When I first became a Christian, my old friends accusingly said to me: "You've changed!"
I felt defensive at first and adamantly denied it. "I'm still the same person!" I'd argue.
"No," they'd say, "You are not the same at all."
I think it was the tone of their voice that made me want to defend myself. My closest friends did not like the new me. I couldn't understand why since the 'new me' seemed a much improved version of who I used to be. For the first time in my life, I felt happy & filled with joy. I still felt like the old me, just a much happier & improved version!
But in time, I came to understand that they were right. I had changed! And the more I came to know God & allow Him to work in my heart & life, the more I continued to CHANGE! My old friends didn't like it because they missed their old friend who was much more like them. Misery loves company. I suddenly had a completely different outlook in life. I no longer was content to go with the flow & talk about how much life sucked. I now saw life as incredibly PRECIOUS & wonderful!!!! I saw a completely different future & I understood that everything in this life did indeed MATTER & that God had a purpose for my life!
I became incredibly AMBITIOUS! I had goals & dreams that I never had before. God taught me to THINK BIG! To understand that He was a BIG God & nothing was impossible for Him. He gave me a dream that was so much bigger than ME. I had a reason to live that was far beyond myself & my own life. I was a part of something that was well worth dedicating my entire life too!
So yeah, I've changed & it's a GOOD THING! I was on a road headed for death. Now, I am immortal. Now I am partnering with the Creator of the universe to help Him build His Kingdom! We are working together to find others who were once just like me, in need of being rescued & transformed into being Immortal Kingdom workers too. HOW COOL IS THAT?????
GOD has given me big dreams and goals on how to do that. I KNOW God has HUGE plans for BHCC. I know He is going to use this church to change our community & beyond forever more! God has shown me His vision for the future of our church & it simply takes my breath away. It's really BIG. It's beyond even my imagination. It's not about me. It's going to be something that only GOD can do!
And I know He has big plans for my (personal) future Kingdom work as well. Recently, He's called me back to writing for Him. I've started another book and already have a few chapters & outline written. There are other doors that He is opening for me as well right now & I feel the butterflies of excitement in my stomach! These are all things that only God could do. I know it's not because I deserve to be used by God in any capacity, but only because God can use ORDINARY people!
Yes, I have absolutely DEFINITELY CHANGED! I am NOT the same person I was, THANK GOD!!! I am now filled with hopes and dreams! I have a HUGE ambition to accomplish much for the Kingdom of God in my lifetime, and it's VERY GOOD!
Prayer: Almighty God, You are an AWESOME GOD! You can take someone whose life was once completely meaningless & self centered & depressing & fill them up with incredible hopes and dreams & visions for YOU & Your Kingdom, and it's SOOO GOOD!!!! You change us Lord, and it's also soooo good! You call us out of darkness & put a new light inside of us! You make us AMBITIOUS for Your Kingdom. Lord, you call us to count the cost of following you. We must die to the 'old self' & be willing to put on the 'new' and that is not without cost. But it is truly our privilege Lord Jesus, to share in Your suffering in this way.
Father, I pray that You will continue to make ALL THINGS NEW, including us! I pray that you will give Your people a vision & hope for a future that is far beyond THEMSELVES! I pray to the Lord of the HARVEST to send more Kingdom workers to BHCC to help us bring in YOUR harvest to YOUR glory forever and ever! AMEN!!!
Because HE LIVES,
Pastor Lin