"I will NOT forget"

"He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and those who were to strong for me. They attacked me at a moment when i was in distress, but the Lord supported me. He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me" 2 Samuel 22:17-20

This is my story. It was the Saturday before Easter 2006, I was in the pit of my own hell. It was in fact on the same day 2000 plus years earlier that my God went to the fires of hell to fight the enemy for the keys to death. And very much like my King, I battled my enemy on that Saturday afternoon. I was a broken mess, in utter turmoil and headed for destruction. I was headed for death. A part of me did die that day, but it wasn't the death the enemy had planned for me. I began to lay myself at the feet of Jesus in desperation for grace and mercy. And as I surrendered my whole heart to him, his grace flooded my heart, soul, mind and body. I began to release chains that had me bound for years, and it was just the beginning. That was a long night, as I was still conflicted between my flesh and this new spirit taking over me. I battled the lies from the enemy that I was not worthy of God's love, of any one's love. I woke up the next morning to a yearning in my spirit for more of what I had the day before. I got ready to go to church with my family and in a state of numbness, I knew that that pew is the only place on earth I desired to be at that moment. It was about half way thru worship, everyone was seated, enjoying the beautiful sounds coming from the choir and orchestra. All I heard was "stand up, stand up, stand up". I couldn't fight my flesh anymore, the new spirit that I had a glimpse of the day before, jolted into my very being. I jumped to my feet, both hands stretched to the sky, and then it happened. "HE REACHED DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND RESCUED ME, HE BROUGHT ME TO A PLACE OF SAFETY, HE RESCUED ME BECAUSE HE DELIGHTS IN ME" It has been 4 years today since I encountered the Love of Christ on a intimate level.

My walk with Father began on April 18, 2006. Location; my heart, building: Bethesda Community Church, witnesses: family, friends, pastors and God of the Universe who calls me by name.
""Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:1-4

Every Easter, I REMEMBER what HE did for me!!!! Literally, what he did for ME on that day. It's not just Easter to me anymore, the day when I celebrate that my King is alive. Although that is a joyous occasion worthy of much celebration. But it is the day I celebrate that my King is ALIVE in ME!!!! He loved me enough to give me new life, on the same weekend 2000 years after he DIED to give us all new life. What an amazing testimony to his love for me. I will NEVER forget what Easter really means. It is more than just a holiday with pretty dresses and colorful candy. It is the moment in all of my life when the very meaning of the blood shed on that cross, came alive in me. He died to give us abundant grace, to give us a life that is without stains. He endured the cross despite the shame he faced to release me from chains of sin and darkness. (Hebrews 12:1-4 Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin." ) HE DID THIS BECAUSE OF THE JOY AWAITING HIM... He CHOSE to die, he knew what was on the other side of the cross. And I have shared this JOY with him every since Christ raised me from death with him.

I will NOT forget.

"He called me to be free" ~ Galatians 5:13