My church (Newspring) has changed my life. I've spent the past hour and a half watching it online and crying off my makeup more quickly than I can put it on. Finally, Perry gave an altar call, which isn't really a Newspringy thing. Since I can't really walk to Anderson to participate in said call.
Next week is a big deal in the life of Newspring. Salvation Sunday is a day that we have been praying for for a long time. We're praying that 3,000 people accept Jesus into their lives next Sunday. My heart has been torn to pieces for certain people in my life. My struggle is that I try my darndest to be a good example so that people will know that I'm a Christian and that I love Jesus. But the truth is, I'm a wreck. I don't do anything that I *want* to do. Like Paul said in Romans 7:
In prayers amidst the tears one major thing came to me. God didn't send me to Africa. He didn't send me to Ukraine or any other part of the world like I had insisted on. He brought me to Clemson...a city that serves as a constant reminder of terrible decisions that I've made in the past. I am right where I am supposed to be. Who'd've thunk?14-16I can anticipate the response that is coming: "I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.
17-20But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
