is my birthday. My forty-ninth birthday to be exact.
A day that begins a journey to the big five-0.
I started the day feeling, for reasons that escape me, sad and melancholic. After all, what, in nearly fifty years have I done.
I wanted to be somebody, do something, see somewhere, make a difference in someone’s life.
I was certain I had failed, but then today happened.
I was minding my own business, doing my job when I heard a voice saying to me, you need to do something.
Do what? I’m a nurse, I check folks in, take their vitals and get them ready for the provider to see them.
But that voice would not be quieted.
It continued to speak as I continued to do my day job.
Unbeknownst me, my day job was the target and the voice didn’t give me the opportunity to dismiss it as there was something I had to do.
So I did it.
The person I was drawn to was sad, helpless, feeling betrayed and telling me that they loved Jesus as they listed their worries.
I know Jesus and He knows me. Worries are not things that effect His people and He reminded me of this as I was being sucked into the worries of someone He was trying to help.
I opened my mouth. I asked them what good could come from the worry they spoke of if they truly loved and believed in Jesus Christ.
“My family says, my boyfriend says, my friends say that I’m not worthy. They say I’m nothing without them”
Tears.
I ignored the tears and asked them why they let people tell them they they are worthless when they have professed their love for Jesus?
Tears and excuses that convince them they are worthless and unworthy.
I hold my own tears at bay because I, too, have felt unworthy, worthless and ashamed.
I ask them if they are are ashamed?
More tears, this time wracking sobs that answer the question more clearly than words.
I ask them why they are ashamed and when there is no answer I ask them if they are ashamed because they denied Jesus as their savior and succumbed to the opinions of the world?
The sobs became unbearable and I, too, began to weep.
I can’t help it. You cry, I cry.
They were being tormented on every side, encouraged to do things that they were not comfortable with by people who declared Christ to them.
I took a moment to compose myself and called upon the name of the Jesus to help me discern what He was saying and what blasphemers were saying in His name.
This person was t0ld they were useless and unfit; unable to care for for themselves, much less anyone else.
I called “Jesus” on them.
I prayed with them and called a spade a spade.
More tears, mine and theirs … more mine than theirs because I was spiritually hurting for them.
The tears I cried weren’t only my own, but also those of Jesus.
His tears make me cry even harder.
I hope the tears the three of us cried will help this person speak the name of Jesus when they feel hopeless and defenseless.
I had two other conversations today that mirrored the first.
The evil one will willingly and gleefully use family and friends to turn people away from Jesus and he wants, most of all, for them to forget that his evil cannot stand in the name of Jesus.
The one thing I made clear to the ones I counseled today was to speak the name of Jesus, either out loud or in their mind.
It doesn’t matter where or how the name of Jesus is spoken, evil must flee; must run away, must cower, must make themselves scarce.
Don’t worry, don’t despair, don’t wonder what to do next.
Say or think the name of Jesus.
After that, you are free to make any choice you like.
If you choose Jesus, He will protect you, however, if you don’t choose Jesus, He will never forsake you, but wait until you are strong enough to choose Him.
The downside of this “win-win” plan is that if Jesus comes while you are still “deciding”, He will not recognize you when you call to Him.
Choose now or take your chances.
I know my name is in the book.
I suppose my question to everyone reading my post is is … do you?
Do you know your name is in the book and at the day of reckoning , will Jesus look at you, as and say “that one is mine, let them pass”, or will He say “I’ve never known that person, cast them away”.
Choices.
Not to be taken lightly.
A Photographer's Heart 