A few nights ago, Team New Heights had a little worship on the roof of our hostel. As we were worshiping I began to journal about something the Lord has been teaching me on the race. I felt led to post it as a blog, so here goes!
January 18, 2014
It’s not about having a good story. It’s about telling one.
God has taught me so much about His pursuit of me and how He has never failed me in that. Even in college when I pushed the limits and made decisions that I knew were wrong; He was always there. He held me through all of it. I would make decisions, not from my heart, but from a place of longing; a longing to fit in and be included in the “crazy college life.” A longing to have a good story to tell my kids one day. How ridiculous is that!
I would even justify my decisions by saying that I could be doing a lot worse things or I could’ve been doing them for much longer. But there is no comparison in sin. An F is still failing whether by 1 point or 50. The coolest part of all is that I am loved and pursued by a God who takes my F and makes it an A (much like the Kimmy Gibbler stunt on Full House). He forgives my sin and allows me to walk as His disciple, proclaiming His name.
I used to live for the good story. The crazy spring breaks in college or that one night at a frat party. And thanks to my own sinful nature I actually have a few of those; none that I am proud of, but all that I accept as part of my fall as a sinner. BUT!
There is redemption and restoration as a follower of Christ.
I no longer live to have a good story. I live to tell a good story. The greatest story there is! I live for the Gospel, that which is good news to be proclaimed. I live to shine a light and tell the world of the light that was brought into the darkness. To tell stories of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And I smile now thinking that there is no greater story that I would want to tell.
My heart in sharing this is that I know where many of you are in life. I’ve been there! I have been the girl who goes out on Friday night and makes decisions that I know aren’t glorifying God, but I still do them anyway. I know what its like to make decisions just so that people will like you and you will feel included. I have learned that the acceptance of friends and society is a high that will eventually go away. You will continue to repeat the cycle of acceptance and rejection until you truly find the one who accepts all.
Jesus is that ONE!
He is the way, the truth, and the life. When you let Him into your heart He fills all the voids that no one could ever fill. He wants to be a part of your story. He wants you to live an amazing life, full of joy, because of His story!
So where are you in life? Are you still striving for the best story to tell with your friends over coffee? Or are you ready to surrender to the love and acceptance of Jesus Christ who lived the greatest story ever told?
Hint: choose the second option! I promise you won’t regret it!
with love,
sam
