Originally Posted: Repentance

***When I came back to Chicago nearly 3 years ago for my surgery, I started a blog as one place all family and friends could go to read updates on my health. I then realized it was also a way of promoting awareness. Shortly after that, I started a second blog, for the purpose of sharing my faith. As time went on, I became convicted about something.

It was wrong of me to separate the two, as my faith, Jesus, is the absolute reason for my strength in getting through this. I could not exclude Him from my health blog even if others suggested to do so. Thus, I started talking more about my faith on my main blog. Now, many times, it's more about Him than me, which is where I came up with the current title 'About Me, Not About Me'. This story may be about me, but really it's not about me, it's about Him. That old blog still sits out there no longer being used. So I decided over time I will begin to move those posts from there to here to have everything in one place.

In just beginning to read some of my first posts, I've realized the amount of work God has truly done in me. A lot of times we hate the journey and want to get to our next destination, but it is in that very journey that God molds you into who He created you to be. Enjoy each mile of your own journey and know that God is working through you if you let Him.***

Originally Posted: June 26, 2013
Repentance 

Repentance. What does this mean? We're all told to repent and be forgiven, but do we understand what we must do?  In the Christian definition, it is to turn away from sin.

To repent you should first recognize that which you did wrong and admit it, own up to it. More so, you should self reflect on how this hurt another including God, how it made them feel by the action you did wrong. You should truly feel sorrow and regret for that which you are sorry for. Otherwise saying sorry is simply put, a lie.You should apologize to the other and to God, and ask for forgiveness. But it's not just saying sorry, it's having actions to defend your words. That involves a pivot 180 degree turn and walking in the opposite direction, no longer doing that which is wrong but doing that which is right. You are making a deliberate choice to say no to evil, no to the devil, no to the sin, and yes to Jesus- the way, the truth, the life.

In doing that you are on your way to accepting Jesus if you haven't already. You are admitting that in being human and imperfect, you are a sinner. You are admitting the sins you have committed and asking for forgiveness for them. You are choosing then to walk in the way of Jesus. In that you then must commit to Him, believe in Him, and invite Him into your life.

This doesn't mean, hey God make my life better now I believe in you. Think about it- put into a form we can understand, if we have 10 people interviewing for a job and 9 of them who showed they worked hard and were good employees and then 1 who just showed up for the pay check, would we even consider that 1? Probably not. Sadly, I think the world today is more like 9 who do nothing and 1 who does something, and even that something is probably far less than it could be. If you want God in your life- you should absolutely show Him you mean it, that you are serious about following Him and living for Him. Read your Bible, if you don't have one go get one. There are actually plenty you can request online for free so money can be of no excuse. Pray. Praying can be as simple as having a conversation with God like you do with a friend. Surround yourself with believers and join a church and church groups to educate yourself on Jesus and what it means to be a Christian.

Note these good works will not save us. But after salvation- by grace through faith, we should want to do these things, we should be transformed as long as we keep ourselves focused on Him.

So next time you say you're sorry, do you really mean it? Did you do all of that which is involved for repentance? Furthermore, what is floating out there in your life that you have yet to repent? Why not make today the day that you settle that matter? Why not make today the day you welcome Jesus into your life if you haven't already? It's not too late no matter how far off track you strayed. It's not too late no matter how much you did wrong. God would LOVE for you to own up to those sins and turn your life over to Him to a life of love and joy.

Sin is of the devil and the devil is full of lies. What appears enticing is nothing more than a trap to get you far off down the wrong path. What seems easy will only be much harder in the long run. What may bring a moment of joy is nothing more than false fulfillment that ends in regret. True joy only comes from Jesus. Don't let the devil win. Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, the life. And the truth will set you free.

The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 1 John 3:8

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17