I am naturally a non-confrontational person. Because I like to please people, I don't like to bring up issues. That may seem weird to some people because I am pretty blunt sometimes but that process comes after a lot of prayer and alignment with Scripture. Either that or I mess up royally and I have an angry burst so then issues come out...eek. 

I think it's funny on God's part that I am a Christian because Christianity is probably one of if not THE most offensive religions on earth. Especially because I have been a part of higher education for the past five years, I am in a world where it is even more offensive to be a Christian because it "does not align with science."

This is an area that brings me much fear because I do not personally know all of the science behind everything to possibly debate with one who is steeped in scientific knowledge about how God exists, if He exists, or why He exists. I know that my arguments are usually unacceptable because mine are built off of the Bible, and I still need to grow in bridging science and faith. 

It's really hard to see on the internet all the different types of discussions (rather judgmental debates) because it creates a greater fear in me to share my faith because I am scared someone is going to angrily throw something in my face and make me cry haha. Unfortunately this may be largely due to the fact that this has happened to me, so I still fear that now. As much as I have peacefully shared my faith with people who have been receptive to at least hearing me without yelling at me--the fear is still there, and it holds me back from sharing.

However, Christians can have the faith and comfort in knowing that only through Jesus can there be true salvation. We must take an active role in sharing about Jesus' death to our family and friends and strangers we see because we do not know how God will use our words, but we can also not fear sharing our faith because we know that Jesus is the one who is alive and has a plan.
 
1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

Until next time,

Imagine making all A's in your class and becoming class president. Your teacher is so proud of you so she asks you to stand up in front of everyone so that all of your classmates can clap their hands for you. But then, the next week, your teacher refuses to let you even be a part of the class, makes you sit in the corner of the room on display and away from everyone else. Everyone who you thought was your friend all of a sudden makes jokes about you, calls you names, won't play with you at recess, or sit near you during lunch.

That is exactly what happened to Jesus years ago--but a little differently of course. This week is what many people consider Holy Week. It is the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Palm Sunday was the day when Jesus came into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, and everyone praised Him as their King. They used palms to fan in the air to show Him how much they were excited for Him to arrive! Within only ONE week, Jesus was nailed to the cross by the exact people who--a week earlier-- had been excited for Him to arrive. They called him names, refused to be near Him, and hated Him.

Did you know that Jesus knew all of that was going to happen? Did you know that He knew that everyone would first love Him and then hate Him?

He knew that He would be nailed to the cross and hated by so many people, and yet He CHOSE to continue with God's plan for Him to die on the cross. He did this because He loves us so much that He was willing to be hated by the world, to be separated from any source of love, goodness, or kindness--all for our sake. He knew that only a perfect human could be a sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the world, and so He knew He had to be hated and die on the cross to save the rest of us.

This Easter, don't forget that it's not about Easter bunnies, chocolate eggs, or Easter egg hunts. It's all about a God who came down to the world, to face all the struggles that we as humans now face, but that we no longer have to fear because He has bridged the gap for us to know God our Father. 


Until next time,