As a ponder on what to write for my first blog post, I can only seem to think about how I’ve become the person I am today. The one thing that has constantly drawn me to Christ each time I strayed away, each time I struggled, each time I’ve ever doubted, was the LOVE I’ve felt from God. This love has come in many different shapes, sizes, forms, and from different people. From the beginning, God has strategically placed individuals and circumstances in my life that were used to prepare me for this adventure set before me. Am I nervous? Heck yes! Am I excited? Oh yea!! Do I have fears? No doubt. Has God’s love ever failed me? NEVER. So with that I’m eager to GO.
Christ’s love for not only me, but for all his children, is why I am going! I am ready to partner with God’s heart for his people around the world and be a willing vessel for him to pour his love upon, so that I can be used as a tool to fill his children with the identity, joy, hope and freedom he intended them to have. Christ’s LOVE has taken hold of the false identity that Satan convinced me to believe for so long, and it’s that LOVE that has allowed me to walk in a life filled with HOPE, JOY and FREEDOM! For the longest time I desired to have the acceptance of man, but I’ve grown to learn that I shouldn’t strive for the acceptance of the created, when I already have the acceptance of the Creator. God accepts me and he loves me! No matter my past wrongs, he sees me as blameless and created in His image! It was difficult for me to fully love others, and the reason behind this was that I realized I never fully loved myself. Not in a prideful or over confident way, but in a way that was honoring to The Lord. A way that says “God I recognize that you’ve created me specifically for this task and have blessed me with these gifts for a reason. God I will step into this because you are confident for me!” A love for yourself that says “I am wonderfully made because my Father says so.” One thing God asks for us to do is to love our neighbors as ourselves, but how can we love our neighbors if we don’t love ourselves? Be willing to step into the identify God has for you because through that, amazing things will come forth.
With all this said, I am ready to walk boldly across the nations with my Savior as he transforms the hearts of his people! Throughout my life I have personally seen the LOVE of God transform lives around me, so I believe without a doubt that my purpose and main goal for this journey will be to live as an example of GOD’S LOVE! Love is more than just a word, it’s an action. It’s something you do, and I’m ready to show that love to whoever God places in my way, whether that’s before, during, or after the race. God’s love is my main focus and what I strive to reflect daily! Am I a pro at it? I wish I could say yes. It’s been difficult to love people with Christ’s love, whether they are outside the church or within, but what I’ve seen is the moment I start to grow weary is the moment I recognize that I’m trying to love on my own. Without Christ, I will not succeed, but with Him, I’m capable of much greater then I would ever give myself credit for! So all together, LOVE is the task at hand and I’m ready to show that in whatever way he calls me to! If that’s building a house, hugging a child, spending a day sharing the gospel, running a VBS, washing feet, feeding the homeless or being a friend…I’m ready to do it, because God’s love will prevail! It has, and will continue to!
