There are many who have influenced my faith.
Church leaders and adults in my youth taught me The Stories of the Bible, The Basics. How God stands opposite the world. Showed me Who God is and how to Be like Jesus. Taught me to Love God and Love my Neighbor.
I thank God daily for putting them in my life and working through them to teach me.
For Them, I Pray Their Lives Are Filled withf God’s Love
Some teachers in school showed me how easy it can be, to be unapologetic about your faith in public and at work.
I thank God for them often, for showing up in unexpected ways and making an impact.
For Them, I Pray Their Lives Are Filled with God’s Love.
At my Bible College they started by saying, “Don’t just regurgitate what you’ve been told, learn the Bible and make your faith your own.” So I did.
My professors taught me to understand the original message and readers. Then to learn what I can from that message and how it impacts us now. They taught me how to Defend my faith, how to Be Confident in my faith, how to Listen to God and to always view things through a Christ-focused lens.
I thank God for them daily, for sharing their wisdom and knowledge and helping me grow.
For Them, I Pray Their Lives Are Filled with God’s Love.
Leaders and members of my current congregation encourage me to keep making better choices, to keep learning, and to let God Speak and Act through me when I speak and act.
I thank God daily for their support, for putting us in the same place so that we can grow together.
For Them, I Pray Their Lives Are Filled with God’s Love.
I look at some of the aforementioned people that I hold so dearly in my heart. Their actions and reactions to the world. I see how some of their hearts have been twisted; Are turned inward and full of hostility. How they view other humans, God’s very own Creations, as somehow less deserving of kindness and safety. How they idolize a political viewpoint and view the world through That Lens instead.
I see how they justify violence. Stand behind hatred. Laugh at injustice. And use the Name of God in truly awful ways.
I Mourn. For when the day of judgement comes and the Shepherd turns them away and says, “that which you refused to do for the least of these, you refused to do for Me” as they look back at their harsh words and inaction.
I Cry while I Still Pray their lives are filled with God’s Love.
I Pray they are able to once again place Christ on the throne of their hearts. To return to a life that exudes Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.
I know this may not reach their ears. Or their hearts. But I know He will hear it.
I Pray that Loving God and Loving Our Neighbors could be a sign of Christians everywhere. To be The Thing that sets us apart.
I see how The Good News we are told to share can’t be heard by ears damaged by the messengers. The ears of those who have been pushed aside and shoved down in the name of The Creator. Those whose voices are silenced and cries ignored while ‘sons and daughters of The Most High’ turn away. .
I Believe As Hard As I Can In Miracles.
Their Lives Too Could Be Filled with God’s Love.
