I believe it's really important to share with everyone about Jesus and who he is to me and what he means to me. This world we live in today is so scary. People are mean. People are angry. People are vengeful. But the scariest thing to me is that people are completely out of control and out of touch with reality.
I used to be out of control. Even being a believer of God my whole life, there were times in my life when I was VERY worldly and I truly believed that I was saved because I believed in Jesus Christ. I believed that he did die on the cross for my sins. I had been baptized when I was a little girl and so I truly believed that no matter how I lived my life, I would go to heaven because I believed those things. I always caught myself saying to myself and to others, "I'm a good person and I believe in Jesus so I know when I die I will go to heaven." This is a total lie from the enemy. Being a good person and being saved is an amazing thing don't get me wrong, but you can't live two lives because one of them is a lie. And in my opinion, the one that's probably a lie is the one where you claim to be a Christian but live your whole life in a worldly way.
Am I claiming to be perfect? Absolutely not. All of us sin. But, If you see me in person, that's exactly who I am also in private. I don't pretend to be a Christian when people are around and act a total different way when I'm alone.
When I got baptized on July 20, 2025 it was the greatest day for me. Not only was I celebrating my 1 year of sobriety, but my WHOLE family and best friends came to be a part of my amazing day. That's how much my family and friends love and support me. What a feeling of Joy!
On that day, I got to not only share it with everyone I love, but something inside of me changed that day. I believe with all my heart and soul that on that day not only did I give my whole heart and life to Jesus, but all of those nasty sins and all of that nasty addiction from my past was completely washed away in that water. I actually wanted to tell my pastor that I was glad he replaced the water after my baptism because I left some nasty sewage behind I'd been carrying on for years in that water. I don't want anyone touching that sewer water! HAHAHA. "Seriously Though".
Anyway though, I really want everyone to know this. Something truly changed me that day. Yes I was a Christian before my baptism, but when I came up out of that water I felt a change. If you truly want to be baptized for Jesus and for all the right reasons, it WILL change you. Don't do it for show. Don't do it because you want all your friends and family to see you perform. Do it for Jesus. Do it for YOU. If you do it for any other reason, you're wasting not only God's time but everyone's. If you do it all for the right reason's, then you will feel a change in yourself.
Some people liked me better before my re-dedication. This is true. Do I care? NO. I live for Jesus. My goal in life is to not have people say, "She's a really good person." I want my friends and family to say, "She was a true Christian." I want people who don't know me to say, "I can tell that she's a Christian." Being a good person won't get you through that narrow door. This feeling is so deep in my heart and I cry about it just thinking and praying about it. The road to destruction is wide and broad. It clearly states that in Matthew. He says that MANY enter through it. If that doesn't scare you, then you just don't care anyway and I will keep praying.
I get off track because my brain goes in 100 directions lol. But as I was saying, many people don't care to be around me once I got baptized. Do you want to know why? Well I'm going to tell you why. LOL.. If you claim to be a Christian and we are together and you talk bad about someone, or judge someone, or use horrible language, I'm going to say something to you. It makes people mad. People really get offended when I say something to them. Well, here's the thing. If you don't want me to speak up for Jesus because you're obviously not going to stand up for Jesus then I'm going to tell you about it. Stop pretending to be a Christian unless people are watching and change your ways. It's that simple. I also want to say that I'm not talking about anyone IN particular. I'm talking about anyone who is around me that claims to be Jesus's best friend. lol
Don't gossip to me. I will walk away. Don't use the Lord's name in vein. I will say something. Don't use nasty language. I will say something. Don't judge someone else around me. I will say something. It's time to start praying for or church! And no I'm not talking about the building. We, the people are the church and everyone needs to start praying and not acting like Christians, but LIVING like Christians. It just makes me angry. Stop worrying about so and so you know who used to go to church, but now they don't go to church. Is their life hurting you? No it's not. Pray for them in private. Stop worrying about so and so who does this and that. Are you going to sleep better at night by talking horrible about them? No, you won't. Pray for them in private. We have to pray to be better Christians. All of us.
Often, you will hear someone say, "Well I'm trying to be a better Christian." NO YOU'RE NOT actually. Your brain knows what it's going to say before it comes out of your mouth. Change it. Only you know what you're thinking. Change your thoughts. If you're thinking or using the Lord's name in vein, just don't say the words. Stop yourself before you talk about someone else. Only YOU choose to say and think nasty things.
You know, If someone I care about really hurts me or treats me wrong, I will talk to my husband about it. He's my comfort and my shoulder in those times. But when you talk to your partner about what is bothering you, be careful of your words. You can vent without calling people names. We are human, not robots, so it's so easy to sin even when we are venting to someone else. But what we speak out will come back. And the most important thing is don't forget that you can talk to God too! Don't just vent to your spouse or your friend or family, talk to God about it too. He is listening.
Be someone that is a light to others.
This is who Jesus is to me.
Jesus is my LORD. Jesus is my protector. Jesus is my light in the dark. Jesus is my courage. Jesus is my strength. Jesus is the love I can show others. Jesus is forgiveness. Jesus is everything to me. Jesus is patience. Jesus is the calm in the storm. Jesus is peace. Jesus is my LIFE. I love you Jesus.
Thank you heavenly father for forgiving me of all my sins and showing me how much my heart could change. Thank you dear God for loving a sinner like me.
Thank you for reading my first blog for the month of September.
xoxoxo, Michelle Neal