Reminiscing Another Year

Good morning to you all, on this New Years Eve! I've been absent for about three weeks, and now I'm finally sitting down to write once more.

My hiatus can be credited to the fact of busyness, but that doesn't cover it all. There were nights when I had plenty of time to write up a post, but exhaustion, distraction, or a desire to seek Christ instead got in the way. Although I love to write, this blog actually falls pretty low on my list of priorities. And I'm fine with that, I think.

I do get annoyed with myself when I leave the writing scene for a while, but not for the right reasons. I have this idea that people are relying on me to come out with a post every so often so that they can learn to trust God more. Maybe they are, but that shouldn't motivate me to write pieces that are written by me, and are not of Christ. The purpose of this blog has always been, and continues to be, to point others to Christ as the ultimate example of how we should live our lives. So if readers are relying on the blog for the upkeep of their faith, then they have missed the point entirely. We need reliance on God, just as Jesus relied on Him. Even though Jesus had ultimate authority on this earth, He still sought out His Father's will as the final decision, forsaking His own right to act.

It's been about a year since this blog was launched. On January 7, 2015, my first post went up. But if you'll notice, the archived pieces go all the way back to May 2014. You see, I spent countless hours migrating (that means copying/pasting) from social media network Google+ to this blog, and setting the timestamp back to it's original post date. I wanted readers to be able to access every piece of content I've written, good and bad, since God started me down this path. Feel free to browse around the older material.

You see, in May 2014, my life was undergoing a radical change. Just a few months earlier, God called me to stop living for Him (following rules) and start living WITH Him, in a relationship. He inspired a love for writing in my heart in May, and every time I felt Him leading me to write something to encourage others, I'd sit down and post it.

Since then, He's grown this ministry. All glory to Him! I haven't done anything except write posts, and I've had community invites that help share my posts with many other people. Because Christ is the focus of this blog, and I've given Him control of it, it has been read worldwide. To God's glory, it's been read in places like Russia and Malaysia, Australia, and of course, the United States. 

The views have also been too large to account for my circle of friends and family that take time to read my content as well. God has drawn people to my blog, and although I've never met them, I pray that they find some nugget of hope or wisdom buried in my words. I know I have a lot to say.

Over the years, I've had people comment both good and bad things. Many times, I am uplifted and encouraged by the comments I receive, but I've also met some unsavory characters and been called nasty things. That's the nature of being online; worldviews begin to clash. I am very aware that the internet creates a culture that allows users to post their opinions as fact and then lash out at anyone who questions them. We are increasingly becoming an isolated society in the name of individualism.

I don't like the divide that exists between Christians and the world, but I dislike even further the divide that separates Christians themselves. I truly believe that if every Christian, no matter their denomination, started to ask themselves how they could start to emulate Christ in their lives, many conflicts would resolve themselves. Not because the cause for division isn't there (for theology is tricky stuff!) but because we would be working together for a common goal, and not arguing about what that goal is.

Just take a look at Christ's life. He was always helping others. Offering grace to an adulterer. Providing company for a tax collector. Giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, healing to the wounded, life to the dead. He was firm when He needed to be, and challenged everyone to think in a new way; one that contradicts our way of life. To give up the offense we see in others; to find true forgiveness. To not fear the storm because we are not trusting in the boat to save us, but we are trusting in God alone. 

You'll see all over my blog the phrase, "Live it like Jesus". That's what I want to build my life around. A life that reflects Christ; helping others even when it's inconvenient or weird. Interceding for people who don't have the voice to pray themselves. Bringing life to the dead through my words and actions. Moving mountains in people's lives through kindness, graciousness, and compassion.

I fail often. But Jesus is daily showing me a new way of life, and slowly, this stubborn and headstrong youth is embracing it. I encourage you all to do the same. Embrace a life that reflects Christ, and not the how we think Christians are supposed to live, because even the model Christian has some things wrong. Step up to the plate; our God is faithful to do the rest, if we just accept His invitation into a glorious, brand new, radical and wonderful life. Let's #LiveItLikeJesus.