Spiritual Birthday

Today, November 13th 2012, is my second Spiritual Birthday.  2 years ago today I committed my life to the Lord for real.  I have always grown up in the church; I come from a long line of pastors and preachers.  My grandparents were the pastors at our church for 10 years.  Both of my parents' jobs are in ministry, and I have always known God's love.  I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was 4, but I didn't really understand what that meant until I was older.  I thought that I had all the answers, and that I just needed to live my life out for God on Sundays.  God really shook my life up though when I was in 8th grade.  I went through a hard time where all of my 'friends' told me that I wasn't good enough to hang out with them anymore.  I felt like I was floundering.  But I continued to carry on & not let it get me down.  I refused to turn to God, thinking that I could do it all on my own.  Little did I know that God had this all planned out & that He was going to put specific people in my life to help get my attention.  On November 12-14th of that year I went to Snow Camp with my WyldLife club.  I had a brand new leader & none of my friends were going.  I had decided last minute to come & didn't know any of the girls in my cabin really well.  On Saturday night, the 13th, I asked God to show Himself to me & to speak to me.  I asked Him for guidance & a chance to spread His love to the people all around me.  God spoke to me & gave me direction for my life.  It was the change in my life that I needed & so desperately wanted.  God clearly had a better plan for me than I did.  I am reminded on this day of what God said to me that night & how I need to continue to seek His face & love in everything that I do.  My journey has not been easy or apparent.  I continue to struggle with things in my life, but I am learning to let God have control over my life & to know that His plan is greater than anything I could ever imagine for myself.  I am blessed to have such wonderful people in my life today who continue to encourage me along in my walk with Jesus & who stand by me no matter what.  Thank you to all of the people who have walked along side me, whether that was at the beginning, if its now, or somewhere in between.  I am so so so grateful to you all.  I have learned so many things because of you all & I don't know what I would do without you.

xoxo