When I Say, "I am a Christian" by Carol Wimmer

I recently came across this poem and it echoes my heart. I am a Christian and I serve a perfect God. Truth be told, I'm not perfect, but God loves me in spite of my imperfections. All he requires is that I believe, trust, love, and obey.

WHEN I SAY, "I AM A CHRISTIAN"
by Carol Wimmer

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not shouting, "I've been saved!"
I'm whispering, "I get lost!
That's why I chose this way."

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I don't speak with human pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble-
needing God to be my guide.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and pray for strength to carry on.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting that I've failed
and cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I don't think I know it all.
I submit to my confusion,
asking humbly to be taught.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are all too visible,
but God believes I'm worth it.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartache,
which is why I seek His name.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority-
I only know I'm loved.

Keep Your Past in Your Past

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.

Are you walking in the new? The new Life in Jesus Christ? Or are you stuck in the past as if someone hit the pause button and the old man just keeps "Instant Replaying" over and over in your head?

So how do we really accept the fact that we are brand new in God's eyes? For me, it's making a new recording and asking the Lord to erase the old one that runs through my brain from time to time. It's a daily battle to focus on the new and not remember on the past old sins, habits, negative thought patterns, and fears. We have to see it from God's perspective. He sees us as His Daughters and Sons. We can go to Him and call Him "Abba Father" ~ "Daddy" ~ and it's sweet music to His ears. God has made the way so easy for us. He sent Jesus to die on a cross and take on all our sin and open the way for us to have direct access to Him. All we must do is repent and put our trust in Jesus. His sacrifice was a free gift to us, but it wasn't cheap grace. Jesus was tortured and died, so we could live.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Will you trust in Jesus today for your salvation? Will you accept His free gift of Life with Him and His Father in everlasting glory? God promises that our sins will be as far as the East is from the West. He'll remember them no more.

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Rescued by Jesus

This video touched me deeply! Our Lord does battle for us. His promise is true! He'll never leave nor forsake us no matter how far we stray from Him! Please watch this. It will change your life!

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Laugh at yourself and you'll never run out of material!

I've heard people talk about having a good cry. I never really understood that, because when I cry, I've never known it to be all that good, my nose runs along with my mascara, it's pretty much painful and well, it just ain't pretty at all.

God promises us that all our tears will be wiped away:

Revelation 7: 17 For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

God also keeps track of all our tears and puts them in a bottle:

Psalm 56: 8 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.

For me the cool thing is that God knows us so intimately and wants us to know how deeply he loves and cares for us that he records every single tear we've ever shed and keeps track of the reason for our sorrows as if he needs to prove His love for us. Even our tears are precious to Almighty God. That boggles my mind!

So whether you're laughing or crying, know that our Lord is there. His delight is in you.

He Sings Over Us

Zephaniah 3:17
He will rejoice over you with Joy; he will rest in His Love, He will Joy over thee with Singing.

Now how cool is that! The Most High God of every god, rejoices over us with Joy and Singing! I can't quite imagine Almighty God getting excited over me to the point of joyfully singing. His love is so far reaching way beyond anything I've ever experienced in the flesh or infinite miles beyond any of my lame attempts at love. If I had just a thimble full of the love he has for the entire universe, I'd be hard pressed to contain it because it's just too big.

I heard a wonderful story this week by Dr. Paul Myer. He had a dream about his Mom before she died - she was in heaven dancing with his Dad - (This was odd because she was a strict Southern Baptist and they believe dancing is not of God). Paul said, "Jesus looked down at him, winked and said, "See, I told you they'd dance in heaven"! Paul then yelled up to his Mom and asked if he could dance with them. She said, "No, you'll be here soon enough". "Just remember the love you received from Family and Friends and God all your life. Dance with everyone you come into contact with there on earth. Treat life like a Dance, shedding the love of Family and of God with other people"!

I want to be someone who loves like that. I want to be purposeful in living the dance Paul's Mom lived here on earth. Paul said that even when she was in her last days, she shared the Love of God and what His Son Jesus did, so that all of us may one day dance before His throne in Glory. Many of the residents and nurses came to know the Lord Jesus as their personal savior by her witness. Jesus died so we could live. The weight of my sins were on the cross he carried to calvary. His Love held him there! My victory is in Jesus who had victory over the cross. My Future and my Hope is in knowing this!

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need.

Leeland ~ Carried to the Table

His Love Rescued Us

Matt 12:20
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.

Our God will always make a way of escape for us. Are you bruised and broken? Has the light of Christ faded from your eyes? You're not alone - even those we look up to as valiant warriors for the faith, experience dry times. The prophet Elijah found himself under a tree asking the Lord that he would die:

I Kings 19:4
4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."

But Our God doesn't leave us in such a state for long. Elijah fell asleep under that tree and God sent an angel to rescue him from this place of despair. The angel woke him and said get up and eat. Elijah looked around and there right near his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. Elijah fell back to sleep a second time and again the angel woke him up and told him to eat. Elijah was refreshed and strengthened - rescued by God's Love. I'm reminded of times when I was a young girl - my Mother would tell me to go take a hot bath and she'd make me a cup of tea. It was that simple act of love that refreshed my spirit and brought me comfort.

I find comfort in knowing we serve a God who isn't a task master. Although he will correct us when we've gotten off track, His correction is always gentle and merciful. We can trust in His Love.