Matthew 5:8

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

Today is a slow, blustery, cloudy, soon to tornado kind of day. I would much rather be enjoying God's creation in the beautiful sun.. Oh, well, you have to sometimes have rain to make sunshine.

Last night, I decided to (finally!) stick to doing a devotion once a day - a goal I set for myself. I've justified new years day for this goal, but why not Mother's Day? I was reading about Ester and how God was still there in the midst of tragedy and when life couldn't become worse; it is by faith that we seek Him. God didn't just zap us with whatever characteristic or spiritual gift He wants, he gives us circumstances to exert and be challenged by them. I don't regret the mistakes I made in the past, because through those mistakes I was able to gain so much more. I was able to learn invaluable lessons and become closer to Jesus and grow stronger in Him. I was thinking about how my life would have been if I didn't have the circumstances or the people in my life that I have been blessed in the past and currently. I'm not so sure I would have the same spiritual mindset as I do have now, nor do I believe that I would still be hungry to read His word and learn from His word.

Last Saturday night, I went to church with my mom and Craig's wife Amy had the opportunity to preach on purity. It was simply life changing. Looking back on my life, I feel like I was completely covered in filth, and to this day, I am still working on keeping my body and spirit clean. Temptation is a very difficult issue for me, and I am constantly struggling, but I am thankful for this opportunity. And I honestly think that Satan is trying to get me back to where I was, because if I wasn't concerned about being pure in Christ, then why would Satan be constantly bugging me? But then again, I'm thankful that I am able to overcome his temptations. What's the point of calling yourself a Christian if your life does not reflect it? To me, that's being a hypocrite christian, which is something I never want to be associated with.

I want people to look at me and say that there's something different about me, something that they want, and that's the love of Christ exalted. I want to leave a legacy. How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things? I want to leave an offering - a child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically; and leave that kind of legacy.

xoxo.
Kelsea Lauren