It’s been about a month since I’ve written a post. “Why the delay?” you might ask. I’ve got an easy answer for you. I’ve been in hiding. Not the deliberate kind of hiding, like when you hide in your closet from a spanking, but rather one that is slowly actualized & realized by procrastination.

The reason for my hiding is simple. I know where God is preparing me to go with this blog. For the past month, every time I’ve considered writing a post, I’ve heard God say to me, “Expound upon your testimony.” In other words, “Open up more. Let them see the not so glorious facets of your past. Let them see My light which came in and made you shine. Let them understand My grace in your life in greater measure.”

Hence, over the next several blog posts, I will be expounding upon many of the various ways God has loved me, healed me, & strengthened me…all in spite of myself. Hopefully some of you will identify with my struggle, and turn your faith to God for the working of your own testimony.

I’ll begin with the story of my mother. If you’ve ever been hurt by or in the church, you will identify with this story.

On my mother’s side of the family, there are 5 generations of pastors & missionaries. My grandmother, for instance, grew up in Japan as the child of missionaries to that nation. She married my grandfather, who was a pastor in the Methodist church. Although my mother grew up in the home of Christian leaders, she was confronted with very painful experiences in the church that shattered the foundations of her faith, and caused her to abandon the faith entirely during her early adult life. Because of this, I was not raised in church, was not raised in biblical knowledge. The shattering of her faith greatly impacted my life.

My life is a testimony to the grace of God. This is greatly reflected in my mother’s testimony. Not only did she come back to God and get born again during my senior year in high school, but she brought me into the church, and strongly encouraged my faith. She’s now a deacon in her church, oversees the counseling ministry there, and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity & Masters in Social Work at Boston University School of Theology.

I mentioned that she encouraged my faith. I am so grateful for the faith that I now possess, and do not want to even imagine where my life would be without it. My faith is ultimately a gift from God, who has brought me into relationship with Himself. Within that relationship, He has poured out His Spirit upon my life, & fundamentally transformed who I am & what I live for. If I die tomorrow, I’ll be joined with Him. If I live tomorrow, I live with Him. This is the profession of my faith. Either way, I’m in TOTAL peace.

Ever been hurt in church? Ever temporarily abandon your faith? God can heal you like he did my mother. He can build faith where there was pain and doubt, and raise you up a as a witness of His love & power. He wants to use you to touch not just lives, but generations.

There are generations waiting for and looking to you.

Live the life.