This is Your Life

“…This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose…”
This is your life is played in the movie Soul Surfer, as Bethany Hamilton is gearing up for the big surfing competition in Hawaii.  She had faced several challenges including loosing her arm in a shark attack while in the water.  Through these challenges she has learned how to live with only one arm.  After watching the movie, and seeing how they portrayed the trials and tribulations she had to go through, you would never even think she would have thought twice about only having one arm, it never really seemed to affect her, because she kept right on doing what she was being called to do.  She had an amazing support system with her family, friends and church family that was constantly by her side and there for her. Although, when it came down to it, her relationship and faith in Christ had given her all the strength in the world to make it through the difficult time she was having.
Given her opportunity to minister with World Vision in Thailand, she was able to reach out to a young child who was afraid to get back in the water after the tidal wave hit their country.  Even when she was afraid that she wasn’t going to be able to surf, she eventually got back up again and again after falling and after several attempts was able to stand back up on her board and ride the waves in the ocean.  Bethany followed her dreams and she wasn’t going to let anything get in her way. 
As it says in Jeremiah 29:11, “for I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
God is writing our story and our plans are in his hands, he knows what we are and who we are to be. 

Come Just As You Are!

“Miss Daisy” performed by Tami Gregor and Mallory Hines at The Beacon.

  “Miss Daisy” as we shared it that night, tells how it doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done, God still accepts you….even when it doesn’t seem like anyone else will.  It’s about letting go of  the ‘old nature’  and letting Christ make the person clean and pure.  As Christian’s we have to live our lives according to Christ, otherwise you could be like Miss Daisy and live a "fake” life.  God wants us to be REAL and live for Him!  All the time!  That way those who have not fully committed their lives to Christ will be able to see the joy and the excitement that we have in our lives…no matter what we have gone through.  Because no matter what trials we have to face we know we can get through them when we pray and ask for help. 
Because when we enter into a relationship with Christ, we become a new creation and our eternity is forever changed.  Our outcome has become far better.  And even though we may still face trials in this life we know that somewhere down the road things will be better….because Better Days are yet to come! 
Love the song ‘Blessings’ by Laura Story. 
‘…what if your blessings come from raindrops
what if your healing comes from tears
what if a thousand sleepless nights are enough to know you are near
what if trials of this life, are you mercies in disguise…..’
Even when we think that we can’t do it and that there is a big mountain in our way….there is always hope when we call out and arms to hold us when we need them.   Don’t tell God how big your mountains are….tell your mountains how big your God is….and watch your God move your mountains!