You Belong Here

May I make a suggestion?  Take the next ten minutes to be still.  Turn off the television, Pandora, any background noise there is.  Go into a room by yourself if that is possible.  I don't know what kind of day you are having, but if you feel a tinge of stress do this - pretend I'm with you, we're sitting in a quiet place, and I'm looking you in the eyes, softly saying "take a deep breath in, and a deep breath out.  Now do it again.  One more time."  Recently I was very overwhelmed by something, on the brink of tears, and a friend gave me those breathing instructions.  It's amazing what happens when we quiet our minds, relax our body, and simply take deep breaths in.  Now read the following slowly and carefully...

It wasn’t long ago that you were trapped in a passive life. You let the world tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with all of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our dead lives and made us alive in Jesus. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Christ.

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

But don’t take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God’s ways had no idea of any of this, didn’t know the first thing about the way God works, hadn’t the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God’s covenants and promises in Israel, hadn’t a clue about what God was doing in the world at large. Now because of Jesus, you are in on everything.

This kingdom of faith is now your home. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. 

Ephesians 2:1-22 (The Message version, with portions edited and shortened by myself.)

These verses are my story.  Seven years ago, my life consisted of doing what I wanted, when I wanted.  I felt incomplete and my heart was craving purpose.  Then God picked me up, and began showing me His great love.  I put my trust in him, and accepted the gift he was offering me - a new life full of grace and kindness.  A life full of purpose, peace, and joy.  It was simple really... All I had to do was say YES.  If you are seeking purpose, peace, and joy the answer is simple - Say yes to Jesus, trust in him, and he will write a new story for you too.  If you want to hear more about my story, have questions, or want me to pray with you, please don't hesitate to ask.  StephanieHuxter@gmail.com or 704-618-3273.

I love this photograph because it reminds me of the purpose, peace, and joy He's given me.

Photo taken by: The Beautiful Mess