Five Years Old...

On Easter Sunday I will turn 5 years old. That day marks the day that 2 Corinthians 5:17 became a reality in my life. "This means anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (NLT Translation) Oh! And what a change He has done in this life! A change that I with all my might can barely put into English words. A transformation. A cause for me wanting to literally CELEBRATE at random times throughout each day. A hunger deep in my stomach to find out ALL I can about this person I call so many beautiful names. I AM. Yahweh. Jehovah. Lion of Judah. Beloved Son of God. Creator. Wonderful Counselor. Jesus Christ. Oh if you know Him, how those names make your heart beat so fast. It is that name that makes me cry, leap, stand, praise! But why? How? Because He called me. And I said, "yes." That is it.

I remember so vividly that call. Completely unwilling to believe the "hokiness" of Jesus Christ. The most crazy story anyone had ever thought up. The scoffing I was so able to do at the idea of a Supernatural Creator, who also just happened to LOVE me. What a joke. And, to just put the icing on the cake, ANYONE who believed in that junk, OBVIOUSLY was not smart enough to be a free thinker, and was just following a crowd. That was until, my heart was pierced. Until, he SO lovingly, whispered to me "If you stand up, it will ALL go away." My Lord was referring to what was happening to me physically while I was hearing the Gospel being preached, on Easter Sunday. And, may I say so lovingly, this was no hyped up sermon, no bells, no whistles. It was a man, with an open bible, speaking the Gospel. That is it. A Gospel, I DID NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND. It was like a foreign language being spoken, and I was counting the minutes down until I could say I checked the box and went to church on Easter Sunday! I was ready to get this show on the road! But, oh how my plans are not my own. How I began to sweat profusely at the name of Jesus. How I began to feel nauseous, at the name of Jesus. How the Pastor began to answer my questions inside of my head, at the name of Jesus. How I, and my hands began to shake nervously, at the name of Jesus. And, then He spoke. Directly into my spirit. "If you stand up, it will ALL go away." And, well you know....I was so obedient. NOT. I decided to argue with this voice for a minute. Ummm, are you crazy!! I am NOT standing up! I am perfectly fine sitting here sweating, shaking, and about to throw up! But, I of course was not, okay. I then saw my sin. I saw who I was. What I was. And the symptoms became worse. I started to weep, and in that instant, I KNEW the Truth. I stood up, scooted by about 4 sets of knees, and found myself walking to the front of a church I had never been to, and said "I surrender." Thats it. I became SOLD OUT to something that was literally a joke to me an hour before I sat down in that chair. Do you think I am nuts? Do you think I am crazy? Because I can tell you that I am certainly not. I haven't done anything on my own. I actually giggle sometimes because I could have NEVER done any of that on my own, not one time, ever in this lifetime. And you know what else? I finally understood. I finally had clarity. I finally had PEACE. The scripture describes how when Paul was confronted on the road to Damascus, Jesus made him blind, and then three days later, the book of Acts describes Paul's regaining of his sight as he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and something like scales fell from Paul's eyes. (Acts 9:17-18 NLT) It was exactly that way for me. I felt as if I was confused (blind) and then after I said "yes", the scales fell from my eyes, and I could understand (see). How many times have you heard, "I was blind, but now I see?" Words that really are full of truth!

Five years gone, and it has been one amazing journey after another. The Lord has worked and worked in THIS GIRL'S life. Over and OVER! I have learned so much about my Yahweh. My I Am. How He loves me. How He has loved me. How He loves my family. How He loves, just loves. Has it been a garden of rose petals, and rainbows, walking with Him? No. It has been hard. But, each time I see how hard it is, my burden is lifted slightly, and I search for Him. I look for Him. I talk His promises back to Him. I sing to Him. I worship Him. I talk to Him. I cry to Him. Because only HE fills up that void in me. It's the darndest thing!! And, because HE.IS.WORTHY!

If you don't know Him, can I just be bold enough to say, "you are missing out." I can't tell you what you are missing out on, because I do not know the plan He has for you. But, if it is anything like His Word says it is, it's pretty darn big! And, it is pretty darn meaningful! And, I know how it feels to be in His plan, and I would not trade being in His plan for not.one.earthly.thing. Everyone has a price? Nope. When you can say, there is nothing, not one price you would trade for Him. That is saving faith. The PEARL the man had and buried in a field, and then sold all he had to buy the field to uncover the pearl once again!! (Matthew 13:44 NLT)

Easter Sunday is truly a day where my heart could literally explode! Won't you just go? Won't you just kill your pride for 1 measly hour, for the possibility for eternity? Hear, hear what He did for YOU!