It’s Personal – Introduction

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;  and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:34-39

Powerful words from Jesus.

If you choose to follow Christ, your life will be changed. Your enemies may become those of your own household, and you must lose your life to find it. You will be mocked, scoffed at, rejected, and persecuted.

I’ve never liked conflict, and have in fact done my best to avoid it.

And it has cost me dearly.

I’ve lived my entire life making sure everyone around me is “ok.” I’ve often heard, “Hoove’s in touch with his feminine side,” because I’m overly sensitive to everyone in the room. It wasn’t until I was 58 years old I came to understand why. I will have more to share on this later, but what I believed to be “that’s just how God made me,” was actually “that’s actually what childhood trauma can do.”

Over the last few months my life has radically changed. While that sounds like hyperbole, I can assure you it’s not. So much of what hindered me from moving forward, the weight that I carried for so long, has been lifted and it’s time to finish the race.

I know the race, I’ve known it since 1982, but opted out for over 30+ years. If I were God, I would have given up on me.

But He never does.

It’s time to finish what He started, unencumbered and without the fear of man, fear of conflict, fear of rejection, or persecution.

Not everyone is going to like what I have to say, and it will in fact, create division.

But it will be a blessing, and the reward will be great.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12 (NKJV)