Are you Normal?

  If you have a not so lovely past...you are normal. Everyone has things in their past they aren't proud of, wish they never did, will have consequences for.  

  I am no different.  Many reading this are even shocked that God is even in my life.  

For years, I did not think of Him, talk of Him or pretend to even know Him.  And for all practical purposes, I didn't.  

  At the age of nine, I saw a film on Hell.  I was shown that Jesus was the answer out.  I believed that I would go to Hell and I could not get to Heaven without believing that Jesus, God's Son, was the only way.  He loved me so much, he died for me and I could live in Heaven when I died.  

I believed it.  I accepted Him.  

  It wasn't till much later in my life,  did I surrendered me.  I knew that I had been doing things my way and it was against what I was learning from the Bible.  I was convicted!   My heart was broken for the junk I had chose to do.  I didn't know that I should care that my choices were unpleasing to the God of the universe!  

When you surrender, You.... 

• won't become perfect  

• still make choices everyday that are not pleasing to Him.

• should strengthen daily your relationship with the Lord.  

• can make life more about investing in others

   I seek His word as the guidance for the way to live my life.  I still deal with regret, guilty and shame from many choices.  It's a constant consequence, but I do not dwell on it.  
I do not let it keep me in a corner, crying about my shoulda woulda couldas.   

No, I'm up with my armour on....pressing forward for my Lord. For my family. For myself. 

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus".
Philippians 3:13,14

Restoration in Meekness

I know some of you will be shocked by what I'm about to tell you, but I'm not perfect. I know, I know, unbelievable, right! People want to believe that everyone is perfect with no past sins, no life-altering choices, nothing that will change the way they look at someone. But the truth is we all have our issues, tests, choices that have or are or will change us and maybe even life as we know it.

•Bad things do happen to good people.
•Good people do make bad choices.

Our sins, to God, all look the same, black. Men categorizes sin; God does not. Restoring in meekness is not an easy task for us. It takes thought and work. We'd just as soon ban, ignore and gossip about people. But to be a Christ-follower we need to determine to obey what He teaches. Jesus himself restored followers. Peter and Thomas are two examples.

I didn't wait to serve Christ until man restored me. Not all did at the same time. Being restored in Christ is much more important. I have, however, strived to learn the meaning of restoration and meekness and apply it myself with others.

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.