New Life in Jesus.

I am overwhelmed, amazed, and blessed to be able to witness, be a part of, and experience God move in such incredible ways. A few months ago I was longing to feel God's presence in my life...and now I've seen God move in more ways than I could have ever imagined. He is just so good.

This weekend was extremely special to me. Last week, I invited one of my friends (who I knew was going through a difficult time) to Elevation. I encouraged her to join me and was simply hoping she would come and enjoy it...and maybe decide to come back again. God had bigger and better things in mind. Not only did she come and enjoy it....but she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. She felt like God was speaking to her in a mighty way. For this....I am forever grateful. Nothing makes me more happy than to see my friends begin their walk with Jesus. I wasn't expecting this. I was just hoping she would simply come...but instead she came and her life is forever changed. Isn't that amazing?

All I did was invite her...and God did all the rest. It is simply incredible. I am certain that this weekend will be one I never ever forget. I am thankful that when we take the step and ask Jesus into our hearts we receive new life. And I am glad that we, as Christians, are able to share the good news of Jesus...so that others, too, may find new life and HOPE in the One who died so that we may live.

in awe of my Savior

I have failed to blog lately...so here I am...trying to make the words flow, and knowing that maybe, just maybe, if I begin typing, my heart and my fingers will do all the work. That's the beauty of blogging and expressing yourself.

I find myself in total awe. I am in awe of my Savior who has managed to rescue me from so much. I often think about how amazing it is that I had the opportunity to be raised in a church, to learn about Jesus and begin to fall in love with him at a young age. I see so many people who didn't grow up in church...I see so many who are so far from God, longing to feel something...anything...and they are turning to all the wrong things, like drugs, alcohol, sex, the wrong crowds, etc...and they aren't finding the hope that only Jesus can offer. It makes me so very sad...and my prayer is that those of us who have encountered the love of Christ...those of us that know Jesus and are forever changed by Him...that we will live in such a way that others may see Jesus in us, through our actions and through our words.

I find myself in awe of how God manages to speak to me. On Sunday at Elevation, Pastor Furtick's sermon was on idolatry and how sometimes we get so wrapped up in the people in our lives we forget about the God who blessed us with those people. He said, "There is no security outside of the security we have in our relationship with Jesus." All too often I put my hope in people, I trust in them a little too much...and all too often I find myself upset that they have let me down. Because....people will fail you, but Jesus never fails. His love prevails. What a blessing.

I find myself in awe of all that God has done in my life and in my relationship with Him. Too many times I've found myself talking about God, and others will look at me like I'm crazy...they simply don't understand the "Jesus thing"....they don't understand what is so wonderful about getting out of bed on Sunday morning and going to a place where you can lift your praises up to the God who loves you, has a plan for you, cares for you, made you, lives inside of you, and has changed you literally from the inside out. They don't understand how even on your worst days you have something to be joyful about. They don't understand it, and sometimes as much as those of us who do understand the love of God want to share that love with others, sometimes it's a matter of them opening their eyes and seeking Him for themselves....but as Christians, I think it's important for us to live in such a way that will light the way for those that are seeking and for those that simply need Him. I pray that those who are longing to feel something...that they may feel Jesus' love in the most tangible way possible. I am in awe of Jesus and I am thankful that he has changed me....and that he is still changing me. Without Jesus, I have nothing...but with Him, I have everything I could possibly desire.

"I am a Christian"

I am a Christian
By Maya Angelou

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow!

child-like faith

I work with children often, and am constantly amazed at what they have taught me about life in general. A child's faith is admirable. It's incredible. They don't question things like we do...most of the time they don't worry about the if's, and's, or but's...they simply trust in God. Often times they don't even realize it.

They know that life isn't always easy...but they don't wonder "if" God can do something, they know that God "can." They know that God is for them, not against them....and that is so remarkable to me. As I was babysitting on Wednesday night at church, I was completely caught off guard as one of the kids pulled me aside and said, "Miss Megan? Can I tell you something?" It isn't very often that this happens so I was very intrigued as to what she was going to say, so I listened close....she continued to say, "My daddy lost his job on Monday and really needs a new one. Will you pray for him?" I couldn't pass the moment up and quickly stood up and got the other kids' attention. I told them that we needed to pray for her dad...and asked if anyone else needed prayer. Every single hand in the room shot up. One boy raised his hand and said his dad was out of town for work and he asked that we pray he return home safely. One girl raised her hand and asked that we pray for her mom's cold to go away. It was incredible to me. I took the opportunity to pray with them...and for them, and I'll probably never forget that moment.

It showed me that a child's faith is something that we all need. These kids weren't wondering if God could really help their situation, they instead knew that God would help their situation. They know and understand that nothing is too small for us to bring to God's attention....and nothing, absolutely nothing is too big for God to handle. They know that God is bigger than anything...no matter how big or how small. Nothing is too difficult for our God to conquer. Absolutely nothing. God can do all things....we just have to have a child's faith and believe that God will.

I was thinking about how amazing children are...along with the incredible faith that their hearts can hold....and I was reminded of another little boy in my church. He is seven years old and the doctors' found a mass in his brain. When he went back months later (if I'm not mistaken) for an MRI, the mass had disappeared. The doctor couldn't explain how it went away with no treatment....it didn't make sense and clearly wouldn't be explained in a medical textbook. But, my mom told me the story that his mother told one day at church....and she said that the little boy looked at his doctor and said, "I know what happened...God took it away." He knew it, he was sure of it....and understood that all things are possible with God. ALL things....no matter how big or small. What seems impossible to us is not even remotely difficult for God.

Sometimes we all just need to have a little child-like faith and simply believe.


This reminds me of a song called "Our God" by Chris Tomlin. Here are the lyrics.

Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There’s no One like You
None like You.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Click here to listen to the song.