Now the real question is, why am I serving? Not all young women are asked to go, so why me? Allow me to answer.
We have a loving Father in Heaven. He is our God, our Almighty, but most importantly He is that loving Father. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for all of us and take upon himself the sins of the world. This was so we could repent and make it back to our Father. Wow. Just thinking about that even more gives me goosebumps! He DIED for us. Suffering not only the pains in Gethsemane but the excruciating pain of being nailed to the cross. A perfect man. Suffered for an imperfect girl like me. For all of us.
And for the sole purpose that we could come back to our Father in Heaven. Why? Because He loves us so darn scootin' much! He has given us everything we own from our lives to our families to the food we eat and the clothes we wear. From waking up to falling asleep. Absolutely everything we are is because God loves us with such a deep and unconditional love. Isn't that beautiful? That no matter who you are or what you've done He loves you and wants you to come back to Him!
Doesn't that just make you wanna jump for joy and give Him a big hug!? I sure do. I love my Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ so much! I know you do too, or else you wouldn't be readin' this!
I want to share a personal experience of when I felt that pure love. Once upon a time I was a senior in high school. I played soccer since I was a wee girl and it was my senior season!! Time to rock it and give it all I had for that last time. I had dreamed about that season for years. Well, in the 3rd game of the season a girl and I were battling for the ball and long story short I was left behind in the grass with my knee cap on the back of my leg, dislocated and quite disgusting. So what does this stubborn, southern girl do? Pops in back into place, gets up, and goes and gets the ball back. Well after about 20 seconds of running and the adrenaline dying down, I realized I could no longer walk. I yelled to my coach and I hobbled off the field for what we be my last time. Turns out not only did I dislocate my knee but I blew out part of my femur bone. Hot dog that stinks. After praying and praying I asked God to heal me and let me get back in the game. Unfortunately the doctor said that was not gonna happen and my dreams were swept out from under my feet.
I remember coming home that night, mangled and broken, so discouraged and sad... I crutched on outside to my dock.. it was gorgeous outside. The stars were mesmerizing and the moon reflected off the pond adding a soft light to the world around me. I sat on the edge and dipped my feet in the water. Tears filled my eyes and I looked up to the heavens, crying out to my Father in Heaven. I was filled with so much sorrow.. so I prayed. I prayed that I could feel His love. I prayed that I could find the reason why this had to happen. I prayed to find a way to grow because of this and become a better person. At that moment the wind picked up and blanketed my body in the warm August air. Then I heard a voice say: You are my daughter, everything will be okay. My eyes shot open. I looked around to see who had said that! No one was there. I know that was my Father in Heaven. My heart filled with joy and peace. And I began to cry tears of joy, because I knew I wasn't going to go through this alone!! I felt that love flood my body and soul. And I channeled that love to my team, my second family. I can't tell you how close we all came together and I will forever be grateful for that experience.
I still am not healed from this injury. I still face a lot of problems with my knee. But my relationship with my Father grew ten fold. He gives of His love freely. He knows what we are experiencing, and He sent our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ to feel every pain and affliction so that He could hold our hand as we endure our own personal pains. But what is so beautiful, is we can forsake our sins and our afflictions. We can let Him take over! What a beautiful thing!!I am a 20 year old girl. I am majoring in Exercise and Wellness at BYU aiming to be a massage therapist/personal trainer. I have put all that on hold to go and serve God and His people in Arizona. I put a hold on dating and that education, lost a scholarship, and going this year and a half not seeing my family or friends. I am aware that I am sacrificing a bit, but in the eternal perspective, it's not a sacrifice- it's my pleasure.
There are people in this world who don't know of God's love for them. We are divine children. We are loved. We have a purpose on this earth! Each and everyone of us is here for a reason!! There is a GREAT plan of happiness to guide us back to Heavenly Father. THAT is why I am going. To tell everyone that they are LOVED. You are loved!! And Christ's church is restored on the earth today, giving us all the necessary tools and keys to return to our Father in Heaven. WOWZERS. What a grand life we live in!!
My dear friends. I know God loves us. He loves you. Everything about you. He made you and you are His. Jesus Christ is our older brother. He is by your side, wanting to guide you and help you along, if you would just come unto Him. This shindig I am going on is the greatest opportunity for me to go and serve and tell people this great message. I want to follow Him. I give my life to Him because He loves me and will not lead me astray.
I love my family. I love my trailer and my dog and my chickens. I love my pond and living in the south. I love my friends and my truck and cows and camp fires. I love my guitar and country music. But most of all, I love my Father in Heaven and my Savior Jesus Christ. God is so great! I can't do half as much as He has done for me, but I can give Him all I got in helping His children find their way back.
So ya with me? Let's do this. One week.
xoxo
Crystal Snow Flake
