I was sitting in church yesterday......I haven't gotten to be in church in a week due to the birth of my first grandbaby....I was receiving such blessings from my Heavenly Father, and I began to think...what if...????
What if....Christ had not loved us enough to die for us? What a horrible state we would be in....doomed for Hell....no hope. God loved each and every person who has ever lived, living now, and who is going to live on Earth. He loved us enough to send His only Son to die, so that we have eternal life. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." That is a love beyond what our human minds can fathom!
What if......I hadn't been born in America, the land of the free, where men have given their lives so that we can have the freedom to worship and live for Jesus?? Better yet, I am so thankful to be born in the South, the Bible belt, where Christ is taught, where Christians live what they preach, and Jesus' love can shine! I am so thankful for parents who gave me a Godly heritage, and gave me the tools to be able to walk my own Christian pathway! "train up a chld in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
What if.....I didn't know Jesus as my personal Saviour....was deceived to believe in Budda or Muhammud? It is so scary to see how easily Satan deceives and blinds people. I Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
What if.....I hadn't chosen to stay with God and grown in grace and maturity when times get tough, when storms of life arise? This past spring, my 15 yr. old daughter, my baby, told me that she was going to have a baby. Talking about rocking your world...but praise God, I have Jesus Christ as my rock, my foundation! This was the roughest storm I have faced....but, because I chose to stay with God through it, He has overwhelmingly blessed us....way beyond measure!!!! It has been a trying time....I have gone through many emotions...and God has been along with me. I have a bracelet that says,"....it was then that I carried you...". I have worn that bracelet the whole time as a reminder to myself and others that Christ has not and will not forsake. I have witnessed family drawing closer through this. I have seen my daughter mature and become a wonderful mother. I have seen 2 families going through this...together, with no arguments, no anger....that's God! I have seen friends gather around me and pray a hedge around me. I have seen new friends walk into my life, just in time, to share their stories of how this very storm has been in their lives. I have seen God's mighty Hand reach out and make situations workout, and I have felt that same Hand gently grab my hand and comfort me. I have seen friends I thought would have been there for me, walk out of my life...whether it be due to judgement, lack of understanding....or whatever may be the cause......while it has hurt deeply, it has not made my faith wavor at all! In fact, there has been a peace....a grace that can only come from Him. I hold no ill feelings toward those who have chosen not to continue in my life, I love them and pray for them. Proverbs 18:24, "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly; and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Thank God I know that Friend...and better yet, He knows me!!!
What if.....I had chosen to walk out on my daughter when she told me that she was pregnant? Who knows where she would be right now, or even if my precious grandbaby would've survived! My goal through all of this, is for Christ's light to shine through all of this. I believe it has, and it is, and I cannot wait to see how God is going to use my daughter through her testimony! I can truly say that no matter what my 2 children do....I will not stop loving them.......this has really shown me that. My daughters are God's gift to me, and I am so blessed. It is so awesome to see their strong suits, as well as their weaknesses, and see how God works in their lives. What a pity it would be if I walked away and left all that, because I don't approve of a choice, or because of pride....because I allow Satan to guide my steps. I thank God, He has never left me nor forsaken me.....and I mess up everyday!! I fall everyday....and no matter what....He loves me and is there for me. How can I expect my Father to forgive me, if I hold a grudge, walk away, or don't forgive others?....He won't....the Bible says in Matthew 6:14,15, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." I tell you one thing, God has tenderized my heart even more through this...I am less likely to critize and throw judgement around.......I will not compromise on sin....it is still sin....but I look through that sin and see the person.
What if.....I let my pride get in the way of truly being a christian? Then I will surely fall. Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." It's not worth it....it's not worth being puffed up so much that you push those around you away. It's not worth being full of self righteousness, and ending up alone. Satan is more than happy to pat you on the back, provide you with just enough scriptures to make you feel you are 'in the right'....meanwhile, he is robbing you of the joy of your salvation.....the sweetness of His love.
What if......we let all that stuff go, and live....and love...and bask in His joy, His light, His love? We may not see eye to eye...and that's okay....it would be boring if we were carbon copies of each other! James 4:14, "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It, is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." Life is too short! I choose to love, and love others......I love my husband, my daughters, my granddaughter, my friends, my extended family.....and I chose to look at the positives and be happy and satisfied in His love! It is the most freeing thing I have ever experienced!! Thank you, Lord for your blessings on me....thank you for never giving up on me, thank you that I am never too old to grow in You! Thank you Lord for my dear family and friends who have stuck by my side.............I am a blessed, blessed woman!!....so undeserving............but sooo blessed!!
