"But you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My
witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8, HCSB
"Go,
therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe
everything I have commanded you. And remember I am with you always, to the end
of the age." Matthew 28:19-20, HCSB
"But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it it written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things." Romans 10:14-15, HCSB
It’s time to
be passionate about God’s plan of action. It’s time to beg Him for an
outpouring of His Holy Spirit, anointing us; enabling us; empowering us to
carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Our highest calling is to share the Good News with others. Charles
Stanley writes, “Loving God involves not just having a personal relationship
with Jesus but also sharing Him with others.”
Consider
this: nobody ever receives a really great gift and then tells no one. We tell
our family; we tell our friends.
My life is
not just about me. It’s about taking the Gospel to the corners of the earth.
It’s about making disciples. It’s about being obedient to the command of
Christ. It’s about looking and acting like love; it’s about looking and acting
like faith. It’s about bringing honor and glory to God; in the Name of Jesus;
in the power of the Holy Spirit.
*(I love the
ministry of Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, because it allows you the opportunity to
participate in foreign missions; it allows you the opportunity to help in sharing the
Gospel with children and their families throughout the world. Get involved! For
more information visit online at: Operation Christmas Child.)
God Bless!
