An Encountering

This is what I think. I think so many “Christians”, so many who claim the title but not the shame and suffering that comes with it, do so because they haven’t had something. They haven’t encountered Christ. They haven’t encountered His love. And I think without that, without encountering Christ and His unfathomable, unrelenting, awe-inspiring, head-tilting and jaw-dropping love, we are just swimming around in a pool without water, on the verge of drowning to death.

I know so, so many people who tell me they are Christians. And what they, and the rest of our society, (and at one point I) have done is watered down the name. The title of “Christian” is an all out honor. It is an HONOR to say that I follow Him.    
"How GREAT is the love the Father has LAVISHED on us, that we should be called children of God!" 1John 3:1


         But so many of us don’t get it!! We don’t GRASP what it is that the Gospel IS! It is a love story guys!! It’s the story of a man, who created children that turned around and spat on and denied Him. But He yearned to spend time with them so badly that He became one of them and let them KILL Him!!! JUST to be able to be with us guys!!! But we’re not getting it!! America isn’t getting it!! So these “Christians” walk around, and they tell people what (when it should be who) they are. They proclaim the self-righteous title of “Christian” so that others will think that they are a “good person”. They act like it’s cool, like it’s easy, like “God will never give you more than you can handle” and “It’s ok. God’s in control” and “Let me tell you other cliche loads of bologna that I don’t even understand so that IIII can make you feel better. By the way, did I mention I’m a Christian?” It’s not easy guys! Time and again we are promised trials and tribulations. We are not promised that He won’t “give us more than we can handle”. We are promised that when that comes, and it will, we will not be alone. If we can’t handle it, and there will be times when we can’t, then God, our Great Redeemer, our sweet and loving Father, our Alpha and Omega, our Good Shepard, then He will sweep us up in His never-weary arms and carry us the rest of the way. I want so badly for everyone to grasp this. To ENCOUNTER Him!!!! He is REAL guys!!!! God is REAL!!! Don’t water down His name. Don’t throw around the name of His followers as though it’s a merit-badge that will gain you credit just as long as you leave it at surface level. Allow Him to invade the darkest depths of your soul. He’s already there, but He actually wants your permission to explore, transform, mold, and love. And once you encounter Him. Once you allow and receive and invite Him in entirely, you will never, ever, be the same again. That’s one of my favorite of His promises.
I love you, but not near as much as God does.
Ariel