Why I March

On Friday, I'm planning to go into Washington, DC for the March for Life 2019.

I'm marching because I regret my abortions.

The first when I was just 17 years old, alone, afraid and ashamed.

The second when I was 22 years old, selfish, prideful and stubborn.

My story is an ugly, complicated mess.

I'm not proud of who I was, where I've been, or what I did.

But I'm here today ONLY because of the absolute undeserved and unmerited grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

He alone turned my mess into a masterpiece of redemption.

Ephesians 2:10 says "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

I regret my abortions, but I don't regret the road that Jesus allowed me to travel afterwards.

A road that led me to his grace and love.

Because of Jesus, I am made new.

Because he's forgiven me, he no longer sees who I was and what I did - he only sees me through eyes of love.

Some of you may wonder why I am so open about the truly horrific choices I made all those years ago.
The answer is simple: It freed me.

For years I'd walked around in fear - fear that someone, anyone would discover my secrets.

And that when they did, I knew I'd be rejected.

I was such a good, fake Christian.

I was at church 3 times a week.

I sang in the choir.

I even worked in the church office.

But one night, the truth caught up to me when God whispered in my ear - 'Stop running. Stop hiding. Come to me. All will be well, just give it all to me.'

It was a voice I couldn't ignore any longer and when I asked him to forgive me and change me and free me -
he did.

In an instant.

I was breathing in the clean, fresh air of grace for the first time ever, and I knew I was different.

Changed.

Forgiven.

Free.

When you've been so radically forgiven by the God of the universe, you can't help but tell others about it.

And through the years of sharing my story, I've discovered something -

there are so many more of you out there - Just. Like. Me.

You've come to me with whispered thank you's, saying 'Me too.'

You've asked me to pray for you - for courage to come out into the light of freedom.

You've sent me cards and letters, sharing your story, baring your soul to me - because you know that I'll never reject you or condemn you.

We are kindred, you and I.

And I'm here to tell you that you, sweet sister, are not alone in your fear and shame.

You are not alone in your story, in your past or your present.

The enemy wants you to believe you're alone because he knows that when you come into the light of forgiveness and truth - you are freed from his lies that isolate you and hold you captive.

Romans 8:1 says this, "So now there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has FREED you from the power of sin that leads to death."

Trusting Jesus can break every chain that holds you down and can allow you to live in freedom from your past. Sweet friend, I regret my abortions and there will always be a hurt place in my heart for those innocent lives I so callously disregarded. But the enemy cannot use those choices as a weapon against me anymore because of Jesus. Jesus has taken my broken mess of a life and is using my story to help others just like me - just like you - to find freedom and forgiveness at his feet.

Romans 8:28 says this, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose."

God has an amazing purpose and plan for you - believe it.

I never thought he could use someone like me - the worst of the worst. A nothing. A cold-hearted, selfish nobody. If Jesus could change me, could give me a life of light and freedom and forgiveness, then he most assuredly can change you too and give you the same and more.

Romans 5:1-2 says this, "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of UNDESERVED PRIVILEGE where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory."

We can never deserve the privilege of Jesus' love for us, but we have it if we want it.

I'll be praying for you.

For courage, for peace, for freedom.

And I'll be marching on Friday for those who cannot.

#WhyIMarch

Tomorrow will be a first for me. 
I'll be attending the March for Life in Washington, DC. 

In my entire life, I have never attended any political rally, speech, march, demonstration, protest, sit-in, sing-in or love-in. Maybe I'd have gone if it were an 'eat chocolate, drink coffee and talk about it-in', but I'm not sure that's a thing. 

In any event, I've always been the armchair commentator. 
You know, the one to talks back to the tv news or scrunches up their face at the newspaper article? Yeah, that's been me - knowing what I think and believe, but never daring to step out and speak up or be seen, with the exception of what I write and share on social media. 
It's really easy to hide behind a computer screen - we see a lot of that every day, don't we? 
Some may say that because I write about my pro-life views, because I post, tweet and share my support for all life from conception to grave that I'm not hiding. 
But in my heart, I know it's exactly what I've been doing. 

And it stops tomorrow. 

Truthfully, I suppose that when tomorrow is done, I still won't have attended a political function. 
To me, the March For Life represents at it's core, a HEART issue, not a political one. 
It's a march for the hearts of our nation. 

The March For Life is necessary because collectively and individually, our hearts have turned to stone. 
We have become consumed by our selfishness and pride as we say "ME first!" "MY choice!" "MY life!"
We refuse to recognize that the LIFE we are foolishly idolizing is a gift to us. 
We are not guaranteed our next breath, yet we demand to inhale and exhale by standards we've chosen. 
We forget that our lives have a purpose and meaning beyond our own selfish desires. 
And in doing so, we ignore the truth that our calling is to love.
To Love God and love people.
And because we ignore our calling, the only life we value is our own.

In our society, many would consider my views to be radical. 
And I will agree in part because of this fact: 
18 years ago, my heart was radically changed by Jesus Christ. 
Jesus, the life-giver, turned my heart of stone into a heart of flesh and gave me back my life from the pit I had drug it into. 
A life that I now willingly choose to live for him. 

Doesn't it strike you as odd that living life as a Christ-follower is considered RADICAL? 
Having a belief that all LIFE is sacred is RADICAL?
I confess, I can't fully comprehend that thinking. 
Not anymore anyway. 

Many of you have read my story, you know about the abortion choices I made a lifetime ago, and I pray every day that you now see Christ in me instead of the broken and lost soul I was before. 
I'm here to tell you that if Jesus chose to love ME, chose to die for ME, chose to rescue ME - with my past and my foolish, selfish choices and my shame, then he surely wants to do the same for you. 
To change your heart and allow it to beat again. 

In October of 2016, I was given the privilege of sharing my story with my church family. 
I've attached the recording for you here:

http://impactchurchnova.com/?sermons=threads-the-gospel-and-abortion

Listen to it and see the reality of how God can work miracles in even the hardest and most broken hearts. 
Share it with someone who may need to hear it. I have no secrets anymore - there is great freedom in that. We all know someone who needs to be free today. Let what God did in my life speak truth into theirs - and yours. 

Abortion is wrong. It is a great evil lie that we as a society have chosen to believe is a right. 
It's the defining tragedy of our time. 
But the greatest tragedy of all are the hearts who choose to refuse the truth of the God who created them. Who refuse to embrace the love and forgiveness he so freely offers. Who choose their heart of stone instead of the heart that beats full from the life-giver, Jesus.

This is #WhyIMarch tomorrow - praying that you will exchange your hearts of stone for ones that beat for LIFE. 

If you are in the Washington, DC area tomorrow and would like to join the March For Life, here is a link to their website for all the official information. 

http://marchforlife.org/

It was just announced this morning that our new Vice-President, Mike Pence, will be addressing the marchers - the first time ever for our nation. 

Come out and join me, join us. If you cannot, then pray. Pray that God will heal our hearts and that he will heal our land.