REDEEMED | RESTORED | REFINED

I have been avoiding this post for over a week now – knowing that the longer I put it off the longer I can pretend that the last 8 months hasn’t come to an end. But reality always hits – reminding me that I no longer live in Kabana 39 on a fake island in the middle of Branson, MO. 

So as I sit in this reality I am forced to process through the last 8 months worth of mountaintops and valleys – but I am also faced with the challenge of looking onward to the valleys and mountaintops to come. Transition is a hard season to sit in. The sadness of adventures coming to an end partnered with the beauty of new adventures ahead; leaves a sweet bitterness in my heart.  Transitions are much like Spring -- from death comes life.  Flowers bloom, but only through the dirt of life.

And lets all be honest with ourselves, life is real dirty.

A year ago I would have told you I was going to the Kanakuk Institute to solidify my biblical foundation and to learn how to defend my faith. Last Friday I walked away with a certificate saying that I could do just that. And I can. I have learned more these past 8 months than the 21 years before and I can answer questions I never thought I’d even understand myself. But walking away from the institute has been abundantly more than that!

And I would tell you today that the Kanakuk Institute has been a season of sitting in the dirt of life watching a faithful God create beautiful flowers out of dead sinners. 

God did immeasurably more than I thought possible in this season and I wish I could share every victory and hurt with yall, but there aren’t enough words to express everything He did this year. So instead, I will pass along three truths I am walking away with – in hopes that it will encourage you as they have brought life to my dry and weary soul.

Redeemed | Restored | Refined.

Redeemed to recover ownership of by paying a debt

to set free as from slavery by providing compensation

I am a wicked sinner whose sins deserved death, but God being merciful and good sent his Son, Jesus, to pay my debt instead. Through His death on cross and His resurrection I am set free from the slavery of sin and given eternal life.

I HAVE BEEN REDEEMED!

“But God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:22-23

Restored to bring back into existence | to reconstruct

Therefore I am no longer who I was before I knew Christ – for my old self has died with Christ. Instead, I have been made alive with Christ. I am a new creation.

I HAVE BEEN RESTORED!

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Refined to free from impurities | to remove by purifying

Now that I have been saved and healed – a new creation – the Lord works in me to cleanse me and purify my faith. So that as I journey through life I am constantly being reminded of the goodness of my God and get to point others to His glory.

I AM BEING REFINED!

“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves to sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:17-18

“In this your rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:6-7

Jesus saved me | Jesus healed me | Jesus is continuing to cleanse me

These three simple truths have brought me to my knees countless times this past year. Reminding me that I am a chosen daughter of the Lord, and nothing can change that!

These 8 months I have been confronted by many different battles, but in the end Jesus has already won the war. His name alone is powerful.  So sitting in the reality that the Institute has come to an end is a moment for me to pause and see how God has been so faithful to me! How he has brought me to my knees so I could see how big the cross is – how he has reminded me of how lost I am without Him – how He continues to show me how good He is even in a world so broken – and ultimately He has reminded me that the gospel is for everyone and changed everything!

so from here – we simply go

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20