Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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 This 20X20 room is our church.  We meet as the body here almost every morning
even if it is only to pray. All the things that we hide behind that we
were scared to admit before are unfolding.  We have nothing to lose by
being completely raw and naked in front of one another. It no longer
amazes me that at any moment of church the Lord will draw something out
of us.


Over the course of the last seven weeks I have seen four lives being
wrecked.  And the best part is that I am getting to see God start pick
up the pieces.

           

 
 Sara has brought forgiveness to life for me.  Someone stole from her and over the course of her life, tainted her identity and self worth.  After sifting through this, she has come to a fork.  She has two options.  God has brought her to a place that she can choose to forgive this man. There are still so many unanswered questions. What will happen if I forgive him?  If I forgive does that mean that his harmful destruction was justified?  Does true forgiveness mean reconciliation?  I believe that these questions are worthy of asking the Lord.  I know He will answer them for her in His time.  So, she is at the beginning but I won’t forget the day that she decided it was time.

The Lord has taught me, through Sara, that no matter how bad I want to release people that have hurt me I have to be ready and willing to forgive and receive peace.

                               
“We must forgive those who hurt us. The reason is simple, bitterness and un-forgiveness set their
                                 hooks deep in our hearts; they are chains that hold us captive to the wounds and the messages of
                                 those wounds. Until you forgive you remain their prisoner.”- Stasi Eldredge
What scares me is that what wrongs us really does hurt us. To fully forgive, we have to be honest to self and grieve whatever it is that binds us. Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

In those lines, I remembered Jesus. I remembered why he died on the cross.  In Ephesians 4:31, Paul reminds us of the forgiveness bestowed upon us… “Get rid of all bitterness rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ali has been obedient from the beginning. She has displayed one of the most memorable examples of listening to the Lord that I had ever seen.  It is one thing to hear the Lord, but another to act on his commands. 
                             
Obedience involves listening attentively with a heart of compliant submission and then obeying his word.- Bob Sorge

It takes a devout faith to follow through with the decision to say goodbye to something that is truly and deeply loved.  Through her obedience, I get to see that letting go and grieving is a process and like many things it has seasons.  I’ve also seen, that like many trials, it gets a hell of a lot harder before it gets easier. In the nature of saying goodbye, just when you think you have crossed one bridge, there appears another river to cross.  Bravely, she is fighting and more than ever trusting that the Lord has plan.
A verse she shares with me often-

                                 
“For I know the plans I have for you ,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans
                                   to give you hope and a future.”-Jeremiah 29:11

 
                 
    

I think I still struggle with the idea of God’s love for me. I am not quite sure what condition-less, genuine, and passionate love looks like.  And even if it sat in front of me, I’m not sure that I would trust it.  I can’t be certain but maybe within these walls I have witnessed real love, the kind of Love that only God can give.  Melanie has declared herself beautiful this month. Though we had known it all along, it meant nothing to her until she looked in the mirror and declared it for herself.  She grew up with the stigma of a distorted body image.  People’s stares and hurtful comments made her image a source of pain.  Since, she had built up a protective shell that was reflected as anger.  I get to witness her coming into her own.  I had not up to this point in life questioned whether or not I truly thought I was beautiful. In fact, I had not questioned whether the Lord thought I was beautiful.  Her discovery makes me want to be beautiful in every aspect. 

 
My pride has always gotten the best of me. I am so prideful I’ve ruined so many great things.  As the Lord pries at my heart He has spoken much light through Amy.  She has humbled herself in countless ways.  She stands on the other side of the pendulum from Sara.  She is asking for forgiveness.  As she continues adopt humility with grace I am convicted of my prideful ways.

                                       
“None of this was our idea, it all started with Him and it all ends with Him.  He is everything, and as we
                                         are joined to Him the poverty of our personal identity is lost in the fullness of His eternal greatness.”- Bob Sorge

Knowing that my pride creates a huge wall between me and the Lord I am determined to break it down.  When we have a self-righteous attitude it leaves little room for the Lord to come in with love.
                                          Pride is loves formidable foe and Humility is love’s constant companion.-Fellowship Dallas