What does Christianity mean to you? A lot of people think it’s all about being
good. It’s about a girl wearing a skirt
to the knee. It’s about a boy keeping
the hair off the ears and collar. It’s
about not smoking, drinking, or chewing….or hanging out with those that
do. It’s about having the “best life
now.” It’s about achieving goals and having financial success. It’s about talking a talk and walking a
walk.
I would argue Christianity is really none
of these things. Instead Christianity is
the power of the Gospel. It is the power
to change what isn’t right in our hearts.
It is the power to obey God when it’s hard and when everyone says “you’re
crazy to do that.” It is the power to
love those who are difficult to love. It is the power to care for someone who
resists care. It is the power to get
back up, brush off after being pummeled to the ground over and over by life’s
trials. It is the power to have faith
that God can and will do a work in your life, if you submit to His plan. It is the power to overcome the fiery darts
from the devil.
A few weeks ago our church had a ladies
retreat. I have never been to the ladies
retreat at our church before because (honestly) I generally do not like hanging out
with only women. Usually when women get
together they do crafts, go shopping, pig out on food, cry and none of that is
really “my thing.” I would much rather be with other couples or my own family
if I have spare time. The men at our
church also have a retreat (in October) and the year Brandon was here, he came
back talking about what a blast “camp” is and how he couldn’t wait to go the
following year (easy for him to say, men get to shoot guns, play football, play
dodgeball, rock climb, go tubing and go kayaking). Brandon highly encouraged me
to go to the Ladies “Camp” as he called it. I wasn't up to it emotionally last year, so the only reason I went this
year is because I remember Brandon saying, “You should go to camp. You will really have fun, Mama.”
I must admit I was skeptical that it'd be fun, but my son, you were right. I had an absolute blast and we had an
incredible speaker. The words she shared
touched my heart and my eyes were opened.
The biggest thing I remember is when she said that when you are in the
middle of the storm, God is near. If you
picture yourself driving down a highway through a storm, the best thing to do
is to slow down, fix your eyes ahead, and drive towards the light.
Since Brandon died, I feel like my world is
upside down. I feel like I’ve been given
one trial after the other and I wonder how much more I can handle without crumbling. I always feel darkness looming over me and I’m
very much in the midst of a storm. At
the same time, I have an indescribable peace and joy in my life. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but
honestly the only answer I have is the Gospel of Christ. The gospel itself is the very POWER of
God. I Corinthians 1:17 says, “For
the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are
being saved it is the POWER of GOD.” Those loved ones in my life who reject
Christ and the Gospel almost pity me for clinging to my “faith” almost like it’s
just an imaginary friend or a crutch that doesn’t exist. I'm here to tell you that the power of God IS real. It sustains me. It strengthens me. It encourages me. I have peace and joy even though I am incredibly
sad and broken, and probably will be for the rest of my life. Embracing the Gospel of Christ gives me hope
for the future and the power of God. God
is carefully, lovingly and perfectly leading me through the storm. I just need to keep “following closely” the
Light.
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| Yes, I had a REALLY good time! ;-) |
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| My bestest friend, Andrea & I did not fall off...as much as they tried to knock us off |
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| Special times together where we sat and talked |
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| Some of my girlfriends...my roomies |
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| Sweet Brandon was right. Camp was fun! |
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| I miss my blond boy and his incredible smile! |
