I recently learned about a ministry where Kirk Cameron partnered with Ray Comfort (former athiest) to create a street evangelism type of ministry named The Way of the Master. When you have time, it’s a pretty engaging website that’s worth a visit.

In the past year, I’ve come to really understand that we are all sinners. This has been a very humbling experience for me to admit that I’m a sinner who needs saving. I have spent a lot of time reading the Bible over the past year. I’ve read the entire New Testament and learned a lot about the Old Testament. The message about us all being sinners is most clearly shared in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God“. That’s one of the verses I memorized quickly because it brings me comfort.

You don’t really need Jesus until you acknowledge that you are in need of a Savior. Kirk Cameron’s ministry is very good at making this clear. I recommend listening to Kirk’s testimony. 

Once I realized how I was broken, then I started to really understand why the Gospel is good news. By no action of my own, I have been saved from Hell. I’ve been given a gift of eternal life because I believe God exists and the Scriptures are living truth. The past year has been a spiritual growth spurt. I’ve memorized some scripture and become much more comfortable with the Bible. I heard in a sermon recently that people are more compelled by a picture of a starving child than of a man walking into eternal hell (hard to illustrate the day of judgement or hell because no one has seen it).

I’ve been learning how to share my faith and ask tough questions to those I love. My spiritual growth influenced my sister, who was the one to find The Way of the Master ministry. This website helped her to really understand the big picture of how we [current generation: you and me] are a result of the fall of man. It was this “Are You a Good Person?” quiz that really hit home with my sister.

Today is a Disney-perfect day where I live in Chicagoland. The sky is blue, the grass is green, the flowers are blooming. We have just celebrated our Independence as a country (USA).  It seems easy to be grateful for all the blessings we have, but I’m naturally grateful. It’s a wonderful day to be in love with God. 

As I move out of the weekend and into the work week, I am thinking about how to love by faith. Inspired by God’s Word as written in Ephesians 5:1-2, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Emphasis mine. The LORD, our God, loves me personally and this Scripture applies to you too! Each day I shall tell myself the good news of the gospel. A daily reminder that Jesus loves me and gave himself for me.

While God pours love into me, I’m commanded to share love with others in the name of Jesus Christ. Living a life of love is not always easy. There has been more than one relationship that I have ended due to lack of respect. I stopped interacting with an individual and decided to love them from afar.

The Word teaches that Christian faith is a lifestyle to be observed through actions. Galatians 5:6 provides a clear message, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Foremost, we are called to believe God. If we believe Him then we cannot help but love Him. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please God…”. With faith, we express love because we receive love from the Almighty Father.  

This theme of loving God and displaying loving behavior to each other is key to the Christian life. Being a mirror of God is to follow the style of Jesus Christ. The love from God is a never-ending supply that we can access at any time. The love we receive from God will NEVER fail. We are to draw on the love of God and then pour that love into the world.

As far as I can tell, it takes patience and personal feedback to find your spiritual calling. In seeking God, I’m learning how to hear Him. This takes personal reflection, prayer and time to read & study the Bible. I am learning to respond to what I interpret as His will for me. While I’m developing my God-specific listening skills, I am gathering input from friends close to me. Determining my spiritual gifts and natural talents will take me part of the way to finding how to focus my personal ministry.

You see, I have heard a story or two about people who have traumatic events in their lives and proclaim they’ll dedicate their life to God’s glory. For me, I’d rather not wait for a life-changing event to be the start. Instead, I’d like to learn how to glorify God every single day in my own personal ministry.

As I find my calling, I am planning to put my gifts, talents and free time to pursuing this ministry. This is the way I will express gratitude for Jesus being my Savior. How shall I sow for our Lord? The answer is not clear but God’s promise to me is that as I low things in the name of the Spirit, I will reap the things of the Spirit (Gal 6:8-9).

The investigation into my faith happened after I seemed to “have it all” at such a young age. I’d finished college in 3 years, married, bought a nice home, owned a small software company and worked my way up to a management position in Corporate America. I was 25 years old when I had accomplished what I set out to do. Yet, I still was not fulfilled. I’m not the only one with a story like this, but this is how my story goes.

From what I recall, I have believed whole-heartedly in Jesus Christ and the Gospel since I was about 5 years old. The teachings at my Presbyterian Sunday School were enough to make me a joyful believer. Now I can see that faith is a gift.

As an adult, reflecting on all my ’success’ [based on a worldview], I felt like something was missing. I was again drawn to God as I had been many times in my life. This pulling sensation drew me to attend Willow Creek Community Church where I joined a women’s small group for the first time in my life. When I became a member of this evangelical church, the membership process included baptism. This was the first I heard of an adult being baptised. The Presbyterian church does not practice this (to my knowledge). I immediately called my mom and sister to ask if they’d ever heard of this. The Scripture seems to clearly indicate the proper use of baptism and I subscribed to the idea since it was biblically based. In June 2002, I was baptized as an adult.

I’ve had my share of setbacks. I have lived through closing my small business and dissolving my marriage by age 29. There have been many challenging times like when my mom was so very sick and I was her only care taker.

My current season of life in 2009, seems to be a growth spurt. I’m reading and memorizing the Word of God which is changing my perspective. Prayer comes easily and often. Learning from fabulous ministers and pastors has altered the way I think. Being around Christian friends has been a blessing in many ways. Most recently, I’m thinking of doing a mission trip for the first time in my life.

My investigation into my faith has led to me to a higher calling.  I’m prayerful about God’s will for my life. At this time, I’m considering how I can fight to defend the existence of God and the trustworthiness of the Scriptures. Using my gifts, talents and skills I want to do God’s work in a way that is pleasing to Him. This blog will serve as a testing ground for this seed of an idea.

As of March 2009, after years of seeking insight, knowledge, wisdom and God’s will for my life, I’m starting to put together what I understand is my purpose.

My fight is to defend the existence of God and the trustworthiness of the Scriptures. As I’m an entrepreneur, I consider this my personal mission statement. I’m a student of evangelism and apologetics. I have started this blog to document my journey. I’m taking this seed of an idea and expanding on it to see how this may blossom.