Through It All...

Tonight I have been playing catch up on the laundry, and thinking about my story. Later this month I will be sharing my story at the prison in St Joseph, Missouri. This visit is part of my work with the Power of Purity. With thoughts of my story flying through my head I am watching Sunday Best on BET. It's like American Idol for Gospel music. The theme tonight is a Tribute to Andrae Crouch. I have been blessed so very much by his music throughout the years. At one point the song "Through It All" was being performed. It brought tears to my eyes. The message is so very real to me. You see, I feel like being a Christian can seem so very negative to those who are not believers. Why wouldn't it... Christians often come off as self-righteous.; especially those in the U.S. church. They pick and choose sins to speak out about, and the ones to keep dirty little secrets of the church. The overweight pastor will speak about sexual sin, but never address gluttony. The pastor addicted to porn will not address it or share his story other men. He hides in his shame, and chooses to strike out at other sins. Now before everyone tells me that it is not every pastor and every believer… I get that. It is unfortunate that it is usually the most vocal ones. Why oh why would someone want to be a Christian? The answer for me... is the true message of the Gospel. Love thy neighbor as thyself, and do unto others as you would have them do unto you. You see I am a sinner, and that will not change this side of heaven. And it is not a surprise to God. I have sinned against others, and they against me. The abuse in my childhood was not sin for me, but I was affected by the sin of another. That impacted me in ways that I can never get back. I loved Tyler Perry’s statement on Oprah (I know, some of my Christian friends are cringing at the mention of their names.), it was something like… that man (that abused me) put something on me that was not mine to carry. For those of you who are sinless, you will not understand what it means to receive the amazing grace of God. I have decided that I will stop killing myself to be the perfect Christian. There is only on Christ, and while I joke about my perfection... I know it is not true. Through it all I have learned to trust in Jesus. I have learned to trust in God.


Through It All
Songwriters: BROWN, GARY VICTOR / HARVEY, STEVE

I've had many tears and sorrows
I've had questions for tomorrow
There've been times I didn't know right from wrong
But in every situation
God gave blessed consolation
That my trials only come to make me strong

I've been a lot of places
And I've seen so many faces
But there've been times I've felt so all alone
But in that lonely hour
In that precious, lonely hour
Jesus let me know I was His own

Through it all
Through it all
I've learned to trust in Jesus
I've learned to trust in God
Through it all
Through it all
I've learned to depend upon His Word

So I thank God for the mountains
And I thank Him for the valleys
I thank Him for the storms He's brought me through
Cause if I never had a problem
I wouldn't know that He could solve them
I wouldn't know what faith in His Word could do

Through it all
Through it all
I've learned to trust in Jesus
I've learned to trust in God
Through it all
Through it all

I've learned to depend upon His Word
Yes, I've learned to depend upon His Word
I've learned to depend upon His Word