Root Exchange

God is so good... I could stop with that statement, but I feel I must express how He has been so good in my life. He saved me. He has saved me from myself, from the lies, and from Hell. With the last blog I wrote I almost felt damned, but it was a sobering effect. I finally, praise God, had someone honest with me about my life. Things I knew but didn't want to hear or accept, which is why I was beginning to slowly drink and party my life away again.

It is possible to accept God, but not truly know God. Like the quote stated in the previous blog; look at possibly 80% of the people you know who claim to know the Lord. We know of Him, but do we truly know Him. I don't; and have never really tried till recently. I'm still failing for the most part, but praise God He has begun a hunger in me to know Him more.

So, long story short. On December 12, 2009, I asked God to become a part of my life; no longer just the temporary bandaid that helped cover some of the pain. Praise God for His mercy!

Bam! Roasted...

This will seem a little vague so don't quote me on this.

Today a reliable source told me a quote/statistic they heard Billy Grahm had once said. (I know I am losing you already) Here is his shocking statistic: he believes about 80% of the people sitting in the pews at the church aren't even saved. Like truly, life changed, heart changed, born again.

Want to hear another shocker... to find out your in that 80%.
Bam! I'm roasted....

Goodnight world...
2 Corinthians 7:10 "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorry brings death."

Square One

So, I feel as if I am back at square one. The only difference with this round is that I know where my hope comes from; its just trusting in that. So much has changed since my last post. I still have the same desires and aspirations as before, but I have allowed many road blocks into my life. These road blocks have now made quite an obstacle for me to get back to Christ. I know He still sees me through the haze, but I seem to keep His hand just out of reach.

"Tis better to have never tasted such fruit than to have tasted and died all over again..."

I will keep going though. Not for myself, but for Him, and for those who are yet to come. Christ has a story to tell through my life, but I must let him conquer it first. I know there are hopeless daughters of the King who could find hope through such a testimony: sexual abuse, abandonment, verbal abuse, neglect, alcoholism, drugs, etc. But all will be in vain if I do not begin to give God all the glory and learn that it is NOT about me.

"Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth... whom I created fro my glory" (Isiah 43:6-7)

In Closing

Sunday, May 17th, marked a huge milestone in my life. It was graduation day! One door has closed and now another has opened. At 22 years old I finally have a degree, and probably the best one I could ever have. Until next year that is! My first year of HPSM (Healing Place School of Ministry) has ended but I look forward to my second year! It will be full of new obstacles, friends, and memories! Cheers to the days to come!

Life Goes On

Hey Guys! So I'm back. It has been a little over a month since my last post, and this is really the first time that I have looked at my blog since. So much has happened, but yet if feels like nothing. I am taking drastic steps backwards, but they are causing me to move forward. Anyone confused yet? :)
This past holiday season I hit a bump (hill... mountain...) in the road. It stunk... still stinks... but it is probably one of the greatest things life (my flesh... the enemy...) could have thrown at me. I have done nothing but (mostly) grow from this situation.
In my past I would do nothing but run when I would hit a bump (hill...mountain...) in the road; this time I refused (still refusing) to run. First and foremost I am not running because I would be miserable my whole life knowing that I am not doing the will of the Father. Secondly I am not running because I have finally gotten a grasp on the Father's love and forgiveness. In the past I would just allow myself to feed into all the lies of always being a screw up, worthless, etc., but this time I decided to believe in what God thinks of me. (Trust me those thoughts still crept in and continue to creep in every now and then though.)
I have decided to use my mistake as a stepping stone and not a stumbling block. I will take what the enemy wanted for his destruction and use it for God's glory because I am going to press through. (and for any confusion: I am not saying that messing up is OK, but don't let it tie you down. We allow ourselves to fall, but then we must allow the Holy Spirit to pick us back up... I am facing consequences for my actions, but I am learning to embrace them and learn from them.)
I feel like I am losing so much because of this, but here is where God's love, mercy, and discipline are coming into play... "Michelle, I am taking everything from you so that you have nothing to define you but me."-God
-Praise Him!