Oct 24, 2009

Greetings My Friend,

There is a commercial on Christian radio I love. It goes something like, “I am my favorite topic, and I love to talk about me, think about me…” At work, my sister, my nieces, has from time to time reminded me…..”Janet, it’s not all about you.”

As I have come to love Jesus I am learning a precious lesson. Agape love – that is a love where you seek another’s highest good. When I am seeking another’s highest good, I find that I am able to let go of junk in my life. I have also learned that seeking another’s highest good does not mean you become a door mat either.

For 15 years I was a youth advisor at my old church. I loved being with the teens. As I gave my heart to them, I found that the struggles in my life – for a few hours each week anyway were gone. I began to focus my attention on other things and many times, I was able to find answers to struggles because I could take my mind off of them for a little while.

I have a friend in Celebrate Recovery – she came to me when her boyfriend was abusing her. We went to Celebrate Recovery and she is able to stay away from her abuser – from others who abuse her now. It has been precious to watch her grow in Christ and to walk away from people who want to hurt her.

Again, when I am not all into me – I begin to reach out – to see needs – to help people. For me – I am able to relate to women who have been or are being abused. My Dad beat us kids. My first husband beat me – yes I at times clawed, scratched, threw things at him, still he was bigger and attacked me as well. I believe that God does not want us to hurt – be hurt. Because of our fallen nature – hurt enters our lives and God allows it. When I learned to trust God – it was a challenge for me for many years because – God is male – men hurt – that was my reality. One day I prayed, began to trust God and slowly at times – I have begun healing.

I have also begun to see that God gives Agape love. In the Garden, when Adam and Eve ate the fruit, God banished them from the Garden. God also provided clothes for them. Right from the beginning God was seeking their highest good. Later God called Abraham, sent His Son and continues to seek our highest good. We have to choose God though (Jesus). God gives us a choice to choose Him or not. When I chose Jesus to be my Savior – I began to receive healing, comfort, strength and peace.

Through the years….I have felt God’s love. That love is what has helped me get out of bed and face the day. When I was first married to Junior we were praying. He told me that he felt the Holy Spirit. I was so curious – How do you feel the Holy Spirit? Who is He? And the questions bombarded me.

My passion is to introduce Jesus, The Holy Spirit to people. I have seen healing in my own life and I want to share what I have been given. So, this part of my life is about me….sort of. I find when I can tell about what I have learned – well, that seems to resonate with people. Firsthand experience – that says a whole lot.

One of my favorite songs is Amazing Grace – “I was once lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.” That is how I feel – literally.

Here I go again. Where is your hope? Is it in money, a nice house, cool possessions? You know that those things are nice…but my real hope…..is Jesus.

May God bless you and keep you, make His face to shine upon you.

Love

Janet