Laboring for Christ and the Blessings that Emerge

Every Tuesday at our headquarters office, we have devotions from 11:30am-12:00pm. These very special 30 minutes are spent in prayer, worship and hearing a message from a fellow staff member or officer. I had the pleasure of speaking this morning. Hope this vlog (video blog) blesses you! If you prefer to read the transcript, it's below :)

-Elyse Jankowski, Community Relations Associate

Welcome back, everyone! Hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend. Though we just celebrated Labor Day, I know I’m not ready to say goodbye to summer, and it feels like the weather isn’t either. So, holding onto that sunny spirit, I’d like to share some of my experiences with The Salvation Army this summer. I know for me, it’s important to be reminded that our work here is good work that extends well beyond this building. Our work is for Jesus, and He is constantly behind the scenes, taking the little that we do as employees and officers and making a grand impact. This may seem like less of a devotion and more like story time, but I’ll bet you can see God’s hand in every account.

This summer, I was blessed to make several trips out to Camp Tecumseh. It’s always so much fun to see the kids just in their element, having a great time, wanting to pose for pictures. Their joy is contagious, and I could tell how much they valued the opportunity to be there. Those smiles are genuine, and we play a part in that.

Most recently, I went to Vets Camp last week. I remembered some of the veterans from last year, and some of them remembered me! They nicknamed me “Slim,” taught me how to play Spades, and we shared countless laughs. But not everything was fun and games. They told me stories of injustice, problems they’ve faced, hardships they’ve endured throughout their lifetimes that no one should. Perhaps it was the desire to finally release that pain which led eight veterans and family members to receive Christ at the altar the morning I was there. I can’t explain what it’s like to watch salvation happen. To witness lives transforming right in front of your eyes. I’ll never get tired of it.

My favorite day at camp this summer was one for the books. When I came back to DHQ the next day, I raved, “Forget being one of the best days as an employee of the Army. That was one of the best days of my life.” Three ladies from our Hurricane Sandy Recovery Group in Hazlet joined other woman at the Senior Lodge for a week of rest. They were three of the most incredible women I’ve ever met. As I interviewed them about how The Salvation Army has assisted them since Sandy, I nearly started to cry. I saw my grandmother in each one of them. She passed away suddenly in June and was a Hurricane Sandy survivor. My mom and I watched her fall into depression after the storm, having lost her home and several prized possessions. As the ladies from our group spoke, their emotions shifted from the heartbreak of the storm to the hope of their futures. They told of how wonderful it was to now have friends who understood them, to have a support system in the Army that they know can be counted on. I became so close to each woman over the course of the day that I decided to stay until nearly 8:00pm, just for fun. We went on the paddleboats, played shuffleboard, which my grandma excelled at, and they treated me like their own granddaughter. I was just as impacted by their beautiful spirits as they’ve been by The Salvation Army.

I also visited Corps and Service Units this summer. Red Bank’s Vacation Bible School was incredible. It was there that I met some fabulous volunteers, one who has volunteered for over 10 years and another for over 20! There must be something about The Salvation Army that keeps em coming back!

Sussex County’s Back to School distribution was great, as was Plainfield’s Christmas in July Bike Giveaway. Each drew families of all different sizes and needs, receiving tangible blessings.

And I could never forget my beloved Orange Corps, where I’ve been volunteering on Tuesday afternoons since January. The Summer Day Camp kids were different from the school year kids that I’ve grown so close to. I wondered if I’d be able to foster special relationships with a new group in a short amount of time. I’d say it was about three weeks before the hug brigade was in full force every time I walked through the door. The kids address the counselors and volunteers as Miss, so to them, I’m Miss Elyse. One day, precious Madison ran towards me in a fanatical greeting, shouting, “Mystery!” instead of Miss Elyse! I did not correct her.

It’s easy for me to get stuck in my own little world, or “the cave,” as I call my and Alex’s office. Sitting at my desk on the computer most days, while I’m doing good work, can leave me feeling a bit detached from whom I’m really doing it for. I value every trip I make to camp, a Corps or an event because I know I’ll come back with a story. One I can tell on our website or social media, one I can hold in my heart. I would encourage us all, whether we make similar trips or not, to remember that the spirit of The Salvation Army is holy. It’s extraordinary. On the day after Labor Day, let’s remember that we don’t have to go to work. We get to go to work for Him.

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Jack's Back!

I must confess, I am a 24 addict. It took me a few years to get into 24, but once I started watching it on Netflix, I was hooked. I don’t know if it's the iconic ticking clock or the grittiness of the story, but I can't seem to get enough of Jack Bauer.

And I’m not alone, as the latest ratings show that I was joined by more than 8 million other viewers during the two hour 24: Live Another Day premiere on May 5th. My Monday nights now revolve around what is happening on Fox at 9:00PM, as I don’t want to be left out of the conversation on Tuesday. I need to know how Jack will, once again, save the world from evil terrorists who have no problem making innocent people suffer in an effort to right perceived wrongs.

As I sit in front of my TV mesmerized by the real time activity, I start to identify with Jack and his desire to protect others, even if it means sacrificing himself physically and emotionally. I think this is what makes Jack (and 24) so engaging – the idea that people want to see good prevail even if it means doing something wrong to get the job done. In Jack's case, he has no problem physically threatening a suspect, lying, or even non-fatally shooting a random protester in order to create a diversion. While this makes for good TV, it also reinforces a flawed belief about people – that we are inherently good.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in his letter to the church in Rome: “For Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23 NLT) You see, the truth is that people are not inherently good, and we don,t all want to do the right thing. If you need proof, just look at children. I know that my three sons have all, at one time or another, exhibited our sinful nature (and if you ask my parents, I did too). A simple question like, "Is your homework done?" will be met with a lie. Why? It's not as if I will punish them; I'll only insist that they get it done. Yet, if my boys want to do something else, they may choose to lie rather than do the assignment. This is our true human nature.

Thankfully, God knows us intimately and loves us limitlessly. He sent His son Jesus to die on a cross for our sin and rise again to conquer death so that we can have a restored relationship with God through our belief in His Son. He declares this clearly in John 3:16: "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (NLT) and promises salvation in Romans 10:9: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (NLT)

While Jack Bauer may live another day on Fox, we have the opportunity to live every day through Christ. And while Jack is only around for a 12-episode special event, Jesus is here for eternity. Why not consider putting your life in the hands of the Saviour?

Written by Richard Pease
Divisional Controller

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Spring Has Sprung

The signs of spring are all around me – warming weather (most days), green shoots appearing in the garden, and my beloved New York Yankees are only days away from their 2014 season opener. These signs give me pause to consider the miracle of rebirth that happens so visibly this time of year.

Before moving to New Jersey, I spent several years living in Southern California where I hardly noticed the arrival of spring, as winter in San Diego merely means you don’t get up to 70 degrees. Here, however, winter is evident in the cold days, gloomy skies and inches of snow. So, when I start to see signs of life in the garden, I get impatient for warmer weather and fresh air!

This rebirth of nature also prompts me to consider the rebirth that I have experienced through Christ. I am reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:17 – "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (NLT)

What an incredible promise and transformation; all of my sin and decay has been replaced with new life and righteousness. To me, it is the single most important truth of the Bible, a real, personal relationship with Christ results in a new me!

I am given pause to think about the thousands of people I have encountered in my time with The Salvation Army who have experienced this same rebirth. Whether they are graduates of our Adult Rehabilitation programs, young people who have attended our camps, or volunteers who have packed food boxes, people see Jesus and accept His offer of a new life at the Army. We don’t force it on them; we just live by Biblical principles, and they are drawn to ask why we are different. I think that this is an incredible testimony to the life changing ministry that is and has been since 1865 - The Salvation Army.

Perhaps, today, you are in need of new life. Why not reach out and ask for it? We’re here to guide you to the source. Make this spring be about more than just flowers and baseball; make this spring one of rebirth in your life. When you do, things will never look the same.

Written by Richard Pease
Divisional Controller

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Keepin' it Real

Have you ever known someone who prides themselves on keepin' it real? This may mean different things to different people, but to me, someone who is keepin' it real calls it exactly as they see it. No punches pulled - it may not be what you want to hear, but at least you know what they really think and feel.

Jesus was all about keepin' it real. In Matthew 19:16-30, He was talking with someone who is described as a young man. This young man asked Jesus what "good" things he must do to ensure eternal life. Jesus is real in saying, "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments."

Boom. Right away, Jesus tell this man exactly what he needs to do - no ifs, ands or buts about it. After asking which commandments, the man says he has kept them all and asks if there is anything else he must do. So, Jesus is blunt: "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." He kept it real.

This was too real for the young man. He went away sad because the Bible says he had great wealth. This young man let his stuff, his possessions, get between him and the Lord of all creation and eternal life. When Christ was real with him, the solution he was seeking hit a little too close to home.

Let me keep it real. Is something holding you back from going all in to follow Jesus? The crazy part is you don’t even have to sell all of your possessions. You don’t have to leave your home. You just have to ask for forgiveness from your sin (keepin' it real - we are all sinners), and take up your cross and follow Him. And while you may not have to give up your worldly possessions, you will have to give up the things of this world steeped in sinful nature. But -real talk- isn’t eternal life worth it?

Written by Bramwell Applin
Community Relations Manager

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A Vision of the Lost

Written by William Booth

 

On one of my recent journeys, as I gazed from the coach window, I was led into a train of thought concerning the condition of the multitudes around me. They were living carelessly in the most open and shameless rebellion against God, without a thought for their eternal welfare. As I looked out of the window, I seemed to see them all... millions of people all around me given up to their drink and their pleasure, their dancing and their music, their business and their anxieties, their politics and their troubles. Ignorant- willfully ignorant in many cases- and in other instances knowing all about the truth and not caring at all. But all of them, the whole mass of them, sweeping on and up in their blasphemies and devilries to the Throne of God. While my mind was thus engaged, I had a vision.

I saw a dark and stormy ocean. Over it the black clouds hung heavily; through them every now and then vivid lightening flashed and loud thunder rolled, while the winds moaned, and the waves rose and foamed, towered and broke, only to rise and foam, tower and break again.

In that ocean I thought I saw myriads of poor human beings plunging and floating, shouting and shrieking, cursing and struggling and drowning; and as they cursed and screamed they rose and shrieked again, and then some sank to rise no more.

And I saw out of this dark angry ocean, a mighty rock that rose up with it’s summit towering high above the black clouds that overhung the stormy sea. And all around the base of this great rock I saw a vast platform. Onto this platform, I saw with delight a number of the poor struggling, drowning wretches continually climbing out of the angry ocean. And I saw that a few of those who were already safe on the platform were helping the poor creatures still in the angry waters to reach the place of safety.

On looking more closely I found a number of those who had been rescued, industriously working and scheming by ladders, ropes, boats and other means more effective, to deliver the poor strugglers out of the sea. Here and there were some who actually jumped into the water, regardless of the consequences in their passion to "rescue the perishing." And I hardly know which gladdened me the most- the sight of the poor drowning people climbing onto the rocks reaching a place of safety, or the devotion and self-sacrifice of those whose whole being was wrapped up in the effort for their deliverance.

As I looked on, I saw that the occupants of that platform were quite a mixed company. That is, they were divided into different "sets" or classes, and they occupied themselves with different pleasures and employments. But only a very few of them seemed to make it their business to get the people out of the sea.

But what puzzled me most was the fact that though all of them had been rescued at one time or another from the ocean, nearly everyone seemed to have forgotten all about it. Anyway, it seemed the memory of its darkness and danger no longer troubled them at all. And what seemed equally strange and perplexing to me was that these people did not even seem to have any care- that is any agonizing care- about the poor perishing ones who were struggling and drowning right before their very eyes... many of whom were their own husbands and wives, brothers and sisters and even their own children.

Now this astonishing unconcern could not have been the result of ignorance or lack of knowledge, because they lived right there in full sight of it all and even talked about it sometimes. Many even went regularly to hear lectures and sermons in which the awful state of these poor drowning creatures was described.

I have always said that the occupants of this platform were engaged in different pursuits and pastimes. Some of them were absorbed day and night in trading and business in order to make gain, storing up their savings in boxes, safes and the like.

Many spent their time in amusing themselves with growing flowers on the side of the rock, others in painting pieces of cloth or in playing music, or in dressing themselves up in different styles and walking about to be admired. Some occupied themselves chiefly in eating and drinking, others were taken up with arguing about the poor drowning creatures that had already been rescued.

But the thing to me that seemed the most amazing was that those on the platform to whom He called, who heard His voice and felt that they ought to obey it- at least they said they did- those who confessed to love Him much were in full sympathy with Him in the task He had undertaken- who worshipped Him or who professed to do so- were so taken up with their trades and professions, their money saving and pleasures, their families and circles, their religions and arguments about it, and their preparation for going to the mainland, that they did not listen to the cry that came to them from this Wonderful Being who had Himself gone down into the sea. Anyway, if they heard it they did not heed it. They did not care. And so the multitude went on right before them struggling and shrieking and drowning in the darkness.

And then I saw something that seemed to me even more strange than anything that had gone on before in this strange vision. I saw that some of these people on the platform whom this Wonderful Being had called to, wanting them to come and help Him in His difficult task of saving these perishing creatures, were always praying and crying out to Him to come to them!

Some wanted Him to come and stay with them, and spend His time and strength in making them happier. Others wanted Him to come and take away various doubts and misgivings they had concerning the truth of some letters He had written them. Some wanted Him to come and make them feel more secure on the rock- so secure that they would be quite sure that they should never slip off again into the ocean. Numbers of others wanted Him to make them feel quite certain that they would really get off the rock and onto the mainland someday: because as a matter of fact, it was well known that some had walked so carelessly as to loose their footing, and had fallen back again into the stormy waters.

So these people used to meet and get up as high on the rock as they could, and looking towards the mainland (where they thought the Great Being was) they would cry out, "Come to us! Come and help us!" And all the while He was down (by His Spirit) among the poor struggling, drowning creatures in the angry deep, with His arms around them trying to drag them out, and looking up- oh! so longingly but all in vain- to those on the rock, crying to them with His voice all hoarse from calling, "Come to Me! Come, and help Me!

And then I understood it all. It was plain enough. The sea was the ocean of life- the sea of real, actual human existence. That lightening was the gleaming of piercing truth coming from Jehovah’s Throne. That thunder was the distant echoing of the wrath of God. Those multitudes of people shrieking, struggling and agonizing in the stormy sea, was the thousands and thousands of poor harlots and harlot-makers, of drunkards and drunkard makers, of thieves, liars, blasphemers and ungodly people of every kindred, tongue and nation.

Oh what a black sea it was! And oh, what multitudes of rich and poor, ignorant and educated were there. They were all so unalike in their outward circumstances and conditions, yet all alike in one thing- all sinners before God- all held by, and holding onto, some iniquity, fascinated by some idol, the slaves of some devilish lust, and ruled by the foul fiend from the bottomless pit!

"All alike in one thing?" No, all alike in two things- not only the same in their wickedness but, unless rescued, the same in their sinking, sinking... down, down, down... to the same terrible doom. That great sheltering rock represented Calvary, the place where Jesus had died for them. And the people on it were those who had been rescued. The way they used their energies, gifts and time represented the occupations and amusements of those who professed to be saved from sin and hell- followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The handful of fierce, determined ones, who were risking their own lives in saving the perishing were true soldiers of the cross of Jesus. That Mighty Being who was calling to them from the midst of the angry waters was the Son of God, "the same yesterday, today and forever" who is still struggling and interceding to save the dying multitudes about us from this terrible doom of damnation, and whose voice can be heard above the music, machinery, and noise of life, calling on the rescued to come and help Him save the world.

My friends in Christ, you are rescued from the waters, you are on the rock, He is in the dark sea calling on you to come to Him and help Him. Will you go? Look for yourselves. The surging sea of life, crowded with perishing multitudes rolls up to the very spot on which you stand. Leaving the vision, I now come to speak of the fact- a fact that is as real as the Bible, as real as the Christ who hung upon the cross, as real as the judgment day will be, and as real as the heaven and hell that will follow it.

Look! Don’t be deceived by appearances- men and things are not what they seem. All who are not on the rock are in the sea! Look at them from the standpoint of the great White Throne, and what a sight you have! Jesus Christ, the Son of God is, through His Spirit, in the midst of this dying multitude, struggling to save them. And He is calling on you to jump into the sea- to go right away to His side and help Him in the holy strife. Will you jump? That is, will you go to His feet and place yourself absolutely at His disposal?

A young Christian once came to me, and told me that for some time she had been giving the Lord her profession and prayers and money, but now she wanted to give Him her life. She wanted to go right into the fight. In other words, she wanted to go to His assistance in the sea. As when a man from the shore, seeing another struggling in the water, takes off those outer garments that would hinder his efforts and leaps to the rescue, so will you who still linger on the bank, thinking and singing and praying about the poor perishing souls, lay aside your shame, your pride, your cares about other people’s opinions, your love of ease and all the selfish loves that have kept you back for so long, and rush to the rescue of this multitude of dying men and women.

Does the surging sea look dark and dangerous? Unquestionably it is so. There is no doubt that the leap for you, as for everyone who takes it, means difficulty and scorn and suffering. For you it may mean more than this. It may mean death. He who beckons you from the sea however, knows what it will mean - and knowing, He still calls to you and bids to you to come.

You must do it! You cannot hold back. You have enjoyed yourself in Christianity long enough. You have had pleasant feelings, pleasant songs, pleasant meetings, pleasant prospects. There has been much of human happiness, much clapping of hands and shouting of praises- very much of heaven on earth.

Now then, go to God and tell Him you are prepared as much as necessary to turn your back upon it all, and that you are willing to spend the rest of your days struggling in the midst of these perishing multitudes, whatever it may cost you.

You must do it. With the light that is now broken in upon your mind and the call that is now sounding in your ears, and the beckoning hands that are now before your eyes, you have no alternative. To go down among the perishing crowds is your duty. Your happiness from now on will consist in sharing their misery, your ease in sharing their pain, your crown in helping them to bear their cross, and your heaven in going into the very jaws of hell to rescue them.

 

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One Death Won Life: An Easter Invitation

For Christians, our Easter celebration starts on Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified. Our celebration begins with death, and not just any death, but the death of our Lord and Savior. And we call it good! How can this be?

Leading up to Easter, we see Jesus enter Jerusalem, scold the wicked, heal the sick and prepare His disciples for His upcoming death. The night before Good Friday, Jesus celebrated the Passover feast at a table with His disciples. Many important things happen at this meal, and what is most important is that God reveals Himself through Jesus and lets us in on the work He’s been preparing since the beginning of time.

What happens on this night, at this meal? Let’s look at just two things Jesus says:

1.     Jesus comforts His disciples

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." (John 14:1-4 NIV)

2.     Jesus promises the Holy Spirit

 "If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:15-18 NIV)

As Jesus explains to the disciples that He will soon be betrayed and put to death, He says, "Don't let your hearts be troubled by this! It is good that I leave you, because when I do, I will not only prepare a place for you in heaven, but I will also send my Spirit to guide you while you are here on earth."

And then, it happens. Jesus is arrested and put on trial the next day. Religious leaders and an angry crowd convince Pilate, the Roman leader of Judea, to have Him crucified. Jesus is mocked, beaten and spit upon before being nailed to a cross to die. His disciples, even if they believed everything Jesus said the night before, must have found it extremely difficult to understand Jesus' pain and suffering as good. Jesus death, as gruesome and unjust as it was, is the greatest thing to ever happen to you, me and the entire world.

We can rejoice because Jesus' one death won life for all of us. The story of Easter doesn't end on Good Friday. In fact, it ends with a beginning.

In Matthew chapter 28, we see Mary Magdalene approach Jesus' tomb three days after His death, only to find that his body is no longer there. Shortly thereafter, Jesus appears to Mary and later to the disciples. And He's not some ghostly apparition – It's really Jesus, flesh and bone, alive! Through the work of God, Jesus has conquered death and spends the next 40 days with His disciples before ascending to be with the Father.

When Jesus went to the cross, He knew that God's power would triumph over death, and not just triumph to raise Him again but to raise us all.

What does this mean? When Jesus died on Good Friday, all of our sin (everything that separates us from God) died with Him. This means that every bad decision I've made or will make in the future is forgiven through Christ. Before Jesus' death and resurrection, I’d be dead meat! I've always been a sinner. Even as a Christian, I am still a sinner. I wrong my God in one way or another every day. We all do. But now, it's no longer held against us. It's gone, buried with Christ.

Jesus resurrection on Easter Sunday is an awe-inspiring illustration of not only God's power over death but also His power to give life. As Jesus explained at the Last Supper, after He ascends, God sends His Holy Spirit down to live within the disciples and all who believe in Him. This is God saying, "There is no separation between us anymore. I love you so much that I want to be with you forever, all day, every day."

Easter bridges the gap for us. Christ's death and resurrection leads us away from an old life of death and sin to a new life of forgiveness and fullness.

So, what has this meant to me personally? How has Easter transformed my life? Let's look at a passage from 1 Peter:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV)

This scripture states that as a believer and follower of Jesus, I am a completely new person with an inheritance of eternal life. This means that God loves me and my sins aren't counted against me. It means I can love others the way I was meant to, like Jesus did. And it means that when I die, my life is not over. The pain, struggles, and disappointments of life here on earth aren't all there is. There is so much more.

What is new birth like?

For me, the transformation of new birth in Christ has been pretty incredible. I think thoughts I've never had before. I make decisions I'd never have made before knowing Him. Whether my thoughts or decisions are "small" like how I spend an afternoon or "big" like how I spend the rest of my life, I now find Jesus at the center of all of them. And that's the Holy Spirit working in me. Does that sound a little weird? Someone else's (God's) spirit living in you, transforming your entire being, how you think and how you act? At first, it is a little weird! Then, it becomes completely natural. Because this new person is who I really am, who I was created to be - a child of God in relationship with my Maker, motivated to do good for Him and others.

What is eternal life?

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3 NIV)

Don't some days, weeks or even years feel like eternity? Things on the horizon seem so far away, yet Jesus says eternity is here. Eternity is now, with Him and in you. All the peace, all the joy, all the good that He has, you have access to right now.

If God created us and God is in us by His Spirit, then whatever He does has to affect us, right? Just like whatever we do has to affect Him. We ignore Him, and He is hurt. We bring Him glory, and He is pleased. There is a real relationship here in which both parties are participants. So, when Jesus died, something in us had to die, too. And what died was death. God triumphing over death, which only He can do, gives us the opportunity to follow Him into eternity.

Because of Christ's resurrection, we can say:

 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55 NIV)

It's gone. God has power over life and death. And for you? He chooses life. He says, "It's here, in me. Come and get it!" God allows us to, in a way, share in His power, by accepting it, and saying, "Yeah, I want that. Lord, what you offer is all that is good. And I could use some good right now. I could use some life!"

Could you use some good? Could you use new life right now? I encourage you to really think about what Christ's death and resurrection means to you. Reflect on your life up to this point. If you believe in your heart that everything in this post is true, tell Him! Whisper to God or shout it from the rooftops! You're forgiven from sin. You're saved from death. You're alive in eternity. Hallelujah!

Written by Elyse Jankowski
Community Relations Associate

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One Year with Christ: Lessons Learned and What Has Changed

This morning, I heard birds chirping for the first time since moving into my apartment in September. You know what that means - Spring is right around the corner, so summer will soon follow! This July will mark two years since I became a Christian. As a "newbie" to faith, I've been keeping track of Jesus' transforming work in my life and was just reminded of a "first year recap" I wrote last summer. Whether you're a new Christian like me or have been walking with Christ for years, see if you can identify with the lessons I've learned. How has the Lord changed you?

Top 3 Lessons Learned

1. Following Christ doesn't mean life gets easier

I started reading the Bible "backwards," meaning New Testament first. I was really excited to learn about who Jesus is and what he did during his time here on Earth. In the four Gospels, I read about Jesus' miracles and healings and thought, "Alright! Sign me up. I could use a miracle in my life!"

Pretty quickly, I learned there’s a lot more to it! In Matthew 16:24, Jesus says to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Deny myself? That doesn't sound fun, and for me, it means to put aside my selfish wants and desires, most of which would be considered "worldly" – like money and clothes – things that the world tells us we should want because they're supposed keys to fulfillment. Spoiler alert: They're not! In reality, placing my heart on Christ instead of trying to please myself with nonsense is the true key to fulfillment. He is my joy, not the world and not myself.

Taking up my cross is Jesus' way of flat-out saying, "This ain’t gonna be easy." It's also a reminder of the cross of Christ, his crucifixion, and how any suffering I endure as a result of following him will be nowhere near as agonizing as what he experienced to save me.

While following Jesus is a tough road that I inevitably wander off of, I'm thankful that he always welcomes me back.


2. I don't have to live in shame or fear

Over the past year, I've learned that I live in shame and fear a lot. Shame from bad decisions I've made, like hurting people, and fear of the future – Will I get that new job? Can I afford that apartment? What if all my plans don't work out?

In the past, those feelings would really eat away at me. I'd go through days, sometimes weeks, of self-loathing, depression and anxiety. I didn't know that there was a God who would take all of that away from me.

In my small group, we started reading 1 John, and 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Now, because I'm walking with Christ, I know that when I start to feel guilty about something, I can and should immediately bring it to him rather than let shame eat away at me. There is power in repentance. When I release a sin to Jesus in prayer, it's like a weight has been lifted off me. I can't describe the incredible feeling of freedom, but I can recommend that you seek it from him!

As far as fear, I really love Psalm 56:3-4, which says, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?"

When I start to feel shame or get scared of something, God invites me to come to him. Trusting him means knowing that fear has no hold on me. Like the Psalmist said, "What can flesh do to me?" What can I be afraid of when I have the Lord on my side? Nothing! There is also power in peace, which I always find when I release my fears to God.


3. Christianity isn't just about what you do; it’s about why you do it

What I mean by this lesson is that life with Christ isn't just about the good work or deeds you do; it's about being guided by your faith in him.

James 2:14:18 says, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds."

When you're Christian, there's a relationship between deeds and faith. Before knowing Christ, I certainly did some good deeds, but I usually did them for the wrong reason – to inflate myself, to make myself look good. But doing good works with faith gives God the glory he deserves. Taking the spotlight off me and shining it on him not only opens people's hearts to the grace of God, it helps cultivate the relationship I have with him. 


What Has Changed

1. How I think

Before learning about Jesus, I used to think that some sins, like cursing and gossiping, were totally ok to do. In most cases, everyone else around me was doing them. But let me be clear – I am not placing blame on my friends or anyone else for decisions I’ve made. Because I deemed those things acceptable, my actions followed.

If I got in an argument with someone, I would use derogatory names and curse words to put them down. 1 Peter 3:10-12 says, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech."

I didn't keep my tongue from evil because I just didn't care. I didn't see cursing at someone as a bad thing because it made me feel like a stronger person in that moment. Now, I try to keep my lips at bay and think before I speak. I have no right to tear anyone down and inflate myself.

Which brings me to gossip. Ladies, you know how women can be. And gentlemen, this doesn't mean you're off the hook either! When people around you start gossiping about someone, it's really easy to jump in, right? When I used to gossip (and I still struggle with this!), I would feel a false sense of joy from talking bad about someone. It made me feel better about myself, and it made me feel like I was more of a friend to the person or people also gossiping.

James 4:11 says, "Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it."

This verse is saying that if we speak ill of someone, we're also speaking ill of God and disobeying his command to love. Being a Christian, I want to show obedience to God in every way, including trying to not gossip, because I love and respect him and thus should love and respect everyone he's created.

Now that I've been a Christian for a year, I recognize sin as sin – thoughts and actions that separate me from God – and I make conscious efforts to stop myself from engaging in them.


2. How I feel

I used to feel like life was all about me. Now, I feel God working in me daily to pull me out of my selfish desires. That's not to say I never give into selfishness, because I still do! But I know and feel that my life is to be lived for him, not for me.

I also feel pain from following Christ (which he tells us to expect) because I care about people more than I ever have. And when you're vulnerable with your heart, you can get hurt. I need to remember to put my faith in God and not in people, because we will inevitably let each other down, intentionally or unintentionally. But I know that Jesus will never let me down.


3. How I act

I would have never chosen to use 3-4 days a week to serve and spend time with others before knowing Christ's love. My time was MY time, and I spent it doing what I wanted to do. Now, what I want to do is serve, because I see the blessings that come from it.

In conclusion, following Christ over the past year has profoundly changed who I am and how I relate to other people. It's important to note that as much as I try to run from sin, I am still a sinner. But before knowing God's love, I was just that. Now, I'm a sinner redeemed. I am blessed, loved, chosen, forgiven and free. I can't tell you how incredible that feels, but I can encourage you to discover it for yourself in Jesus!

Written by Elyse Jankowski
Community Relations Associate

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