A lot has changed since last year.
I have met incredible people, established wonderful friendships, served in my church, community and total strangers in New Orleans, studied His Word, cried, laughed... discovered what the term "church family" means... I don't think I have learned so much about myself in a long time. I have learned about myself mostly by serving others. I joke with my friends and tell them that the voices in my head tell me to be nice to people.
I remember talking about this to my friend SS a few months ago. I was telling him that the scariest part of my transformation wasn't so much what I was doing or what was happening to me, but the fact that I might not have/feel the same fire one day. Instead of lecturing, or encouraging me, he simply said:
-"Well, if it all ends one day, at least it would have been a great experience. Wouldn't you say so?"
Very encouraging! But seriously to answer his question, I would definitely say so... I can't help but be a little pessimistic at times, and question some of my motives when I do an outreach, or serve the poor, or something of that nature. The answer is kind of complex but to summarize it, it would be because of what God has done for me.
Pastor Doug often talks about the three phases of our relationship with God. First there is the honeymoon phase, then confrontation, then reconciliation (I can't remember the exact terms he used...). My honeymoon phase lasted a few days. Before I could really process what had happened to me that Sunday, I was faced with a major decision: getting up or staying down? Following Jesus or the outside world? Depending on my own strength or relying on my Heavenly Father. The choice was fairly easy to make...even though it didn't feel like it at the time. Hindsight REALLY is 20/20.
Some time last week, I bought a ring with the inscription: "Faith + Hope + Love". So far, people have called it my promise- commitment- purity- dorky- nerdy- cool looking ring. To me it really is a reminder of what God has done in my life:
- HE restored my faith
- HE gave me hope
- HE showed me the meaning of true love
It really doesn't matter how long this will last, the bumper stickers are right:
"It's not about the destination, it all about the journey!"
EED
I have met incredible people, established wonderful friendships, served in my church, community and total strangers in New Orleans, studied His Word, cried, laughed... discovered what the term "church family" means... I don't think I have learned so much about myself in a long time. I have learned about myself mostly by serving others. I joke with my friends and tell them that the voices in my head tell me to be nice to people.
I remember talking about this to my friend SS a few months ago. I was telling him that the scariest part of my transformation wasn't so much what I was doing or what was happening to me, but the fact that I might not have/feel the same fire one day. Instead of lecturing, or encouraging me, he simply said:
-"Well, if it all ends one day, at least it would have been a great experience. Wouldn't you say so?"
Very encouraging! But seriously to answer his question, I would definitely say so... I can't help but be a little pessimistic at times, and question some of my motives when I do an outreach, or serve the poor, or something of that nature. The answer is kind of complex but to summarize it, it would be because of what God has done for me.
Pastor Doug often talks about the three phases of our relationship with God. First there is the honeymoon phase, then confrontation, then reconciliation (I can't remember the exact terms he used...). My honeymoon phase lasted a few days. Before I could really process what had happened to me that Sunday, I was faced with a major decision: getting up or staying down? Following Jesus or the outside world? Depending on my own strength or relying on my Heavenly Father. The choice was fairly easy to make...even though it didn't feel like it at the time. Hindsight REALLY is 20/20.
Some time last week, I bought a ring with the inscription: "Faith + Hope + Love". So far, people have called it my promise- commitment- purity- dorky- nerdy- cool looking ring. To me it really is a reminder of what God has done in my life:
- HE restored my faith
- HE gave me hope
- HE showed me the meaning of true love
It really doesn't matter how long this will last, the bumper stickers are right:
"It's not about the destination, it all about the journey!"
EED
4 comments:
This was awesome! Thanks for sharing! I asked Jesus into my heart when I was 8 and sometimes I feel like I missed out on a huge conversion experience. (I'm still in process though - not missing out on anything.) I just love hearing stories of how God woos people to him. Thanks again! :)
I'm inspired. I will share my journey to date at some point.
Thank you so much Cyndi!
I am not if I can call it a conversion experience, that's why I called these posts "something happened". But you are right, whatever it was, it was HUGE!
I was raised a Christian...(Roman Catholic to be exact). I remember being baptized with my younger brother when I was about 4-5 years old (I was terrified of the huge candle we had to hold). I went to church every Sunday until my late teens...
I like to say that it was the day, religion turned into relationship. I wish I would have experienced it when I was 8 :)
I am glad you are inspired. I can't wait to hear your journey!
I have found that the "fire" doesn't go away...it changes and matures. Having the "fire" can sometimes be a search for that "feeling" and, just like marriage...it is a commitment more than a feeling. But that commitment is really better than the feeling. It just takes time to get used to.
The transformation is a constant though. Sometimes painful...take that back...mostly painful because God is asking to change me.
Keep pressing forward. I really appreciate the spirit you bring to things.
Eric
Thank you Eric,
I remember you saying once that God didn't put us on earth to be happy, but to accomplish His will (which doesn't necessarily imply happiness).
It challenged me back then, and it still challenges me today... Thank you for that.
Elom,
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