WHAT DOES BEING A CHRISTIAN MEAN? Part 1

PLEASE JOIN IN ANSWERING THIS
Recently, I ventured out in blogosphere and met a blogger many of you already know, but I didn't know and I landed on her Part 1 and Part 2 of this very important question that had some very great responses in her comments. I responded in her comments and than decided that maybe I should have written a blog post 1st

WHAT DOES BEING A CHRISTIAN MEAN TO YOU?

The problem is after I read Part 2, from THE WAY WE ARE blog (don't you just love that 'ARE'... not like the song "The Way We Were" but 'ARE') Debbie's answer, I was sure that I could not even come close, to expressing as Debbie has the essence of what it means to be a Christian. And then, it dawned on me that it was so good, and mine shouldn't be like hers, because it was a personal reflection and testimony of Debbie and who she is. So mine, though different, will be unique because of who I am. Yet each of us will center and focus on who Jesus Christ is to us or what our walk as a Christian is or has been. Yes, it's our roots and our wings, where we testify to what we believe. 

You know (by now if you know me) that whatever I post, I usually have a song, well this is no exception...but it won't reveal my answer completely...

SUNDAY is a good day to reflect in the SON! 

[I DIVERT, Since I use to do SUPER SUNDAY here (that some called Simple Sunday) because the plan was to share a scripture, song or scene or any combination just keep it simple for Sunday, I wanted to choose this beautiful nature video of the song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Kd5ehaYE8Y that I have shared at least twice so I thought I had shared this one, but could not find it in my archives, so I opted for this one instead of the scenic (I will probably use that another Sunday so I didn't want to loose it):

So my first advice is to DO NOT go and read anyone else's until you've written your own. (OK maybe Part 1 of Debbie's but not the comments) promise..(oops too late for so of you avid clickers, you know I link often)

My second advice, is to get in your quiet place with Him, and really reflect on this. Allow yourself to remember who you were before and who you are now.

Then, begin to write from your heart, as Debbie has and you may find yourself not knowing where to stop. That's exactly how I felt when I worked on my attempt at a testimony ("This is my story" Part 1-7). But we need to do this.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." 1 Peter 3:15

I know that Debbie wanted to do a "linky" thing but did not know how, so I responded to that in a comment to encourage her to do one that I'd help. I hope that she is OK with me doing this, allowing you to think about this, write a post, then come back and link your blog. (We have different blogger friends so I hope it's OK) So the credit for this goes to Debbie from THE WAY WE ARE, although I noticed that other bloggers or websites have done this also.

PART 1.

I wanted to write mine here, but I will wait because I do not want to influence your response in any way. I strongly felt led to sharing this because it follows with the posts I started about two weeks ago and then continued it in general as a theme that week from a video I viewed of Christine Caine that stirred this. At the time I shared "Be in it but not of it..." I had technical difficulties and unable to write about what I was hearing during that time...

(as I think about these technical interruptions, though I hate to ever give him credit or acknowledge, perhaps it was the enemy wanting to stop or prevent this, though GOD is in charge of all, the enemy of our souls tends to try often to intercept as "... the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms"). So don't let him prevent you from anything that God stirs for you to write or share...

... I strongly sense this is the time and a perfect platform for us to SPEAK OUT on what being a Christian means to us. I remember hearing and I tried to view a tangle video of it again (but it didn't work) of President Obama answering this at Saddleback Church with Rick Warren. Surely we must have an answer. Here is a link to a current answer that Obama gave, written and video.

When I started to blog, not quite knowing what it is or where God would lead me with this, I REALLY thought that whatever I put on this blog will reflect my walk with Jesus Christ, what I believe and what being a Christian is all about and how it helps me to go through this journey of life with all my shortcomings

~ all my mazes, messes and HOPES for miracles made possible through putting my faith in Jesus Christ, His Word ~ the Bible and what His aMazing Grace does for me. In this past year, I have been 'weak' but I press on and I declared this year I would be MOVING FORWARD and I am trying. I might have failed to show the HOPE I have in Jesus Christ this past year, but before I reach my 1,000th post, I want to declare how being a CHRISTIAN makes a difference by starting out with this question:

WHAT DOES BEING A CHRISTIAN MEAN TO YOU?

For many of us, we instantly reply "EVERYTHING", but spell out what that is, be as specific and as clear as you can so that any reader may understand what you are saying, not just other believers. Because once we write these words, and click "PUBLISH" it is here for readers to read now and into the future (unless you delete it). Your words may have a profound impact on someone!  At least I pray that they do! I know reading Debbie's did for me. What makes this EVER SO SPECIAL is if you write this from your own heart not a church part 


I am leaving the LINKY TOOL open for one week to give you time. Try not to read others or even comments until you write your own. 


Please do this and share. Let me know in the comments if you are thinking about linking, OK?  BE SURE TO COME BACK THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK or NEXT SUNDAY TO READ WHAT OTHERS WROTE AFTER YOU LINK YOURS:


I'm linking Debbie's here (part 2) to get this started...

(she's welcome to use this linky also 'cuz she had a friend who wrote one that was fabulous as well but wrote she did not know how to do linky)


Part 1 (this is my part 1)
Part 2
Part 3