I am A Warrior (I think I hear Rocky music.....)

I was born to a 15 year old girl and an unknown father. I know what it feels like to be a mistake.

My mother would grow up to practice witchcraft and her grandparents were devil worshipers. “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.”

I was adopted into the family that raised me. I know what if feels like to not really fit in.

A lot of bad things happened to me as I grew up. I know what it feels like to be insecure.

We didn’t always have food growing up. I know what hunger feels like.

I was molested by a family friend. I know what it feels like to be a victim.

I got pregnant my senior year in high school. I know what shame feels like.

I married my child’s father and ended up being abused. I know what being hit feels like.

I got a divorce and spent three years as a single mom. I know what loneliness feels like.

I searched for and found my birth mother. I know what rejection feels like.

I married a man who was controlling. I know what it feels like to be a prisoner in your own home.

My dad died. I know what grief feels like.

I sunk into my first depression. I know what it feels like to be without hope.

I started going to church. I know what that first spark of hope feels like.

I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. I know what salvation feels like.

I have spent years battling Satan’s attacks. I know what the valley feels like.

I got my second divorce. I know what it feels like to be free, yet alone.

I sunk into a pit of depression. I know what it feels like to not be able to hear God’s voice.

I became suicidal. I know what it feels like to want to die.

I started the path to healing in Celebrate Recovery. I know what second chances feels like.

I learned to forgive others and most importantly, myself. I know what forgiveness feels like.

I learned to accept friendship when offered. I know what it feels like to be loved.

I started to like the person I saw in the mirror. I know what acceptance feels like.

I can do a lot of things I never thought I could. I know what pride feels like.

I have traveled and seen many things. I know what determination feels like.

I have had people share their deep, dark struggles with me. I know what trust feels like.

I have felt the presence of God so strongly at my darkest hours. I know what faith is.

When I wanted to give up I asked God to help me hold on. I know what perseverance is.

God is putting people in my life to help me and for me to help. I know what healing feels like.

Over my life I have felt nearly every emotion there is, both good and bad. I know hunger, and I know gluttony. I know the pain of emptiness and I know the joy of a cup that overflows. I know what it feels like to be surrounded by people that love me and I know what it feels like to feel like no one else cares. I know peace, I know torment, I know happiness, I know bitterness. I know what it’s like to hold Satan’s hand and I know what it’s like to be cradled in the arms of God. I know what Angel whispers sound like, when they are helping to save your life. I know regret, when you make decisions that destroy your life.

I believe that God never wastes a hurt, and that every path, right or wrong, has a reason, a lesson and that God means it all for good. If I had never known pain, how would I know to appreciate pleasure? If I never saw the valley, how would I know how precious the mountain was? If I had never experienced hardship, how would I know the comfort of the good times.

If I had never been in the fire, how would I know what it feels like to be burned, and know that my sole purpose in life is to stand at the edge of the flames and reach in to help pull others to safety. God gave me these hurts so that I in turn can help others who are hurting. There was a purpose for every pain, and for the first time in my life, I thank God for them. Because now I understand why I was created. To rise up out of the ashes and shine the light of God on those who are still in the darkness. To show that a broken life can still have meaning. To be a warrior, and to thank God for every battle. 

Your Body is a Temple, Show it Some Love

I just love it when the Bible just jumps out and hits you with something. I am working through a section in my theology book called the Knowledge of God. It says that God initiates our knowledge of Him, otherwise we would have no way TO know Him; That only true truth comes from God, and that we try to create our own truth; and that God sent the Holy Spirit to teach us about Him. I was reading in 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19-20. I have heard these verses numbers of times, quoted by people and used to argue several points. But tonight God revealed it to me in another way. "Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" and "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, who you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body." Most people look at the "Your body is a temple" part of the verse as a way to warn to take care of your health, don't get tattoos or piercings and to not be overweight. But tonight I see it a little more clearly.

Temples are not to be taken lightly. There were times in the Bible that temples were destroyed. Jesus overturned tables because of sin going on in the temple. The temple was holy because people went there to worship God. Now, because of salvation, the Holy Spirit lives within us. That is what makes our bodies a temple. God looked at us, knowing our worst, and called us to salvation. He cleansed our sins, gave us a new heart, and the Holy Spirit promptly moved into that heart to guide us, if we are willing, to a closer relationship with God. We attend church, we pray, we read our Bible, all in the attempt to both worship God and to learn to know Him better. The Holy Spirit teaches us, convicts us, and shows us in many ways, the things God wants us to know. Not an all out dump of information, but gradually, each at their own pace. Those of us that the Spirit indwells, are a constant work in progress, and we should be growing until we take our last breath. If we aren't growing, does the Spirit dwell inside? Because I don't think that God saves us to sit. But back to the temple.

I don't think it is necessarily just about the exterior of our temple that God is concerned with. Yes, He wants us healthy so we can do His work. But, He saves people covered in tattoos and piercings the same as He saves those who have none. He saves overweight people the same as He does those who are physically fit. He saves vegetarians, baconators, and bacon haters. Those aren't the important things. Our body is a temple because God said so. Because the Spirit lives inside us. So it's not only about how we treat our OWN temple but let us consider how we treat the temples of others? If I attend Solid Rock, which I do, that is my exterior temple, where God called me to serve. Would I be wrong to talk badly about Wheaton Southern? Yes. Even though that is not MY temple, it's also a temple of God. Would I be wrong to talk bad about New Hope? Yes, because that is also a temple of God, even if it's not MY temple. So when we talk badly about other Christians, we are also demeaning God's temple. If we treat another Christian badly, we are trashing God's temple the same as if we spraypainted graffiti on the side of the church building. If we gossip about a Christain, we are defaming a temple of God. If we see a fellow Christian downtrodden and refuse to offer to help, we are telling God that His temple doesn't matter to us. If we are all temples of God, then we should treat each other better. We should love each other even if we don't agree. We should help each other every chance we get. We should see Jesus every time we look at each other, and remember that the Spirit of God lives in them, so how we treat them is a reflection of how we treat the Spirit. We were all bought with a price, the blood of Christ, so we are all part of one Body, one church, and one God. We need to remember that it's not just about OUR own temple, but the temple of every Christian and we can't pick and choose. Because to reject the person, you are also rejecting the Spirit that lives with them. And since we have to give an account of everything we say and do, at the judgment, we need to be more mindful of how we treat each other. We need to spend less time worrying about the exterior of our temple, and more time worrying about the internal part. God doesn't care what our clothes look like, about our hair and makeup, if we are skinny or heavy, He cares about our heart, our soul, and our attitude. He cares about how we treat His children, and how much we love Him and His Son. The exterior of the temple falls away, in the end, and it's the inside that counts. Jesus gave us two commandments to follow: Love God and love each other. I don't think He said we could pick and choose who we feel is deserving, He just said to do it.