Christ in Me!

Read through to the end to hear about my journey as a blogger stepping out in my faith…

Last night, a group of my friends and I went to a Jeremy Camp concert at our church. It was his first time performing in Hawaii during his 15 year career. He said he was going to give it 110% and boy did he!

Anyone familiar with popular Christian music,

knows the name Jeremy Camp.

There is a reason for his popularity. Besides the fact that he has muscles the size of The Rock, he has an amazing voice. Most importantly, the lyrics to his songs are so heart-stirring!

Here are a few of my favorite lines:

“You can have all this world…just give me Jesus.”

“There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place,
Will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always”

“In this obsession with
The things this world says make us happy
Can’t see the slaves we are
In all the searching all the grasping
Like we deserve much more
Than all these blessing we’re holding
So now I’m running free
Into an ocean of mercy unending”

If you would like to read more: All of Jeremy Camp’s songs and lyrics

I’ve been a Jeremy Camp fan for years. However, it wasn’t until recently I’ve come to really appreciate his songs for more than just a catchy tune. Each line in his music is intricately written. Each word thought-provoking and full of so much truth.

The song which hit me the hardest at his concert last night was “Christ in Me.”

It cries out:

So come and empty me
So that it’s you I breathe
I want my life to be
Only Christ in me
So I will fix my eyes
‘Cause you’re my source of life
I need the world to see
That it’s Christ in me

It is my desire throughout this blogging journey that my readers will see “Christ in me.” Not only through my words, but how I choose to live my life. I want you to SEE Him reflected in my life.

I recently stepped down from my position of leading and coordinating a moms group called MOPS. You can read about that emotional decision here: End of a Season. I felt God had wanted to use my journey as a mom to encourage others. MOPS was a perfect outlet for that. Through being the coordinator, I gained the confidence to share my story and hopefully inspire other moms.

However, at the end of the MOPS year, I felt God was pulling me in a different direction. I wasn’t sure what it was yet. I just knew I needed to take my newly gained free time to really draw closer to God and let him invade my heart. I dug in deep to my devotions and prayed to God for clarity as to what my next season would entail.

Honestly, I was hoping it would take a little longer to hear God’s answer because summer break was just starting and I was really craving some extra beach time with my kids. But, as we all know, God’s timing is never the same as ours!

I felt him whispering in my ear to become more bold in my faith. To “shout it out.”

For the past few months, I had started posting my Bible journaling artwork on my Facebook account. I thought this was “good enough” to share my love for Christ with my friends. My friends have always been so encouraging about my artwork. My mom especially. She’s always been my biggest fan. One day, she said to me, “Lacy, you should start a blog. You have so much to share with the world!”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the idea. Really? People want to hear what I have to say?  To be totally transparent with you, I was scared. Would my words not be “Christian enough?” Would my art work not be “impressive enough?”

I’m still growing in MY faith. I still swear when I’m angry and I still like to drink beers with my husbands Chief’s mess. What kind of example am I? Would my words really be something people would find inspiring?

What if my artwork isn’t original? I love Heather Stillufson and her Rose Hill Designs. My Bible journaling is FULL of my interpretation of her beautiful art. Can I even share that? Would she sue me?

It was as I was wallowing with these questions and doubts the Devil was planting in my head. I came across a verse in the Bible that says:

With His strength there’s nothing we cannot do.

It was in that moment, I found God’s answer for my next season. I was supposed to be a blogger and I was supposed to blog about Him. That I was supposed to share the news and make people aware that He’s not just some Imaginary made up God. But, rather a REAL, LIFE CHANGING GOD!

I started out adding some recipes (which I now post every Tasty Tuesday!) I then got a little bolder and posted some of my Bible journaling artwork (which you can see here: Faith). I added some hiking posts (which I now post every Trekking Thursday.)

I received so many positive responses from my friends, that I created a Facebook Page, Twitter Account and a Pinterest Account.  Now that I found out people were actually interested, it was time to make this blog thing happen and to use it for God’s glory!

Blogging has become part of my morning routine (keep in mind I’m in Hawaii so a totally different time zone than most of you). I brew my coffee, read the Bible and blog about whatever God puts on my heart that day.

I’ve been amazed at the words God puts in me and uses through my typing fingers. I’ve never been one who can “quote scripture” or have certain people in the Bible’s life story memorized. This is a big reason why I was scared to blog about my faith. However, this experience has been so eye-opening of how God can use me as an instrument for Him because these words I type daily are totally His! Where I was once nervous to even talk about Him, I now have confidence knowing that the words I’m typing are coming straight from Him! I don’t need to be one of those intimidating Christians who can recite a line of scripture for every situation to be a Christian blogger. I can simply LIVE like a Christian and be an example by my WALK. I talk more about that here: We Don’t Need to be Preaching to be Teaching.

He is simply using ME-yes ME! Using me to spread the word of Christ. Using me to change someones life! Using my journey as a mom and my struggle with depression to inspire another person. Isn’t that incredible!?!?!

Friends, thank you for going on this journey with me. Thank you for your support. Thank  you for helping me grow Christ’s kingdom by your love and encouragement!

With love,
Lacy

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How others responded to today’s word prompt: Imaginary

https://hersnippets.wordpress.com/2017/06/04/imaginary/comment-page-1/#comment-185

https://asongforeverything.com/2017/06/03/just-breathe/

https://talestory.blog/2017/05/19/the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-465