From Rebel to Redeemed

Rebellious hearted, lying teenager… so self-centered, sex-addicted, foul-mouthed… pot-smoking party girl, dating only the bad boys… and determined to live life fully seeking every available pleasure… what a slave to sin and shame! You may ask… who am I describing?! I am describing Kathy Bailey – ME – before Christ! These last few months, I have begun to understand again so clearly, the anguish of my Mother’s heart all those years ago, as she watched me headed down destructive and heart-breaking paths and had to sit back and watch, knowing full well the heartache and pain that awaited me. I experienced this anguish first as a Mom 15 years ago with my daughter Heather. I praise God for delivering her life just as He delivered mine, although the consequences for both of us we still feel to this day! I am ever grateful for my family’s many prayers, that may have seemed unanswered at the time, yet I now know God was very much at work, even in the midst of much rebellion and disobedience. "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy." Titus 3:5 Today, I stand righteous before God, not because of anything I have done, but only because of His sacrifice for my sins on the cross. If you ever see any good in me, it is solely because of Christ in me, His daily sustaining grace, and His mercies new every morning! If only I had repented sooner… If only I had gained a heart of wisdom before making all those foolish, life-altering decisions… If only I had listened… Last week, my husband and I spoke on the phone with a convicted murderer. He is a born-again Christian now, and God has forgiven him… but every day of his life in prison is lived with much regret and sorrow. He said something that really stuck with me and I want to share it with you: “Before I was saved I was a mess, and yes my family tried to tell me the right thing to do, but I was stubborn, and looking back if I would have listened my life would have never ever taken the course that it did. God’s love showed me how lost I was and how badly sin was destroying my life, and until we realize the wrong course that we are on, and the consequences of our sin we will just continue to go down that wrong path. I’m praying hard for my children to get saved before sin destroys their lives too.” Many of you have shared with me your own rebellious path and how God intervened and saved your life. I invite you to comment and share your own story of hurt and hope. Maybe there’s someone reading this today that needs to hear that God loves them, just the way they are – but entirely too much to leave them there! My prayer today: Dear Heavenly Father, I want to thank You and praise You for the mercy and grace You've shown me. Empower me by Your Spirit, to show mercy and grace to others. I devote my life and all that I am to you today, Lord. I choose this day to serve You. I know if I want my prayers to be real and to be heard, I must obey You and pursue Your righteousness, not regarding any sin in my heart. Help me to be excellent about what is good and innocent of evil. By Your Grace alone, may my life continue to bring You all glory, honor and praise! In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!