About Me

Hey friends out in blog land...

So sorry I have not posted in such a long time. School has kind of taken over my life...but I am getting back into the habit of daily blogs! So yay!

Well as they say...let's cut to the chase.

It dawned on me about two months ago that I've never shared my story with you all. The core part of what makes me...me. So in order to understand everything, we'll have to start at the beginning.

I've always had a love for music. When I was little, I remember listening to my mom's choir practices and memorizing the songs because they were so beautiful. I specifically remember this one time...someone was singing a song called, "It Should Have Been My Hands." Basically this song talks about how Jesus took our place on the cross and how it should have been MY hands and feet where the nails were. I latched on to this song. Sang it over and over again. And this one night, I sang it so many times, I just started crying. And that night, at six or seven years old, my parents prayed with me to receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior...and that is when I became a Christian.

Fast forward 10 years.

I'm in the height of my high school career. I'm in a great Bible Study and accountability group with some very Godly people whom I really look up to. God is doing awesome things in my life. I am a leader. Younger kids look up to me. I am completely on fire for God.

Fast forward 2 years.

I am 18 years old.
I am a freshman in college.
I am away from my parents.
I've looked at a couple of churches around here, but kinda stopped looking after a while.
I give in to peer pressure.
I start drinking.
I lose touch with my Christian friends from home.
I keep drinking.
I am the life of the party.
I don't go to Church anymore except when I'm home with my parents.
I don't read my Bible.
I start using words that my parents definitely didn't teach me to say.
I don't recognize myself anymore.

Sounds pretty awful, right? Well I didn't think so. Not until God completely wrecked me. Wanna know what He told me?

"Your brother is watching you. He wants to be just like you."

After I realized this, I started to cry harder than I have ever cried before. I guess you could call it weeping. I took a serious look in the mirror. Would I be happy seeing my brother living the kind of life I was living? ABSOLUTELY NOT. People used to be able to look up to me...and at this point in my life, I would have told them not to. And after a year and a half of living like this...something had to change.

Fast forward to today.

I have found an amazing Church.
I have an amazing accountability partner whom I can always talk to.
I read my Bible again.
I find pure JOY in talking to God and learning more about Him and growing in my relationship with Him.

Wanna know the best part? GOD FORGAVE ME!

Disgusting, unrecognizable me. He forgave me. I am the prodigal son...well, daughter I guess (if we're being politically correct). Here is the scripture.

Luke 15:21-31

21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[a]'

22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

31 " 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

I was lost, then God found me. And now we celebrate together every day. I was not worthy to be called God's child...but hey, thats where grace comes in, isn't it! Jesus died for us so that we can be called sons and daughters of God.

Even if you think you're not worthy, just remember this: You're never too messed up to where God can't put you back together again. If God can forgive me, I know He can forgive you too!

Til next time,
ST