It has occurred to me lately, that you, as my reader may not know me. you may have never heard of me or met me and just came across this blog. You may have met me for a brief period of time or you may know someone who knows me…but not know me personally.
Well, I'd like to share with you a bit about me. My testimony, my life, my identity…just me.
See, I grew up in church. I heard all the right things that, if applied, could have saved me a lot of heart ache. However, I went down a road and allowed confusion to blur my vision. I didn't stay on the right path because things had become blurred with misunderstanding and lack of revelation and relationship with Abba.
I sold my body, mind, soul, and even spirit to the things of this world. I allowed myself to be ruled by my flesh and my understanding rather than the Spirit of God. Things were not pretty. I had become tightly bound and could not break free from the chains and weight that held me in captivity. These are some lyrics that describe my life to a tee…
"Seems like, all I could see was the struggle.
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past.
Bound up in shackles of all my failures.
Wonderin' how long is this going to last…
Then you looked at this prisoner and say to me Son,
Stop fighting a fight it's already been won…
I am redeemed! You set me free!
So I'll shake off these heavy chains.
Wipe away every stain.
I'm not who I used to be…
I am redeemed! I'm redeemed!"
All my life I have been called unworthy.
Named by the voice of my shame and regret.
But when I heard you whisper "Child lift up your head"
I remember oh God, You're not done with me yet!!!
I am redeemed!!!!!!!! You set me FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain.
I'm not who I used to be…
Because I don't have to be the old man inside of me, his day is long, dead and gone.
Because I've got a new name, a new life, I'm not the same and a hope that will carry me home."
"I am redeemed! You set me free!
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain
Because I'm not who I use to be!
I am redeemed! You set me FREE!
So I'll shake off these heavy chaines
Wipe away every stain…that I'm not who I used to be.
Oh God I'm not who I use to be! Jesus, I'm not who I use to be…
I am redeemed…
Thank God redeemed…"
~Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave
See, when I had an encounter with God…the King of King, Lord of Lords, and my sweet Redeemer and Lover and Friend, I couldn't help but see His goodness. I couldn't resist His call…His presence…His truth.
It was during this time of literally falling head over heals in love with God that my heart was set ablaze for the nations. I couldn't imagine keeping my new "discovery" to myself. After all, this experience literally BROKE ALL THE CHAINS off my life. I had never felt such freedom, peace and joy.
The last couple of days, the Lord has been gracious and renewing my heart to that place once again. As I get lost in worship and in His sweet presence, I remember yet again why I am giving up basically everything to spend 11 months away from everything…it's so I can bring people to a face to face encounter with the Living God. I will never be satisfied if I don't give what I have to everyone I know because what I have found is seriously the best thing ever.
My life call…my life goal…is to bring people to a face to face encounter with God so they can be completely healed, delivered, and made whole, so they can be raised up, trained up and released to fulfill their God-given calling…
Yes indeed…I am redeemed…and I'm taking that truth to the nations.
