"You may choose to look the other way 

but you can never say again that you did not know."

~ William Wilberforce 

As I sat down to write this blog post, I am overcome with God's peace and His presence.  I am so glad that I have a heavenly father who nurtures me, cares for me, loves me, and sent His one and only son to die the most painful death, for me. For You.  It's a goal of mine to daily share my thanksgivings with the Lord and make known just how much gratitude overflows my soul when I think of Jesus.  It brings to me so much energy to read in the word and to receive more understand and wisdom.  One particular verse I have been pondering, and am still receiving revelation from is Galatians 6: 17.  Paul is closing his letter to the church of Galatia, and he ends like this "From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand marks of Jesus."  My first question after this verse jumped out at me was "What are the brand marks of Jesus?" and "Do I wear them?" I will be the first to tell you I am no theologian, and that I am longing for the day where I take some type of bible course, however, I want to share with you what this verse means for me, because I think it is so prevalent in how we lives as Christians in today's world.  To me, when Paul said "Let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand marks of Jesus." it sounded like to me that that means the brand marks of Jesus are visible to strangers.  That from a distance they could see he was with Jesus.  I was reminded of a question I was asked when I was sixteen, "Does everyone in your high school know that you are a Christian?" My answer had been, yes the ones that know me know I am a Christian, but I do not know every one in my school therefor some people do not know.  I can understand the point I was trying to make, but looking back I wish everyone did know I was a Christian, I wish I bared the brand marks of Jesus in a way that was lived out in my day to day life.  As I continued to reflect on this scripture more and more questions seemed to arise in my mind.  Like I said before, I started to think about what my brand mark for Jesus was, and from that how am I distinguished from other "good people".  I'm sure people in my high school could say I was a good person but how do you define yourself as a christian, not only a good person?  How do you portray Jesus in your everyday life?  Is it the way you treat others with kindness and compassion?  The way you respond to conflict with forgiveness and grace?  The way you lead with humility and a servant heart?

I am still reading and rereading this verse receiving more revelation, and still figuring out what is my brand mark I carry that states I am with Jesus but I think that it is not only one thing, but  it is the way that we strive to live like Christ.  All of the things we do that God calls us to, the loving our neighbor as ourselves, etc. I think that is what we show to the world, that is what speaks volumes without words.  The question is are we doing that? 

Had a simple but profound revelation today...

We had talked about giving up our rights and making Jesus Lord of our lives. One of the things that I have struggled with is wanting control, especially with my life. I always want to know what is going to happen, thinking that I know best or that I can plan better. God gave me the picture of a big canvas, and me as a little girl only seeing a corner of it, whereas God saw the whole picture and He was the one with the paint brush. I then thought of Picasso and how if I saw him creating one of His master pieces would I go up to him, take the paint brush, and say "I can do it better"? Or "No, you're doing it wrong". I definitely would not, because I'm not the artist, I'm not the creator. So why do I, why do we, do that to God? Why don't we just let the painter paint and God the creator, create? He is the one painting the master piece that is your life. Trust in Him that He will take your life and turn it into something much more beautiful than you could create or plan on your own.

Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

"The Lord God is my strength, He restores the energy of my youth. He is where my joy comes from.  Like a mountain spring so is my soul flowing with the Spirit of the Lord God Almighty.  I run into your open arms, stretched forth to embrace me like a father embraces His child, you pull me close.  I could sleep one thousand nights and not find the rest that is found in You.  Immerse me with your presence Jesus.  You are who my heart longs for.  Like waves crashing on the shore, wash me from all my iniquities.  You are the rock on which I stand, my feet firmly planted, solidified in you.  I know who I am because I am created in your image.  The maker of Heaven and of Earth, who shaped me, who knows me, I am satisfied in you.  In your presence I am made whole.  I want to lift up your name higher and higher, to tell the world of your great love.  No Valley to deep, no mountain to high, nothing is impossible with you by my side. Jesus, I love you, in you I find my peace. You are my portion forever. Amen"

- Creative expcert from my Journal.