It was Amazing Grace, The Old Rugged Cross, Mansion Just Over the Hilltop, Just A Little Talk with Jesus and Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling. If you know these hymns then you have been in church for sometime now.
It was the songs we sang in our Southern Baptist church growing up and it was the songs we heard Granny singing or humming in the kitchen. I am not sure if I was sleeping and only woke when the preacher screamed or hollered those fire and brimstone services, but I do not remember services on forgiveness of sin and God’s love for us.
I accepted Jesus as my Saviour in the 4th grade, it was during Easter. I felt relieved and happy. I was not going to Hell. It was one less thing for me to worry about.
Over the years growing up I always worked to fit in, lead, follow, striving to be the perfect daughter, girlfriend, wife, mom, sister, or friend. Do you know how exhausting and confusing this is? Trying to keep peace at home, to make sure I didn’t make anyone mad or not be able to just breathe and be who God created me to be.
Sinning and feeling guilt, asking for forgiveness and trying not to mess up again can weigh heavy on your heart and mind.
Even though I had the foundation of a Christian upbringing I still kept searching for something throughout my entire life. I never knew what I was searching for until recently.
It was myself.
It was who God created. It was me finally maturing into the woman God needed me to be. It was God being with me in every season of life, mistakes, wins and all the crazy, plus still loving me and moving me to the place He needed me. Which is right where I am.
It was finding Church of the Living God, Galveston, Texas. It was raising my hand and standing unashamed searching for change in my life. It was following God’s direction and finally understanding and believing God is a loving, forgiving Father, who wants you to love, seek, worship and need Him.
He wants you to have peace, joy, kindness, love, grace and mercy with an everlasting life that is not of this world.
Be bold, brave and beautiful. Be yourself.
Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine in your heart. Isaiah 60:1
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT
Break out of the mold you think the world needs to see. Create the world God needs you to have to take part in His story.
