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So now I find myself in this most unusual place where I can do nothing but “wait for God.” This is actually quite an amazing place to be. We have committed to doing what we believe He is calling us to do regardless of how we feel about it. God is removing from us all the THINGS that we have hung our hopes and joy on over the past years. We have no idea what our future is going to look like. And for two OCD, overplanning, super disciplined folks like us, this is downright terrifying.

The more time you spend seeking Jesus in prayer and in His Holy Word, the more of Him you will get. He will reveal Himself to you and open up your mind to understand Him. But you’ve got to spend that time with Him. Carve time out of your too busy life for Him every single day. Guard that time. Be jealous of it. Don’t stop seeking, knocking, asking for more of God! More Holy Spirit! More fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control. More wisdom! These are the most valuable gifts that anyone could receive. And they are PROMISED if we only ask!

Shifting over to Mary mode has been fantastically beneficial to my soul. Through meditative prayer, I sit “at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word” for at least an hour every day. Through this extended daily time with God, I have learned to recognize His voice much more clearly. My relationship with Him has grown deeper and much more meaningful than I ever dreamed was possible.

I used to keep quiet about my Christian faith. For so long our culture has told Christians to be silent, that we are offensive. We have been told our views are sexist, misogynistic, patriarchal. We are told that we should be polite and not offend other people with our belief in Jesus. These things our culture says about Jesus are not true. I reject the lies. I will not down down to this perpetually offended cancel culture. I am not afraid of them and I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that people will be offended by Jesus. Peter called Jesus “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” (1 Pet. 2:8) So why should be be surprised at this? Do not be ashamed of Jesus, Christian friends. Jesus is the TRUTH. And on this day two thousand years ago, He was dead and lying in a tomb. But TOMORROW HE RISES!!!

We are called to be Jesus’ light and love to this dark, lost world. Jesus is calling us to be bold and fearless just as He was. He is calling us to have eternal vision, to understand how insignificant our own physical lives are here compared to our eternal destiny. All the riches and power in the world are nothing compared to the riches and power of Jesus Christ.

But when I reached out and touched Jesus, when I pushed through the clamoring crowd offering false solutions, and reached toward Him in faith, His Holy Spirit power filled my body. I felt it. I could feel His power healing my mind. He told me, “Go in peace” and He filled my mind with His glorious PEACE. And what is the opposite of depression but a mind at PEACE?

Jesus believed in hell. Jesus believed in demons and in Satan. He talked to them and about them. He talked about hell. Jesus definitely believed in hell. If I was going to believe and follow Jesus, then I had to acknowledge that hell is real.

We have to WORK to become good soil, investing our time and soul into our relationship with God. But it is so worth the trouble! Nothing makes me happier than walking through my healthy garden bursting with delicious food. When we do the work to become good soil, our spiritual gardens are filled with fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self control… the most wonderful harvest indeed!

Others may only see our sins. Others may not be able to overlook our negative past. But Jesus says to us, “Your sins have been forgiven.” (v.48) Jesus says to us, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (v.50) Hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus!!