Why am I so passionate about sharing my journey of understanding True LOVE- as GOD intends? Well, please let me tell you… Because I am a life that was RADICALLY changed, saved, redeemed and is being restored by THE True LOVE- as God intends, of Jesus Christ. His LOVE is so powerful and changed my life so radically, I MUST understand and pursue THAT kind of LOVE. I HAVE to share with the world what THAT kind of LOVE can do!
There was a time when my soul was in darkness, fear, confusion, loneliness, torment, bondage, addiction and sin. Satan had a hold of my life and he fought to destroy me to the core. When satan has a hold of you he does not want to let you go without declaring “war.” My life was definitely “in war,” not against flesh-and-blood but against rulers and principalities of darkness. (Ephesians 6:12)
I seemed happy, successful, smart, driven, passionate, talented, blessed, favored and I always had a smile on my face! This kind of battle was not supposed to happen to me! I was not supposed to be the story of the prodigal son, but I was! I was raised in church. My Great Grandfather was one of the most anointed, powerful, God Fearing, Pentecostal Preachers of his day. My family is full of Pastors, Evangelists, Music Ministers and Teachers of The Gospel. At the age of twelve, I was blessed with the opportunity to live with my Aunt and Uncle, in Ohio, who are Pastors of an incredible Ministry. They instilled in me the principles of God and were true examples to me of LOVE and family. I had a strong and real relationship with God and His word was deep in my heart. I was serving in ministry, from the age of thirteen, sharing the Gospel of Jesus through dance, involved in study groups and went to a Christian School. I studied God’s word fervently. I stepped into leadership, at the age of fifteen, when I moved to Indiana at my home church. God used me mightily to start community outreach programs, in our city and I was a leader in teen discipleship groups. I was a God-Chaser, determined to reach my generation for Christ and fulfill the destiny and calling that God had for me.
So what happened? How did I get so off track and become so lost, like the prodigal son? Well, I am here to tell you… I chose to get into a relationship, with an individual that was not a believer, outside of God’s will for me and I completely removed and distanced myself from the body of Christ. I decided, at the age of 18, that I was going to be a “real adult” and make my own decisions. THAT choice is what led me into one destructive decision after another. My career always appeared to be advancing, but my spirit and soul were slowly dying and eventually became completely lost. I suddenly found myself in situations that I couldn’t get myself out of! I was not strong, I was weak and my judgement was poor. I knew that everything, in my personal life, was wrong but WHY was it SO HARD to get it back on track? I felt completely defeated, lost and alone. I was ashamed and didn’t feel that I could talk to anyone about what I was struggling with. I didn’t want anyone to see my weaknesses, for I was a leader and I needed to “be strong”, hide my struggle and just “figure it out.” Through my own strength, I tried getting out of toxic relationships and situations that were destroying me and I just kept failing. I couldn’t get away, I was trapped. satan had a hold on me and he was not letting go! BUT GOD:
Which led to THE MOMENT I EXPERIENCED TRUE LOVE- As God Intends, THAT RADICALLY CHANGED MY LIFE:
I will never forget THE moment, that changed my life. As I laid, alone in my apartment, tired, confused, frustrated, weak and my heart just couldn’t take anymore of the struggle. I had a very clear vision of God’s hand being REMOVED COMPLETELY from me. He let me know that it was time to make a choice and decide who I wanted to live for and what direction I wanted to go. Just the thought of God turning his head from me, pulled on my heart so strong, I just cried:
“Jesus SAVE me. I can’t get myself out of this mess. I have tried and I just keep failing. I am not strong enough…I can’t get away….JUST DO IT! I am asking You to just DO IT! TAKE OVER! I want to live for You, again. I will go wherever you tell me to go…I will follow wherever you lead me…Jesus, I NEED YOU.
I CHOOSE YOU! JESUS, I CHOOSE YOU!”
It was in that moment my entire life changed. My Savior (Jesus) met me in my mess, brokeness and surrender. Jesus wrapped His arms around me and I experienced, for the first time, True LOVE- as God intends. A LOVE that is Unconditional, Never failing, Without Judgement, Without Shame and No Condemnation. A LOVE that ONLY gives FORGIVENESS, GRACE, MERCY, HOPE and a NEW LIFE. I suddenly had a peace in my heart, that truly passed all understanding. I knew that MY Savior was right there, He was mine and I was HIS. God is so faithful!
I am here to tell you that God took my mess and turned it into my MESSAGE! He (literally) snapped His fingers and my entire life was RADICALLY changed! I was relocated, far away from what was keeping me from the things of God, making it impossible to fall back into the same patterns that were keeping me in bondage. He surrounded me with Godly friends, influences and a new support system. He gave me a husband, (who is my gift from God and a token of God’s faithfulness), that LOVES me unconditionally. My husband CHOSE to be with me, stand by me, defend me, fight for me, protect me and see the BEST in me. He Chose to be a husband that speaks hope, LOVE and to be a leader that follows the principles of God, my leader! God placed my husband and I into a local church that has wrapped their arms around us, welcomed us with LOVE and is plugging us in to life groups, ministry teams and opportunities to serve! This past year has been a year of restoration and healing. Relationships that were damaged in the crossfire are being healed and restored. The principles of God that were instilled in my heart, as a child, are in my heart again! I am a living testimony of the healing power of The Blood of Jesus Christ and I have experienced True LOVE-as God intends. I am ALIVE, FREE, HEALTHY, RESTORED, REFRESHED, BLESSED, HIGHLY FAVORED, LOVED and more determined than ever to fulfill the work, in which God has called me to do. I WILL fulfill my true destiny, I WILL share the message of True LOVE- as God intends because I CHOSE the winning team!
SATAN LOST!! he did not win my soul and he did not destroy my life! I belong to GOD! Everything that the enemy stole from me is being given back to me, ten fold!
Now I understand, more than ever, how important the body of Christ is! We must surround ourselves with other believers, that can help us through this life. The body of Christ is not there to “be up in your business,” but it is there as our support system! Satan is out to steal, kill and destroy and we must come together, pray for each other and help each other fight against satan and his schemes to destroy us! Satan wanted me feeling alone, hopeless, defeated and ashamed. The last thing he wanted was for me to call upon the Saving and Redeeming Power of The Blood of Jesus Christ! THE ONLY TRUE and PERFECT LOVE that breaks the yokes of bondage, sin and death!!
I consider myself very blessed and fortunate to have been raised with the knowledge of Christ and His saving power! There are so many that are not so fortunate and know nothing about the message of Jesus and what His LOVE can do for them. That is why I must FULLY understand True LOVE- as God intends…and share the only message of True and PERFECT LOVE, that is the power to change the world!
Let’s do it! Let’s go for it! No holding back! Let’s pursue to understand True LOVE- as God intends, with everything we have! The world needs THAT message! We ALL need to experience THAT kind of PERFECT LOVE.