Originally Posted: Grace

***When I returned to Chicago 3.5 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.***

Originally Posted: December 12, 2013
Grace

"They don't deserve anything!"
"They deserve to go to hell!"
"They are horrible people!"
"They have some serious problems and need help!"

What do you think of those statements? They are quite harsh aren't they? I think so. And yet I can bet the majority of people have said one of these or something along these lines many times in life. Why?

Maybe they don't deserve anything.
Maybe they do deserve to go to hell.
Maybe they are horrible people.
Maybe they do have serious problems and do need help.

You know what, though? Maybe you are/you do too. And that's not to be mean. We have such a subjective view, hypocritical, unfair and biased. We often think so highly of ourselves and our inner circle, but harshly of those with opposing views whether it be political, religious, personal, etc. when most of the time we don't truly know those people. We place judgement where judgement shouldn't be.

If you are human, you are a sinner. If you are human, you are not perfect. Without Jesus, we all deserve nothing, even worse, we deserve eternity in hell for all of our sins. We absolutely do not deserve Jesus to have nails pounded into him, suffering and dying on the cross for us.

That's where grace and mercy come in. We have a merciful God who blesses us tremendously with saving grace. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— Ephesians 2:8

Next time you start complaining about other people, calling someone a name, putting them down, stop. Just stop. Take a moment. Turn inward to yourself. Maybe you don't show the negative qualities they do, but you do have negative qualities even if they are different. Maybe you didn't commit the sin or crime they did, but you have sinned and done wrong. Maybe you are at a high place in your life, but at one point in the past or in the future you have and/or will be at a low point like maybe they are now.

What would happen if we all stopped pointing the finger? What would happen if we all strive to live as Jesus did and acted kindly no. matter. what. Not responding to what happens in a positive or negative way, but living in such a way to show kindness, love and compassion to all in every and any situation. Allowing our hearts to be transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Without Jesus, we are doomed. We will be cast away to hell for all eternity. We deserve nothing! And absolutely nothing we do can get us a place in Heaven because we could NEVER be good enough. But accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is the only way into Heaven. Accept Him, pick up your cross, and carry it.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32