Sandra

Today, while painting my nails, I listened to such a beautiful song: “If I got Jesus” by Ben Fuller. The moment he sang the words that anything and anyone can be stolen from him, as long as he has Jesus, it struck me for a moment. This is exactly what has happened to me in recent years. When I chose Jesus, I still had a relationship and plenty of friends. Early in my walk with God, I went to church occasionally and started reading the Bible and some other great books. But at that time, I mainly lived with one foot in the world.  I grew in my relationship with God, became hungrier for Him and the Word, was baptized, and attended all kinds of conferences. God slowly changed me, and it became more and more visible to the outside world. I have never been ashamed of God, and I proclaimed to everyone who would listen (or not; I had quite a bit of difficulty with dosage) how beautiful a life with God was and what He had already done for me up to that point. But in the environment I was in, no one wanted to know anything about Him. It was tolerated that I had come to faith, but nothing more. For a long time, I held on and tried to show them the love of Jesus. I prayed and prayed for them, but I still saw nothing happen. Of course, nothing is impossible for God, but we still have our own will, and God does not touch our free will. Meanwhile, God changed me completely! Sometimes, when I look back at how I used to be in life and how I was, I can hardly believe that I was like that! People who don’t know me from that time cannot imagine that I really was that person when I tell them about it. A proverb here in the Netherlands says “having a short fuse,” which is meant by someone who “explodes with anger” at the slightest thing. Well, I can tell you, I had no fuse at all. It was an immediate explosion for me when something didn’t go the way I wanted. I could curse like a construction worker. I was not afraid to show people the “prettiest” finger on my hand if they bothered me on the road. And if someone was tailgating with me, that person would have a problem! I would stop the car in the middle of the road to walk up to that person and ask “kindly” what was wrong with them? Or all the times when the copier at work didn’t do what I wanted, then the whole office knew about it. No, I wasn’t an easy one. I wanted to have my way with everything, and I had certainly never heard of patience. In addition, I was as impulsive as I could be and did things first, then later thought about whether it was the right decision or not. Yes, I was a charm. Lol. Knock the dust off your feet God began to change me, to mold me, to shape me and everyone around me saw it happen. My children, my then-partner, friends, family and colleagues. People started to alienate me, and I was once even told, “I think you’re such a nice girl, and you’re so sociable and fun, but that (referring to my faith) is something I don’t like about you.” It didn’t even hurt me when the person said that to me; it just reminded me of what Jesus said in Luke 23:34: “They know not what they are doing.” It is ignorance that makes people, who do not know God, react this way. They no longer recognize you, and they lose a partner, a friend, a drinking and party buddy, or perhaps even a family member. God apparently changed me so much that people around me said, “You look the same on the outside, but you act different; you react differently. It’s like I have to get to know you again.” This, of course, was a great compliment for me, and confirmation that I was on the right track in my walk with God. But while I was finding myself more and more in Him, the people around me lost the person they thought they knew in me. But despite that, we must continue to hold on to God because, ultimately, He is the one who is most important and His will for our lives. He chose us and paid us with a price beyond price: His Son. The least we can do is live for Him. I continued to grow in my walk with God. I continued to pray for the people around me and even beg for God to change them. But instead of them repenting, they slowly disappeared from view. I have often thought about what Jesus says in Matthew 10:14. He wanted to help the people, but they did not want to listen. That is your sign to remove the dust from your feet and keep going. People have their own choice and their own will, and when they remain so stubborn, it can sometimes be a sign for us to knock the dust off our feet and get on with our lives. We can continue to pray for them, but our walk with God must continue. If I got Jesus While I was busy painting my nails nice and red again, listening to the lyrics of the song, I thought about the past years, how much has changed, and, above all, how many people from my old life have disappeared. There is honestly no one left from that time. I shed a tear for a moment, but soon I was filled with joy! Because even if I had lost everyone of that old life, I got Jesus! I got Jesus instead, and everything and everyone could be stolen from me, but Jesus will never leave me nor forsake

I can still remember so clearly when I was a young girl visiting my grandmother. I really had the sweetest grandmother. My grandfather was admitted to a nursing home at a fairly young age, where my grandmother visited him several times a day. My grandmother lived independently until her death and was a strong, little woman with a great sense of humor. Grandpa and grandma both loved the Lord very much. I went to grandma’s very often. I would help her with the garden and then get a cup of tea with a chocolate, and she would often give me a little pocket money. Or I went there to have a nice chat. Her Bible was always on the cupboard in the living room. Many times I would pick it up and leaf through it and try to read something. But I really didn’t understand any of the words I read. Grandma told me a lot about Jesus, I loved the stories, but I didn’t understand them. Grandpa and grandma have both been with the Lord for many years now and have not experienced how afterward both my mother (their daughter) and I came to faith and are now so full of God, but I do believe that it is partly thanks to their prayers (James 5:16). I am grateful to them for always including us in their prayers. One of the Bible texts that grandma loved was John 11: 25-26: “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Beautiful! In Him there is life, and we find everything we need. From unwanted by the world to be loved by Him, from sickness to healing, from sins to forgiveness and from brokenness to beauty in the ashes. We find everything in Jesus, and thanks to Him everything is made possible. He truly is enough. /*! elementor – v3.19.0 – 05-02-2024 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px} John 8:36 If you are set free through the Son of God, you will be free indeed While I was thinking back to grandma and therefore reading through the Bible book of John, I also read John 8:36. Again, such a powerful text. When you choose Jesus, He will set you free, and you will truly be free! What that means is often beyond my human brain. Foremost, He will set you free from all sin and shame. He takes all of that off your shoulders, and instead He gives you His righteousness! The pastor at my church once said in a Sunday service, “Jesus gives you His spotless white and sacred coat to wear, and you can give your dirty and broken coat to Him!” The gap between you and God will then disappear, and you can simply come into His presence! He no longer sees your sins and mistakes from your past, instead you have been given a whole new life in Him (Psalm 103:12, Corinthians 5:17). Wow!! The beauty of this is beyond description, but it doesn’t stop there, this is just the beginning! Jesus also takes over all the worries, bondage, brokenness and cares of this world and places you under the blessing of Abraham. Everything God promised him now also belongs to you (Galatians 3:13-14)! He sets us free from every sickness and disease (Isaiah 53:4-5). So every illness, including the common cold, He has already borne for you and you no longer have to bear it. We no longer have to suffer from the economic crises and poverty of this world. Everything is becoming more and more expensive, house prices are skyrocketing and people can hardly provide for their families. But as a child of God, you don’t have to be afraid of that either. For He cares for you (Matthew 6:26-27, Psalm 23:1-2). Jesus takes over the lies in our thinking, fears, doubts and worries. We may submit everything to Him and take His yoke upon us (Matthew 11:29). The world judges you on your appearance, your qualities or your shortcomings. But God doesn’t look at that at all. He looks at the new you that you are in Christ. And when He looks at you, He sees His Son! He gives us His joy and peace so that we can rejoice and remain at peace in every circumstance (John 14:27, Nehemiah 8:11).  The Holy Spirit our friend In addition to so many promises and blessings, He also gives us His Spirit (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit who will guide, teach, comfort and help us in everything throughout our lives. He is the friend who will always be with you. Don’t all these promises transcend your entire human thinking? But this is what it means to “be truly free” as John mentions in chapter 8 verse 36. With God, you will rise above the cares and brokenness of the world. Float like an eagle I once read a beautiful comparison with the eagle. When a storm arises, the eagle uses the wind of the storm to soar above the clouds. There, where it is calm and quiet, he will float and rest his wings. This is how life is when you choose Jesus. On His wings, His blessings and promises, may you rise above the storm in every circumstance. Flying to calmer heights! Do you also want to get to know Jesus and invite Him into your life? Open your heart, and say this to Him: /*! elementor – v3.19.0 – 05-02-2024 */ .elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=”.svg”]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block} “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Come into my life. I acknowledge You as the Son of God, and I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and that You rose again on the third day. Forgive me for my sins, I want to know You as Lord of my life and Savior of my soul. Thank you, Jesus!”. If you