Got that FIRE!

"I have faith that God will show you the answer. But you have to understand that sometimes it takes a while to be able to recognize what God wants you to do. That's how it often is. God's voice is usually nothing more than a whisper, and you have to listen very carefully to hear it. But other times, in those rarest of moments, the answer is obvious and rings as loud as a church bell.”
 N. Sparks

Last night at my Tuesday night Bible study, a few ladies from my small group came up to me. One told me that she has been praying for me. Just a side note, it is an AWESOME feeling to be told that you have been prayed for.  To be prayed for means that you were on someone’s heart and mind. I usually don’t tell people when I pray for them, but I think I will start. She literally made my night. After she told me that she had been praying for me, she commented on how amazing it is that, at my young age how much of  a fire I have for God. Another woman came up and agreed with her. They both explained how they didn’t have a passion for the Lord until they were in their 30s or so. I was beyond flattered by these woman. In my eyes, these women were wise Christians, who I looked up to. Here they were praising me for my faith? WOW!  I became speechless and then accredited my momma for always pushing me towards Christ.

As I walked away, I began to think. Yes, my mom is the reason I came to know Christ. I am ever -grateful for being raised in a Christian household. My parents did their part as Christian parents to raise me as they should. I also must always ALWAYS give my thanks to God. He is the reason, that I am who I am. After I left the nest, it was my job to become a sheep or a goat. One path leads to Him and the other path to the unthinkable.

I can clearly see that my adult journey with Him began last  May. I had graduated from college, and it was time to stop my childish ways. OK so maybe it wasn’t as clear as I make it seem. It has been tough journey. It wasn’t like God just came down and said, “Hey Lauren, from this day forward, life will be easy, just follow me”. In fact, I turned away from Him at first. I thought I could solve my problems on my own. It wasn’t until up was the only I could look. I soon realized He is the answer to every question. I think that it is important to point out, that He came to be while I was broken. He came to me, when a storm was raging. God calls out to the broken, hurting, drug addicts, drunks and non-believers. He does not look down upon you for your sins. It is because of Jesus that those very sins are forgiven.

I started changing my ways. I listened to KSBJ instead of KILT, I went to Bible study instead of out with friends, gone were my words of bitterness, replaced with His love. I realized that I would need a whole lifestyle change in order for me to give all of myself to Him. I’m not saying that I am perfect now. I am far from it and still struggle at times. I can tell I am now stronger through Him. I am beyond grateful of the events that have taken place over these past months. I was drowning and He pulled me up into a world I was blind from before.

Back to the women at Bible study…As I said, I began thinking once I walked away from the group of how sad it really is. How sad that not more young adults have a love for Christ. How sad that this world is how it is today. How sad that sin is not only highly accepted, but rewarded and encouraged. How great would it be if those woman weren’t amazed by my faith, but if the fire for Christ was the "norm" for 21- year old females. What a different world we would live in…

So it starts with YOU and me. It starts with those of us who are already Christians. We cannot merely sit there and complain about this world, and do nothing about it. I used to, but it got me nowhere. Go live out your life in a way that make people wonder, “where on Earth does this person get that fire and love from?” (Answer: nowhere on earth, but from ABOVE!) Be fearless, courageous and don’t forget to PRAY!

Love y’all and may God’s peace stay with you!

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today

Is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips

Then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle.

That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable

--DC Talk