Tonight as I was making my usual rounds, going to pick up kids for church, I realized that my old church building had been knocked down. This really set off some emotions in me. Even though I have been gone from that church for two years, it brought up some very real hurt from the past.

I continued on with my duties, picked up all the kids and went to church. It just so happens that the message tonight was on "hurt". What a topic to speak on, right? I sat in the back, alone and with tears streaming down my face. I asked God to do something big for me tonight. I needed to see him move. I was tired of hurting.

Well, I left that service still feeling a little down, but I promised to take the kids out to eat afterwards, so we all went to Chick-Fil-A, on me. On the way home from the restaurant, instead of listening to music, we played a little "ice breaker" type game. Each person got to choose anyone they wanted and then ask that person any question of their choice. It was a getting-to-know-you thing.

As the game progressed, one of the kids was asked what one person had had the most influence on her life. Her answer went like this, "Well I used to be a very different person, and it wasn't good. I would have to say that the person who has helped me change the most is Julie. She is always there to take me to church and stuff, and I have changed a lot because of that."

Oh my goodness. After all the pain and hurt and struggling and fighting to make things right after being done VERY wrong at my last church, I felt like it was all worth it. Every minute of my pain is worth that one sentence. Every single kid who I have seen struggle, and struggled with to fight through life's tough times was all validated in that one sentence.

In a instant, God took my mourning and hurt and turned my tears into tears of joy.

I am so blessed to be living the life that God has called me to. A few weeks ago, I made a promise to God that in 2011 I would give it all up and live my life completely in the calling He has given me. I promised Him that I would live the dreams He created in me. I feel like after tonight he said, "Scratch 2011, lets start right now."

Today in a post on Facebook I made the statement that I was the most unlucky person ever because my brother got to meet my favorite baseball player ever. I want to retract that and replace it with this: I am the luckiest person alive. I am only 25 years old and I am seeing my dreams come to pass left and right. I am so honored to live my life for God. I always knew that I would serve Him in a special way.

I remember one time, when I was about 10 or 11, I was standing outside the front of my church, looking towards Downtown Fort Worth. I pointed at the city and spoke to the people I could not see. I told them that if I had my way, they would all be coming to God soon, and they would know His true love. I told them that they could run but they couldn't hide and that I would find a way to touch their lives for God. I stopped talking when I got caught by one of the adults in the church, and embarrassed I walked away.

Today, I feel like that dream of touching people for Him has become a reality in my life. I really am so blessed to serve Him. There are no words to describe what tonight has meant to me. Thank you Jonathan for an outstanding message, thank you Pastor Brian Jacobs for giving me a new family at MFC, and thanks to the kids who put up with me week after week, even if I am hard on them from time to time. Thank you God for touching my life in the way You have. I pray that I will be open to be used by You every single day. All of You, none of me.

Thanks for reading!

Julie