This is cool, join me in this life-changing journey!
As I begin the 21-Day Challenge on YouVersion and read the book of Mark (or Marc en francais) in the Bible, I want to occasionally articulate what God is saying to me. I will share bits of the process and encourage you to check out the different Bible reading plans. Maybe one will work for you!
Looking funny
Acting strange
Eating weird stuff
John was clothed in camel’s hair.
He ate wild honey and bugs.
He spent time in the wilderness.
I wonder if he smelled funky too. John led a supernatural, “crunchy” natural life and encountered Jesus personally. In modern days, he could have his own reality show. I would have watched it, that’s for sure.
God uses unusual people for His purposes. He also uses regular people. Sinners, tax collectors, adulterers, murderers became some of the Lord’s redeemed children.
I’m somewhere wedged between the weird and the wild. Former feminist/abortion rights activist, blasphemer, scoffer, mocker aptly describe who I was before Christ came into my heart.
Sitting on a table in France. Just one of the many dumb things I did.
Everything changed in December 1997 when I invited, pleaded with Jesus to enter my sorry soul.
Somedays I
Look funny
Act strange
Eat weird stuff
My cursing days are gone and I have told thousands my story of victory and redemption. Still a HUGE work in progress, I am a new creation because of Christ!
Each day we are to answer questions after reading the assigned Scripture. After reading Mark (Marc) 1:1-8, here’s are my thoughts.
God would have me start doing – Be more attentive to His opinion of me rather than others’ assessments of who I am.
God wants me to stop – Squandering my time. I need to recognize how the Lord wants greater intimacy with me. He does not speak to me in a distant voice.
As I read the Bible in French (with my English Bible and my French dictionary close by), I notice how the Lord uses the familiar pronoun when speaking to his disciples. He “tutoies” his followers. It’s like when someone uses my favorite childhood nickname when speaking to me. I won’t tell you what this nickname is, you have to know me well enough and you probably don’t, no offense. Most people who use this nickname do not even know how much it blesses me.
Or like when my olive shoots though young men call me “Mommy” or “Mama” and not “Mom.” I feel that they REalLY like me, they know me. I let down my guard, my facade. It’s a sacred place even if we’re laughing and being silly. We have history and are connected. My heart is warm, I want to draw closer.
The Lord is tutoie-ing ME. I’m flattered, humbled, blessed.
What does God want me to continue doing? – Read the Bible in French and English. Note the subtle differences in words. Abide, rest, listen.
This is what I learned in just eight verses of God’s Word in one day. Merci bien Mon Seigneur! Je t’aime!
My Awesome Olive Shoots 
I am doing a Bible reading plan where I am rereading the Bible through in a year. I think it is a wonderful for you to encourage your readers to read His Word. It is clear God has made a drastic change in your life and He has done the same in mine. I didn’t come to know Him until I was 29 and He has slowly but surely helped me to become less like my old self and more like Him. May He continue to bless you as you follow Him.
I have done the Bible in a year plan also and it was incredible! Way to go for being so tenacious! I came to know the Lord when I was 35 years old though I called myself a Christian before that…I hadn’t given everything to Jesus! I look forward to reading more about your journey. We serve a mighty God! Blessings and thanks for stopping by!
Reblogged this on multicolouredsmartypants and commented:
Wow. I just asked God the same questions and I’m flipped upside down at His reply. Why do I always see myself as ‘could do better’ when God says ‘no, you’re doing great – just lean on me and in me and into me’. Thank you for this timely post myawesomeoliveshoots.com 🙂
Thanks Multicolouredsmartypants (I just had to write that!). You have blessed me today! Praise the Lord for the manifold ways He gets our attention! ❤
What an awesome testimony you are to a loving and caring God. God Bless you Little Miss!
Ok – I enjoyed seeing your picture of yourself you posted. Mine from the past would have shown me in a leather mini skirt and Megadeth t-shirt and boots. Wow. God has brought me so far. Out of an empty life into an amazing “what is going to happen next?” life. Of course I still need much refining. But thank God for the gift of his Holy Spirit.
LOVE the photo, you strongly resemble my friend and former roommate Janet!