Originally Posted: What is Christianity?

***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: October 2, 2013
What is Christianity?

Is what you are doing Biblical? Or does it go against the Bible? If you don't know or moreso don't care, are you really a Christian?

Christianity isn't about religion. It isn't about believing God exists. It isn't about thinking you'll get into Heaven. And it certainly isn't about doing whatever you please then saying ok forgive me now.

Christianity is about Christ. Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Christianity is about a relationship with God, with Jesus. It is about knowing Him as opposed to just believing in Him. Even the devil believes God exists. Christianity is about living a life as a disciple of Christ, one of His own, striving to follow the Bible, learn the Bible, live the Bible. Christianity is about love because GOD IS LOVE.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

That does not say to hurt others, to please your own selfish desires, to do what you think/or can tell yourself in your own mind is ok if its not Biblical. Christianity is living those verses right there, right now.

Yes, God forgives. We are blessed to have a forgiving God. But repentance is a MUST. We must confess our sins, repent, ask for forgiveness and welcome Jesus into our heart in order to know God fully and receive God's grace and the gift of salvation and a place in Heaven. Repentance is moving AWAY FROM sin. It is every intention to live righteously and not wrongly.

Once you know what is right, once you've read any of this from the Bible or heard it spoken in a sermon or even from a friend or family member, you are told and guided in living righteously. If you've already committed a sin, or gone against that which is Biblical, God can and will forgive you if you ask for His forgiveness and mean it in all fullness in your heart. If you haven't yet committed a certain sin but are moving in that direction knowing that it is Biblically wrong, you are knowingly going against God's will. Stop moving in that direction. And if you are supporting or encouraging someone who is doing that, you need to stop too.

Lately the topic of Christianity needing to be modernized has been a popular one. This is why we are where we are. Christianity does not change. It DOES NOT change. Christianity is Christ. Christianity is God the Father. The God who is and was and ever will be. We do not need to and cannot and should not seek to change something impossible to change to suit our selfish desires. Furthermore, we can attempt to "change" in our minds that which is but it won't change the end result. What needs to happen is we need to seek and discover the truth. WE need to change. WE need to improve upon ourselves. We need Jesus. 

The Bible is the Bible and you can tell yourself whatever you want but in the end God is the judge. And we don't know when the end is for us or for anyone. What if the end was tomorrow? What if you didn't repent in time? What if you didn't ask forgiveness from God and from all those you've hurt and move righteously towards Jesus Christ? 

We are not to support another's happiness or desires, we are to support their righteousness and Christ filled living.

This is your chance. This is your opportunity. Please ask Jesus into your heart today if you haven't already. Doing so requires prayerful repentance and the turning away from your wrong doing. Only He has the key to Heaven, and if your time comes before you know Him, where will you go without that?

We are ALL sinner, every single one of us. That's exactly why we need Christ, our Savior. He is the only way to get to Heaven. 

God bless.

I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Luke 13:3