Yesterday I was thinking about the choices I made as a young Christian teen growing up in north Minneapolis. Worship became a regular diet for me and I learned a lot of Scripture from the songs I listened to back in the day. 

I remember my peers questioning my lifestyle of running to bible study, and not cussing or sleeping around with boys. It was almost as if they were shocked anyone would even want to live that way. I also remember having a secret life of sin that no one knew about. It would take years of drawing closer to God, admitting my faults and learning to battle against my flesh and the enemy before I would be free. But I did get free. 

I think about how I want to help people of all ages to make wise choices. I talk to children and teens about making choices. Our choices affect our lives in ways we do not fully understand. I thank God for the choices I made when I did not know any better. And I am thankful that God did not let me give up on myself when I made mistakes. I want to be there for young people and help disciple them. I want to be an encouragement to the Church to do the work of the ministry and prepare for the return of Jesus. 

My life verse is Jeremiah 29:13-14 which reads, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD. I think it is so important to cultivate an intimate relationship with the Lord. To know the Father and be known by Him is so crucial. To follow in the steps of Jesus and to walk in the Spirit and not obey the flesh are key to growth. God really does show up when we show up to meet with Him. He wants to meet with us more than we want to meet with Him. 

I have been stirred by a quote I heard recently. It goes like this, “If I do not feed you, I cannot lead you.” - Vlad Savchuk. Wow. With my recent health stuff, it has been very tempting to throw myself on the floor and kick and scream over my situation. But instead, Abba Father gently encourages me to get my eyes off of my situation and on to Him. He wants to hold me very close and in those moments, heal me, affirm me, direct me, correct me. From that place of security He then can lead me. Why? Because now I trust Him as my Good Shepherd. 

In every situation you or I face, Almighty God is saying, “Look at Me.” People around us may ask, “Does it really take all that?” or “Does your devotion need to be so extreme?” You can be encouraged to say yes because Jesus did so much more and demonstrated so much more devotion toward all of us. He is worthy. He does deserve all of our attention. 

"Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself." - Hebrews 3:3 NIV 

"I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."" - Revelation 5:4-5 NIV 

As you go about your day, remember there is One who has been found worthy. There is One who is coming back again. His name is Jesus. The temporal pleasures of this earth do not compare to the eternal glories of heaven and the burning fires of hell. We must choose now to walk with God. Not tomorrow, not next week…but this day. I want to be found watching and waiting for His return. I think you do too. Let’s encourage one another to stay on the narrow path and walk humbly with our God. 

Annette Bittner 

Executive Director 

The ARTS Life