Summer Photo Series: Love and Joy in People- Marissa

This summer I wanted to do a photo series on people who I know and also don’t know very well. I didn’t just want to post photos anymore. I want people to get to know the people behind the pictures. So, I asked some people some questions to answer before I took their photo:

1. Where are you from?
2. How/when did you accept Christ as your Savior?
3. Do you have a place that you go to or have gone to be with the Lord? (quiet time)
4. What person from the Bible are you most like?
5. Where has God changed you in your life so far this year?

Here are Marissa’s answers. Enjoy.

Love and Joy Always.

Christina

1. I was born and raised right here in Howard County. I’ve lived in Columbia, Clarksville, and Ellicott city over the past 25 years. I spent one year living in the heart of downtown Baltimore, but I am definitely not a city person. Give me open roads and miles of fields any day!

2.

I’ve been through a lot of personal and family struggles in my life, and honestly, I did not allow God into it for quite some time. About a year and a half ago, I was really at rock bottom mentally and facing some serious mistakes I had made in my life. I decided it was time to change and so I replaced my weekend outings with going to SISU (Oak Ridge’s College/Young Adult Group) and church. The first night I went to SISU, I sat alone on the floor and cried my eyes out. I had carried so much pain in my heart and had been trying to cover it up. At that moment I knew that God was calling me to come home, and I welcomed Him with open arms. Recently, I gave my testimony and that was one of the most emotional nights of my life. It was also one of the most exhilarating and amazing nights I’ve ever had and I can’t thank my friends enough who were there to cry with me and just feel the love we shared that night as a body.

3.  This is something I’ve really struggled with, personally. I’m so all over the place in my head that I often avoid that true quiet time. I really want to make it a priority in my life, but I’m pretty stubborn so it will probably take some time. I have been working on reading a Proverb each day along with a chapter in John. I’ve really enjoyed delving deeper into the word; it’s been very eye-opening.

4.  It’s ironic that you ask this question because I read a lot of Buzzfeed articles and I love their quizzes. So I had taken the quiz where you figure out which biblical heroine you are, and I was Esther. When I read the description they give you at the end, it definitely felt like me. It said that behind my “pretty face” (quotes because that sounds conceded) is a ferociously intelligent woman who stands up for justice; that I may not want the spotlight but I will fight for what is right, and that someday I may change the world. Maybe someday I will impact at least one person, but I will always fight for what I believe is true, whether it’s accepted or not. God knows who I am inside, and it is definitely an Esther in my book.

5. So far, it’s been a tough year. I’ve made quite a few mistakes, some very devastating, but the difference now is that I understand that God had already forgiven me before I even knew I was going to mess up. He knows that I will keep making mistakes (again, stubborn), and yet He will still love me every step of the way. It’s hard to grasp just how amazing that kind of love is, that agape love. I have become more open over this past year about struggles in my life, and it is so much more relieving than when I was “trying” to keep it together by myself. I feel so blessed that God has given me such an amazing family and extended SISU family – I don’t know what I would do without any of them. God has truly been good to me. That is why I have my favorite Psalm inked on my ribs, to remember each day’s purpose: Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. So here’s to the next lesson in life, may it make me more the wiser!

Summer Photo Series: Love and Joy in People- Lesley

This summer I wanted to do a photo series on people who I know and also don’t know very well. I didn’t just want to post photos anymore. I want people to get to know the people behind the pictures. So, I asked some people some questions to answer before I took their photo:

1. Where are you from?
2. How/when did you accept Christ as your Savior?
3. Do you have a place that you go to or have gone to be with the Lord? (quiet time)
4. What person from the Bible are you most like?
5. Where has God changed you in your life so far this year?

Here are Lesley’s answers. Enjoy.

Love and Joy Always.

Christina

1. I was born in Washington, DC but raised in Frederick, MD.

2. I have been going to church since I was 11 and accepted that Christ died for me when I was 13 and I was baptized then. However, it wasn’t until 8 months ago that I truly gave my life to Christ and was re-baptized. So, in a short answer I would say 8 months ago because that’s when I truly understood what Christ did for me and I could call Him my Savior.

3. I absolutely love nature. So I would say anywhere secluded—I really enjoy the mountains/forests, or by the ocean. Anywhere where I can soak in the magnificence of His creations. Gardens are awesome too.

4. That’s a tough question.. Hmm, I would say Paul only because he believed he was the worst sinner, but God was still able to use him in a tremendous way. I, much like him, tried to understand how God could use me. I felt unworthy of such a high calling because of the stuff I had been through in my past. However, because of the same mercy that was shown to Paul, I am able to confidently say that He has redeemed me and calls me His child. I am so excited to see the things that God will do for His Kingdom through my life—the possibilities are limitless with Him.

     1 Timothy 1:15,16- This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

5. So far this year God has been doing some WORK in my life lol. How? Showing me certain parts of my heart that are ugly and that needed to be purged. Learning to love others even when it’s difficult to. Humbling me more. Understanding His heart for His people. Freeing me from past and present things that continued to me down. The tearing down of the little box I subconsciously was putting Him in. Running to Him instead of others when going through a trial. PRAY PRAY PRAY!! But I think the biggest thing that I have learned this year is more of His love. How He saw me always, and will continue to see me with eyes of perfect love even through my short comings. How He is always quick to see the best in me, and how His love forever endures, without weakening. THAT has been the most life-changing revelation of all! I have tasted and seen, and I don’t ever want to go back.