The Change of Christ

I had an interesting conversation with someone today. She is a very sweet lady with whom I always enjoy talking. Today, she had the opportunity to hear my life story. I did not intend to tell it to her, but she kept asking questions about my childhood and my life. So, after answering all her questions, it turned out that she got most of my life story summed up in an hour-and-a-half-long conversation.

At the end of my talking with my friend, she was in shock. She said she never would have guessed that I had led the life I did. I come from a broken (and what I call fragmented) home. I had a child at 17, was sexually abused and raped by various people, and married a man I wanted to love, but wasn't sure I loved him at the time. My friend said that I am so confident and sure of myself and religious that she never would have thought all those things had happened to me.

I said to her that's why I am the way I am now, that it was the change that Christ brought into my life that makes it hard to believe. She had made the mistake of assuming I was always religious or had it all together. I explained that without Christ, I would have continued the life I grew up with, and it would be obvious to everyone, because that is the way my life was headed.

When we are open with people and let them know that we are real people who have had the same problems they do, we don't need to worry so much about sharing the gospel with them. They will want to know more when they compare what they hear us share about our past and what they see in us now. There are times that God wants us to specifically voice the good news of the Gospel. Then there times like today when we get the privilege of being a living example of the change that following Christ brings into our lives, obeying Christ's admonition in John 12:32 to lift Him up so that He can draw all men unto Him. How marvelous it feels to not only experience the change Christ has brought to my life to be a visible witness of it by which others can be blessed and saved.

First Blog

This first post has been very difficult for me to write. I have thought about it for days. I believe it to be one of the most important posts I will ever make.

See, I know that if it is too long it won't get read. I know because if I see a post that is more than just a paragraph or two I skip right through it. I also know it has to be intersting or you won't come back to my blog again. I know because I don't revisit the blogs of people who have a habit of making boring posts or, worse yet, posts that ramble and never make a point.

One thing I would like to discuss is the issue of finding old friends. I have recently joined the many thousands of people who use online social networks. (In fact, I am part of so many I lost count.) Online networks have allowed me to find many old friends. These friends are not necessarily constantly in my thoughts, but they are often in my memories. It makes me wonder if our old friends think of us as often as we think of them. It is nice that they remember us when they hear our name. But, when telling their children stories about their own childhood, do they remember our names as well as the times they spent with us? Or, do they say, "I spent the summer playing with this girl, but I don't remember her name"?

As Christians we want people to remember us. It is human nature--God made us to be social creatures. More importantly, though, we want people to remember the message of God's love for them. I encourage you that as you move forward in your life, making new friends and possibly leaving others, to make the effort to leave your friends with the memory of God's love. Perhaps, you will be able to show them God's love in such a way that they can't forget your name. Even if they do forget your name, cause them to remember the most important name of all: God.