A New Day, A New Perspective

        If you follow my blog, my most recent post seemed, well, as my husband said, "interesting". These were feelings I had bottled up for a while and I love how our Heavenly Father never pushes things on us, but gently brings things to our attention and offers a better alternative and hope. 

Our pastor preached a sermon this past month that has left me deep in thought, analyzing myself and my perspective toward fellow Christians. It had such an impact on me that as we drove home that Sunday, my hubby asked me what I thought about the sermon and I replied, " I really don't want to talk about it right now." 

So many things in my mind and I just don't know quite where to start! Well, let me just start with this, I FEEL SO FREE! Our pastor talked about grace and how we as Christians receive so much grace from our Father but we are stingy when handing it out to others. OUCH, that was when my toes started bleeding and I felt like he said it right to me. I am one of those who doesn't like to forget how and when I was hurt and then I let those hurts become walls to protect me the next time that hurt MAY happen. Thinking this was the best way to shield myself from hurt, I have lived my life most this way. My criticism grew towards others and I became less and less like my Savior who gave everything to us, who forgives us, drowns our sins in the sea of forgetfulness and has endless grace towards all of my short falls.

I knew I had to change, I didn't want to live this way, I wanted to be poured out.

At the end of the service I said "Lord, this is something I can't do, not in my own strength", and ever since THAT moment, I have been different and FREE. I want to see people through Jesus eyes and extend grace to others as much as He has me. His love OVERWHELMS me. All I long for is to be MORE like HIM, in my life AND relationships, no matter if they are short or for a  lifetime, I want to be like Jesus.

This walk may not be a bed of roses and I am sure that I will get hurt again, but my Heavenly Father will be there to once again heal my heart so that He can pour out through me once again.

At our youth service last night, the Lord confirmed the work He was doing in me with the words from Hillsong, "Inside Out".......

" A thousand times I have failed, still your mercy remains and should I stumble again, I will be caught in your grace....CONSUME me Lord, from the INSIDE out!"

WOW, that is all I can say, wow!