Awakening

There is a shift in the air... have you felt it?
There is a shift on social media... have you seen it?
There is a shift in church... have you observed it?
I have, and it has shaken me, it has awakened me.

The last 8 days have been such an emotional time for me and so many other people. I read that we are all grieving the loss of Charlie Kirk so hard because he was truly a brother in Christ. He was influential to so many people. Personally, he made me strive to grow deeper in my faith, and more curious about politics. 

But if I am being honest, the world was emotional and hard before that. His death was just a breaking point for so many. 

When we feel this way I think we have an opportunity in front of us.
Take this time to reflect and grow. Reflect on your life:
Are you content or stagnant in life? Are you growing closer to your spouse? Are you parenting in a Godly way? Do you have a relationship with God? Is your faith growing deeper? Are you bold in your faith? Are you only a Sunday Christian?

These questions are hard. These questions are uncomfortable. How do I know? Because they are the same questions I have been asking myself. I'll give you a little hint in finding some of the answers: if you're not moving deeper and closer to God, then you're not doing what you're called to do. Your relationship with Him is never to be idle or stagnant. 

Now to give you a little peace of mind, you are not expected to change all of this immediately and instantly. You are allowed to take time, work on it slowly, work on it thoroughly. We serve a God of grace, and if you are a brother or sister in Christ, His grace is extended to you. 

I don't have all the answers in how to move forward. But I can share what I have done and what I am doing:

- Turn on worship music. The way that worship music can penetrate your heart is amazing. Playing it even as background music will have an effect on you.

- Open your Bible. I'm not saying you have to sit and read it cover to cover in a quick manner. But open it up. Pick a book and read through at your own pace. Get a devotional to follow. Go on www.biblein365.com for a daily reading guide. 

- Go to church. If you aren't sure where to go, ask around. Make sure that you are attending a church that is Bible believing, Bible based. If you are local to me, I welcome you to come with me. 

- PRAY! For some reason, so many people are intimidated to pray. Let me give you some reassurance: if you can talk, if you can have a conversation, you can pray. It doesn't have to be elaborate or filled with big words. Just talk to God. Lay out how you feel, ask for understanding, peace, grace, comfort or whatever your heart is desiring.

Right now is a time of awakening; for me, for you, for the nation, for the world. 
Right now is a time for us to band together, to lift each other up, to build foundations in our faith, to be leaders in our community. I urge you to take hold of this opportunity. It starts with yourself before it can flow into others.

If you know me on any sort of personal level, you know that I grew up in a Christian home with republican values. If you know me on a deeper personal level, you know that I spent a few years wondering away from that. But if you have been around beginning to present day, you know that I am a sinner saved by grace. That even though I wondered and stumbled along the way, I stand firm in my faith, in my relationship with Jesus. That the bumps and falls only influenced my faith to become stronger and bolder. I don't shy away from who I have been because it has made me who I am.

Friends, Jesus loves you. He loves you immensely. He loves you deeper than your sin. He loves you with endless grace. He loves you enough that He died for you. Don't miss this opportunity, don't miss this awakening that is happening. 

Love you friends💛

Heavy

 Heavy

That is exactly how I feel. And I know that I am not alone in that feeling. 

Yesterday was a hard day for Americans. Watching a person (a son, a husband, a father) be assassinated for talking, for allowing open discussions, for freedom of speech, is not the America that I want to live it. Regardless of your beliefs, regardless of your views, you should never feel that assassinating another human for speaking in a "free country" is acceptable. 

Yesterday was the eve of today, another heavy day remembering 09/11/2001

Do you remember 09/12/2001?
Do you remember how everyone came together? We didn't care about left and right. All we cared about was coming together to mourn and hold each other up. That even though we as a nation had been hit in an unthinkable way, we were united. Where is that America?!

I hear people say, how did we get to a place of such divide? How do we have so much evil? Why would God let terrible things happen to good people?
We have had plenty of warning that it is coming, but have we been listening? Have we been paying attention?

My only answer for these questions... read your Bible! 

I will not list every scripture I can apply, but I am going to give you some. I am leaning into God and His word for comfort, and I want to share that with you. I want to encourage you to do the same.

Here is my recommendation: put on some worship music, read your Bible, and pray. Combining those 3 things will allow you to feel more understanding, to feel comfort, to feel the Grace of God in a time that is heavy.

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
    "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
    "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Psalm 34: 1-3 (NKJV)
    "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together."

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)
    "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. 
I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Revelation 21:4 (NKJV)
    "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”