IMAGINE

"I can only Imagine"  These words ring so true to me right at this moment in my life.  It seems impossible for me to even begin to try to comprehend the amazing things God has waiting for me in Heaven.  I mean I love sunsets and sunrises, they take my breath away and overwhelm me with a sense of God's presence.  If I could be honest here the sunshine, when it's at it's brightest, overwhelms me because I cannot stare at it.  You see in the Bible it talks about us not being able, with our earthly eyes, to look at God because the light that shines from His presence is so bright.  I imagine that when I'm standing in the sun I'm in the very presence of God and His love is surrounding me, His light shining on my face, the warmth of His love overwhelming me to tears.

I know for some of you this may seem a little far fetched and sort of crazy, but that's the stuff that rolls around in this brain of mine.  I may not read my Bible as much as I should, I may not have scriptures memorized like I should, I may not sit and pray for long periods of time, but I do feel God's presence everywhere I go.  I hear His still, small voice whisper to me.  I cherish the many gifts He has given me, my husband, our children and our grandchildren are just a few of the great gifts He has given me.  Yes, there have been trials and storms in my life, the road has not always been an easy road.  Is anyone's life been a bed of roses?  I choose to think about the blessings, the gifts, the opportunities God has given me.  I do my best to learn from the storms and trials, I get frustrated when things don't go my way, there are times I feel utterly alone and empty, I am human.  But as soon as I realize where my emotions are taking me I turn to nature, the world God made for me, and I see Him everywhere.

I don't know why certain movies awaken my spirit but the movie "I Can Only Imagine" sparked something in me.  The song is a gift from God and the words ring so true to me.  The words spark my imagination again and even though I've heard that song thousands of times before, seeing the story behind the song changes everything.  If you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for?            

1 Corinthians 2:9  "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him" 

"Surrounded by your glory, what will my feel?  Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still?  Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall?  Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine."  Think about it for a moment.  On the day you die, where will you spend eternity?  For me there is only one answer....I want to stand before my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be surrounded by His glory for all eternity.  I cannot even begin to fathom what it will be like to walk by His side and listen to His words.  I can only imagine.

  

REPENTANCE LEADS TO TRUE REVIVAL

Why am I so wrapped up in what I want that I lose focus of what God wants?  Why am I so set on my ways instead of God's ways?  I know for some of you these may not seem like very relevant questions but for me they are real and something I must answer and deal with.  As I ponder these questions and the answers that my heart already knows, I don't want to admit the answers to myself let alone admit to someone else.  It's so easy to get wrapped up in my needs, my wants, my desires, my thoughts, my ways, my attitudes, my dreams and my visions as well as my pride.  Of course pride the cause of all this garbage I waste my time and energy on.  My selfish ways bombard me with junk I wouldn't have to deal with if I would just be willing to admit it to myself, and to God.

Do I really need to admit my failings, my insecurities, my fears, my faults, my worries, my pride and my selfishness to God?  I mean after all He already knows everything I think and say and do, so why bother?  I mean I'm not some wicked person who goes around doing bad things, or am I?  I honestly don't think I am wicked, but in reality I am.   We all are!  We may never admit it or want to admit it but we are all wicked sinners in need or mercy and forgiveness. We all need to turn from our wicked ways, especially us Christians.  We are called to by God to turn from our wicked ways.  Yes we are forgiven but the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ but we are still called to stop sinning, not by our own power, but through the power of the cross.

Jesus forgave Mary Magdeline but He also told her to "sin no more".  Why are some pastors so afraid to even confront this issue?  Sin is sin and we need to call it what it is.  We are all sinners!  I am a sinner in need of the mercy and grace of my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I need to repent daily, sometimes hourly.  How can we have a revival in our churches without repentance?  We need to admit our sins and deal with them.  We can't continue to bury them under the disguise of grace and mercy.  We can't deny them by saying "I'm forgiven"  and we cannot change unless we are willing to admit them.  Trust me these are my thoughts that I am dealing with personally and God is bringing this truth to my attention. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land." 

"Humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face and turn from our wicked ways" is not just Old Testament mumble jumble.  It's truth for today that many don't want to deal with but until we deal with it we will never change, we will never grow, we will never have a full blown revival in our church.  Again please understand, these are the whispers I am getting from God.  These truths is how God is leading me personally.  For way too long now I have refused to obey God in writing because I don't want to offend someone.  It has been way to easy for me to just close my ears and harden my heart so I wouldn't hear His still, small voice, but I can't do that anymore.  

I am a sinner who has been washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.  I will daily confess my sins to Him who saved me and I will do my best, with His grace and mercy, to turn from my wicked ways.