Sunday, March 27, 2016

Easter Reflections and New Horizons

The last 5 or so months have been incredible in regards to the truths that Christ has been teaching me.  He has also been preparing me for a new season.  He has reminded me of all that he has accomplished in my life and is giving me glimpses of some things to come.  He is calling me to step out in faith in a way I've never done before.  And it's scary.  I will save the details for later but in the meantime, I hope to encourage anyone who may be in a similar season :)

Two books in particular have been instrumental in getting me to the place where I am now - ready to free fall for God.  Imagine Heaven: Near Death Experiences, God's Promises, And The Exhilarating Future That Awaits You is a book unlike anything I have ever read.  He interviewed over 3,000 people from all walks of life and all places who experienced Heaven and then had to come back.  It's amazing to hear the similarities that they described.  It's a book I would recommend for anyone to read - you will finish it and yearn for Heaven!  The second book is Restless:  Because You Were Made For More.  Whoa!  This book could not have come at a more perfect time in my life.  Again, you will be changed by this book and your relationship with Jesus will never be the same.

These two books, the bible, and a ton of prayer time have imbedded these truths in my heart:

1) God loves you more than anything you could possibly imagine.  Nothing you do, have done, or are planning to do can change that.  You can't earn his love.  You can't lose his love.  You can be a heroin addict or tee totaler.  You can be the most honest person alive or the biggest liar.  You can be a murderer or a life saver.  It doesn't matter because His love is not conditional on you and your actions.  His love is because of his essence and who he is - Love.  No matter how bad you may think you've messed up, STOP.  That is a lie from the pit of hell.  Nothing, and I mean nothing will change his love for you.

2) Having faith in Jesus and stepping out of the boat for him will ALWAYS look/seem/appear absolutely insane to our culture and world.  This is purposeful on God's part.  The more you grow and step out, the more the unimaginable will be accomplished through you so that we can boldly say, "Only God."

3)  He created you to be AMAZING!!!  In each of us, he deposited unique gifts and talents that only we can use to accomplish his purposes!  We are vessels for his love.  He wants to use your uniqueness to spread his love to those who cross your path in this life.  You are the only one who is you.  I am the only one who is me.  I have this conversation with Munni all the time.  I tell her to look at our flower garden and ask her, "How boring would it look if we only had roses?"  What makes our garden beautiful is the variety of flowers - all different shapes, sizes, color, and fragrances!

I am humbled today reflecting on what Jesus' resurrection means for me ~ the things he endured so that I might live and spend eternity with him.  He can take anything and bring new life to it.  The one thing I always wanted was to be a mom.  I made crappy relationship choices and found myself at a point in my life where the "traditional" way to have children was not an option.  But you know what?  God put that dream of being a mom in my heart and he brought it to fruition.  What I thought was dead, he resurrected.  And not only did he resurrect it, he made me a mom in a way that was beyond ANYTHING I could EVER have imagined!  My girls are the biggest blessings to me and a constant reminder that God is the master of the impossible!

I hope to encourage anyone who may feel God tugging at their heart to take that step of faith ~ whatever it may be ~ to know that He will accomplish something so amazing and unique through you that when you get to the other side, you will wonder why you ever hesitated!

HAPPY EASTER!!