Cornerstone Church exists to REACH UP, REACH OUT, and REACH IN. While that may sound like a catchy slogan, for us it is our all-consuming passion: to glorify God and the celebrate the life-change He brings. It's that simple. We exist to point people to Jesus and we get the thrill of seeing Him radically change their lives in amazing ways. I was reminded of that when I was reading the blog of one of our members. I was blown away by her heart and ability to express the change that Jesus has made in her life, her marriage, and her family. I've asked her permission and I'd like to share with you some excerpts from a couple of posts she recently did. Enjoy.
"Like the late great Martin Luther King, Jr. said “I have a dream”…….. well many dreams really. It’s funny though, I think a lot of us are forced to put those dreams on hold. I was one of those people. I graduated from Colorado State University in 2001 with my Apparel Design and Merchandising Degree. I had a job lined up with Club Med to be a costume designer for their stage shows. I would remain at a Club Med location for six months and if they liked me then I could travel to another Club Med location. This was all a dream come true until my monthly bill never showed. I’ll never forget the day I was in the bathroom at my parents house staring at the dreaded “+”. My life ended and began all in the same day.
I could choose path “a” or “b”. While plan “a” would surely take away my freedom, at least for a good eighteen years, plan “b” might bring me freedom but be accompinied by a lifelong heartache…. I’m glad I didn’t choose that one. My mom used to always tell me, “watch out girl, if your not careful, your past will catch up with you”. I hate it when she’s right!
Well it did, my irresponsible and careless past caught up with me. And instead of living the single life on white sandy beaches with bronzed international hotties, I soon was then heading to monthly checkup’s at the OBGYN. I don’t regret my decision one bit, not even for a second, not even when I’d find playdo and goldfish crackers in my underwear drawer, and not even when magic marker art became a wall collage in the living room. Time and marriage then followed and naturally, what was once one led to two.
Yesterday I was blessed with yet another meaning. At church we had a child dedication service. This dedication was more of a prayer. In this prayer we, my husband and I, chose to dedicate our children to Christ. For they are still young and cannot therefore fully understand what it means to accept Jesus Christ or to ask for forgiveness of any sin. We prayed that when they came to this understanding that they would do the same as we, ask for forgiveness, believe Christ died for our sins and fully accept him into their lives. Until then we as parents promise to teach our children about Jesus Christ and raise them according to god’s word and grace.
Our pastor then presented the many children participating in this dedication with their very own, personally picked to suit them, bible. My heart will never forget the look on my six year old’s face when he took that bible, shaped like a treasure chest with a funky metal clasp in those hands. Those hands, at that moment, I remembered once being so little. I was so thankful for that blessing standing there on stage with my little punk nuggets. Thus, a new indescribable meaning.
Since we are not perfect, we will heavily rely on Jesus’ guidance in our times of question, in our times of frustration, desperation and all of those feelings that we feel as parents, (that again I won’t mention).
I say that last little statement light heartedly of course, with a big smile on my face.
I was just remembering earlier this weekend after returning home from a date with my hubby to find out my four year old decided to give herself a haircut……. this is the fourth time!
Aaaaahhhh, the joys of parenting."
Post #2:
"I don’t care what anyone says… god does amazing things. But he does it according to his plan and timing not our own.
Since completely surrendering my life to Christ in October of 08′ my life has been nothing but a whirlwind of change. I have learned how to pray and how to keep on praying. I seek Jesus Christ every single day, sometimes four or five times a day for his help, his strength, and his guidance. I ask him to continue to change me to be more loving and understanding like him. To this, he always answers. Since I have sincerely been doing these things god has blessed and healed my marriage. He’s changed and blessed my children in so many ways. The other day we took my daughter to get her ears pierced for her birthday. My six year old son went outside the store in the mall and got on his knees to pray for his screaming and scared sister. He later helped her pick out some nail polish and she was all better.
He has healed various situations that almost tore apart my family. He’s blessed me financially and he has blessed with some much needed wisdom. And everyday I wake up a little different from the day before.
Everyday I grow just a little bit more and realize something I had not the previous day. Every single day I am able to let things go that have caused me strife in the past and everyday I’m able to forgive and be more understanding. Most importantly everyday, I learn to humble myself just a little bit more to ask for help with the things I struggle with.
Now you might say, “well so do I”, “I wake up different everyday”. As rebuttle, I should ask “do you really?”, “do you wake up and treat a situation or person different than you did before? has your attitude changed about a specific topic where you have become more open minded to other views? do you notice the small things in your everyday behavior that can be changed to make you better?
If you answered yes to any of those questions above, I believe someone is trying to tell you something.
Whether you believe it or not, God is waiting to bless you. He waits to bless you with love, kindess, patience, understanding, wisdom, and whatever else you ask……
but you must:
“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own” Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
8 months ago I never thought I would have the peace I do going through the storms of my life. Yes they have been difficult but I was carried and given strength. I NEVER thought I would have thought I’d have the guts to write about my faith in Jesus Christ, on the internet no less, available for the whole world to see… but I do now.
God is truly amazing!"
Thank you Jasmine for sharing your heart and your journey. I had the thrill and honor of baptizing Jasmine a couple of months ago and it is amazing to see what God is doing in her and her husband Nels' life! You can follow her, Nels', and their family's journey at www.mashupmama.com. You'll love her thoughts. Thank you Jesus for life-change!
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Posted by: writing law dissertation | May 29, 2009 at 11:52 PM