Who I was

And the thing I find most amazing
In amazing grace
Is the chance to give it out
Maybe that's what love is all about

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I'm not who I was...

These are lyrics from Brandon Heath's "I'm not who I was".

Every time I hear this song, I am stopped in my tracks. Maybe its because I am reminded of who I was. The things I did, the people I hurt, the opportunities I neglected. Maybe it's because I am filled with an incredible peace that I don't ever have to go back to being that person ever again. :) I get to be me. I get to accept me for who I am now. I get to embrace all my differences and seek out how God is going to use me in an incredible way to further His kingdom. I can't help but smile when I think about all of the goodness God has poured into my life.

Whatever you are going through, whatever you are addicted to, whatever you have done, it can be removed from you as far as the east is from the west. If you ask - sincerely ask - for His forgiveness, He grants it gladly....GLADLY. He yearns for you to run to Him and fall into His open arms accepting His love and grace in your life. I thought that I was too far gone. But you are never too far gone. Saying that you are too far gone from grace is just like saying that you are too hungry to eat. If you are hungry, eat. If you are thirsty, drink. If you are sad, run to Him. If you are hurting, run to Him. If you are at the end of your rope, run to Him. If you are all alone, run to Him. If you are curious, run to Him. If you are ready to live a life with forgiveness, grace, love and true companionship, then just cry out to God. He will hear you and will set you on a great adventure.

Believing in God is not just a bunch of rules. He is not standing over you with a checklist of do's and don'ts. He wants a real, true, active, conversational, relationship with you. YOU. Your neighbors, your kids, your parents, your friends, your coworkers, your fellow highway commuters, your estranged relatives, your crazy in-laws, your enemies.

Don't base your opinion of God solely on other Christians. Seek out the truth yourself. He WILL reveal the truth to you. Christians are just people. I fail daily. I make a ton of mistakes, but my God is so good and perfect and loving to forgive me when I ask. Do not put any hope in one person. Put all hope in God. He made you, created you with the exact personality that you have for a specific purpose. There are many things you can accomplish and overcome. You can. I know you can. And I'm excited for you to be able to look back and say "I'm not who I was".

It truly is a great feeling.