I STILL BELIEVE

I STILL BELIEVE.  TITUS 2.11-14

By the grace of God I am what I am. 1 Corinthians 15.10 Otherwise, I would not be … who I am.

“We are God’s poiema” – a Greek word that means ‘workmanship’ or ‘work of art’.  Soren Kierkegaard prayed, “Now, with God’s help, I shall become myself.”  I will not be the self I was intended to be without walking in the grace of God, and neither will you.

“Earth’s crammed with heaven,

    And every common bush afire with God,

       But only he who sees takes off his shoes—

          The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.”  Elizabeth barrett browning

And again I am drawn back to Paul’s succinct statement:  For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.  Titus 2.11-14 It is a blueprint for living!

From time to time, it is good to stop and think, ‘Do I really believe this?  Am I ambling along in life without too much thought--even in faith—or am I still gripped by the power of the Gospel, the message of Jesus?’  Or put another way, if someone in Starbucks asked you what you believe about God, earnestly wanting to hear your answer, what would you say?  Could you give him a good answer?     1 Peter 3.15

Here’s my answer:

I ‘became a Christian’ when I was old enough to comprehend it, because I was raised by a godly mother.  I won my first Bible when I was about six, I think—it was red.  Yes, I was competitive from a very young age. No apologies for that.  And all of my life, I have believed, I have been a Christian… though I am very much a sinner too, having stumbled by my own choices many times. 

I choose to stay at this thing of the Christian faith because

~knowing Jesus is the greatest adventure in my life! 

Not in order of importance the following:

            I have grown intellectually because of how much I have read to

understand the human mind and condition, but more importantly the great grace of God, made human in our Lord Jesus Christ.  The keen minds of phenomenal Christian thinkers of deep faith have influenced me greatly, as I sought to understand their viewpoints as drawn from the sacred Scriptures, which become ever more alive the more I study them, and the older I get.

            I believe that indeed the ‘Word of God is living and active,’ Hebrews 4.12, because at just the right time, it challenges me, leads me, instructs me, grows me.

            Because of my relationship and adventure with Jesus Christ, I have met more people, had the most interesting, stimulating conversations with people the world over—almost always strangers--in the most unique situations, at various times—in public restrooms, intensive care rooms in hospitals, over the telephone conducting business, on the NYC subway, on transcontinental flights, in the gym, in a lab having my blood drawn, in bars, on the evil streets of the toughest sections of Long Beach, at soccer games, at funerals—usually that I am officiating, on tour buses, in nail salons, in the chairs of makeup artists in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and most recently, Newport Beach, California.  I could go on, but you get the point.

Why do I meet these people or have these conversations?  All because I have what they want, and I know it, whether they know it or not—and because of the love of Jesus in me, it emboldens and compels me to whet their appetites for Jesus. 

            Because of Jesus, there are things that are mine that no one can take away, though I swear they try at times--                                                                                                  I know contentment. I know great joy. I know peace. I experience wonder – in his creation—especially the people, but also in birds and flowers and their colors.  Knowing the goodness of the heart of a Creator who would create and then bless and fill the earth with all of the grandeur and beauty and diversity he has—the beauty of the skies—well, it fills my heart and mind regularly!             Note to self:  Joy must be experienced in the moment.

         Walking with Jesus, experiencing him, I have a deep, abiding faith – he is a miracle worker, who longs to answer our prayers. 

            Experiencing Jesus, I have heard his voice … usually in the still, small voice.  And then it is confirmed.

            Knowing Jesus, I have experienced great love, within my heart, and in my mind, as he has dispensed mercy and grace to me, over and over.  He is longsuffering with me, and has forgiven me—all because he loves me.  I have also experienced his love by being loved and loving others. 

            Because of Jesus, I know my purpose, and in his mercy, he has let me represent him—to the world.  I remember in the Spring of 2000, praying like Jabez - "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from the evil one." I marvel at how God answered that prayer.  So humbling.  I get to communicate with people all over the world, people I will never meet until we are in Heaven.  Weekly, I get to lead businessmen in prayer—from America, Portugal and Italy--listening to them over weeks and then months praying aloud, as they grow in their faith, experiencing the joy of the pure love of the band of brothers; the world has nothing like it.

            Through Jesus, I have seen people pass from death to life—by putting their hands in Jesus’ hand.  I have seen peace settle on their countenance … such joy.

            Knowing Jesus, I am confident he is coming again; he will set things straight, and one day I will be physically with him—and with my mother—in Heaven, in perfect delight forever. 

           THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE REASONS I KEEP BELIEVING.  Take time and write out why you believe … if you do.  And if not, why you don’t.  You’re missing out on the thrill of a lifetime, forever.

Believing~

Christine