2 Cor. 3:18 says “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Last November, Pastor Wayne talked about making a “leap of faith”. I got to thinking about how God has been my constant companion, and therefore there should be a lightness to my step that is observable to others. I recognized that this was not the case for me.

Ten years ago, through a medical error made by my doctor, I was told I would not live through the day. But God chose NOT to call me home on that early Friday morning. I endured over 21 surgeries in 21 months. Even though I had been a Christian since the age of 8, it was then that I truly gave Him MY LIFE.

Seven years ago my family lost everything we owned through a devastating fire. It was humbling to account for every single thing we owned and humiliating to an extent at the value the World and I placed on those “things”. It was through that circumstance that I gave Him MY LOVE… of things.

And it was just ten days ago that I embarked on a very long and carefully thought through decision in my life… emptying me of myself in order to be filled to the brim with Christ. It is through this journey that I plan to give Him MY ALL! It’s a journey that will require committing 365 days to anyone or anything but myself.

Likely to be the most difficult journey I have traveled before, I stand to not only lose the most, but gain the most as well. It will test me, tempt me, and more than likely, break me at times. And, hopefully, it will change me forever. I hope to listen more, love more and surrender more. I call my journey “Radically Emptied” because for me it is a radical attempt to empty me of myself so that I can be filled with more of Christ.

I have learned over the past few years that God wants ALL of me. Everything. The more I fill my life with ME, the less room there is for Christ. After all, there is only so much room.  I plan to empty the pride of Ami and fill it with the humility of Christ.

Empty the anxiousness and fill it with God’s peace. Grudges will be replaced with forgiveness. Authority will be emptied, replaced by submission. And a critical spirit will be emptied in full… filled to the brim with the love of Christ. Each day I will awake and just seek God and what He has for me that day. No plans, no holding back, no excuses, no questions, no exceptions, and I will be content in every circumstance knowing God will go with me.

In the past I have at times asked “what” do you have for me today, but this year I will begin each day with “who” do you have for me today Lord? The plan is simple. If I engage in a conversation, it will intentionally not be about myself. If I go before God in prayer, it will be for others first and then myself.  Time or money will be spent on others. I will strive to be in Gods Word every day. I will seek out and put into memory key passages of scripture that will become instrumental in my journey. I will find a small army of warriors that will commit to praying for me.

I will pray for God to entrust me with, and open doors of opportunity, in the areas of Church family, local, regional, national and global missions. My commitment is to serve on all 4 levels of missions during this year. So instead of resolutions this year, I am hoping to be transformed. Transformed to the likeness of Christ. I realize that this means I am going to have to stop doing “my own thing” if I am serious about submitting to the authority of God. My ultimate goal is to love as Christ loved. To look at everything through His eyes. What could possibly hold more value than the ability to love as Christ did. KCC has been very instrumental in propelling this leap of faith. Not the church directly, but solely through Christ at work in the hearts of people involved in this ministry. I pray that I will be such a light of change to others.

In light of my goals, I am powerless to change the state of my human condition. But I am empowered to call on Christ, who alone can change me, if I humbly surrender myself to HIS authority.