New Winds.

Bear with me as I stumble through this blog post, I have so many thoughts and cannot seem to string them together ...

I am thankful for a church that preaches the gospel. A pastor who is not afraid to stand up and say things like as wonderful as animals are, they will not get into heaven. And we can spend hours fighting for proper education for our children but a well-educated man will still spend eternity in hell. Death is 100% certain so why do we spend our time on things that are not furthering eternity instead of pouring our lives into people?

I am thankful for a friend who let me borrow her copy of "Interrupted" which shows a God-centered journey of a family pouring their life into social justice, caring for the poor, loving the homeless and being a barefoot church. I am thankful for the the truth it is speaking into my heart. I am thankful to not be alone when I struggle with a grace-filled life versus a legalistic life.

I am thankful for my husband who graciously empty out his wallet to Linda, a lady who spends her days on the street corner where he works. I am thankful to have shook hands with her while the cars behind us were growing angry. I am thankful that she knew Roger's name when she walked over to us, and how sincere she said "God Bless you both" while I held back tears thinking "No, God bless you for what you just did for me. I was shocked to hear my sweet husband recite details of Linda's life, things he learned when he was walking back and forth to work without a car. I was humbled when I learned he had driven her to her motel miles away one night so she didn't have to take the bus.

I am thankful for Christ opening up my eyes and letting me see the needs of others. For so long I felt as if I were missing something. You know going through the motions, sitting in the same spot every Sunday, having the same conversations with the same people who are doing nothing... missing it. I couldn't really believe that the life I was living was what God had called me to live.  I feel a new wind blowing through my life, I feel God as clear as I feel a hug from my husband. I know He is up to something more in my life. I could not be more excited and terrified at the same time. Maybe you are where I am?

"We can't ignore God's ways and expect to maintain His favor. We don't get to neglect the major values of the gospel and claim preference or context. The demands of church leadership- and, more importantly  of living our lives- never come with a permission slip to act contrary to our heritage in Christ." Jen Hatmaker