Simple Truths That Blow Me Away

There are multiple reasons for starting this blog. The main reason is to keep family and friends updated as I get ready to embark on an adventure of a lifetime in Africa and to keep everyone updated on how life is when I get there. I decided though, that another reason for writing this blog is for me. I want it to be place where I can share thoughts and compare scriptures. Much in the same way writing down things and making a study guide for a test helps me study and remember nursing things, typing, comparing, and reflecting on scriptures will hopefully help me to remember the words that are instructions for how to live life. 


 I don't believe in coincidences. I think that God orchestrates every aspect of our lives and what people call "coincidences" is actually God alive and at work around us. I started studying the book of Galatians the day I started this blog. The reasons this may seem like a coincidence to some is that this blog is titled Free and Fully Alive and the theme in the book of Galatians is freedom found in Christ. Free and Fully Alive comes from being Free and Fully Alive in Christ. Coincidence that God laid this book on my heart at the same time I was starting this blog? I think not.


I'll start with this scripture. I read it the other night and I couldn't stop thinking about how much truth is in just these two verses. Two verses out of the thousands in the Bible. Imagine how much truth and knowledge we could gain if we read the whole thing.  

Galatians 2:20-21 says "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing."

When I first read Galatians 2:20-21 I was blown away. I had to read the verses over and over again. There is so much truth and power in believing these verses. For starters, Paul makes it perfectly clear that our old self died on the cross with Jesus (Anyone else have the old school MercyMe song So Long Self running through their head right now? Cheesy, I know).  Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior makes us a new person. There is no need to be bound by guilt from our old sin because we died and became a completely new person with Jesus! I know that’s something we say a lot but to me that never gets old! We are living and walking with Jesus inside of us. How awesome is that! Another one of my favorite parts of the verses is where Paul talks about how nothing else can save us except Jesus. If anything else on this Earth could save us other Jesus, then his suffering on the cross would have been for nothing. There is no other option for us than Jesus. We cannot set aside the grace of God and try to make ourselves righteous by good deeds or works because that won’t work. Following rules won’t get us into heaven, we have to have faith, as Paul explains in verse 2:16 of Galatians, and accept the grace that God is willing to give us.


Although I've known these simple truths all of my life I still get overwhelmed sometimes when I think about the gift that God gave us. I love being reminded that Christ is alive in me and that nothing I can do can make me righteous in His eyes except to accept my Savior.

"To be Your hands and feet"

As I sit listening to "Solution" by Hillsong, I am floored with another way that God is pointing out that we should only do things that matter for Him and His renown and that He has called me to be His hands and feet. Jesus hasn't just called me, He has commanded me. He makes that command clear in Matthew 28:18-19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit..."  I've been hit over and over again with the thought that I don't want to live my life for a lesser name than the name of Jesus Christ and that if I really believe what the gospel says I should be living out what I say I believe. In January of this year, God started really working in my life.  I had no idea what God had in store for me but what I did know was that I wanted more out of my walk with the Lord and I was looking for anything to propel me there. I started praying for God to break my heart for what broke his but I never thought I would end up preparing to journey across the ocean to help the African people, His people. 

When I applied for the mission trip I am about to embark on, I wasn't 100% sure that this was how God wanted me to spend my summer.  I prayed for doors to be opened or closed and God has ben going before me bursting through doors leading me on this trip. It couldn't be more clear that this is what the Lord has called me to do with my summer. As I practice my obedience to God I am tested everyday with obstacles that make me want to back out and decide to just have what I would consider a normal summer. Im not going to lie, it has been a challenge to completely trust God and believe that he will make a way for me for this trip. Im a doer. I like to have things in my control. But, it seems like the more I sit back and let Him take the lead the less worry and more joy I have. 

I am excited about what the next few months have in store for me as I finish up my junior year at Carolina and prepare to head to Africa. I know that God is going to blow my mind and I can't wait. Although Im worried about the money, the fact that Im not working this summer, the long plane ride, being away from my family, missing home....I know that I have never felt more freedom knowing that I am following what the Lord has laid it on my heart to do. At times when it would be so much easier to turn away, I have to remember that the God who created the universe, who knows every single person who has ever lived, lives now, or ever will live is orchestrating each and every step I take.