Christina Lewis never had it easy. From an early age, she experienced heartbreak, abuse, loneliness and depression. She never met her biological father, and her stepfather was part of the abuse she suffered. When she was just 12 years old, she tried to commit suicide, thinking she had no one to turn to. Needing to feel love, she turned to dancing and stripping, which resulted in a violent rape, and even more heartache. Every relationship with men seemed to end in abuse and hurt. When Christina found God, through the ministry of Pastor Dollar, her life began to turn around. She married the man of her dreams and began to heal from her past. She also began working in the ministry, specifically working with women who had been involved in sex trafficking. Today Christina, her husband, and her children are a testament to what God can do, even in the worst of circumstances. [Video Below]
EXCHANGING OUR OLD LIVES FOR NEW ONES
by Taffi Dollar
If you’ve ever felt dissatisfied with the way your life is turning out, you’ve probably got lots of company. Many people may regret the way their past decisions have affected their current lives and wish they could change their circumstances, or even themselves. The good news is that change is possible. Accepting Jesus Christ and studying the Word of God transforms us in ways we could never imagine.
It doesn’t matter where we are in life right now, or even our marital status. We might think we’d automatically be happier if we had a spouse, but we don’t have to wait until we get married to exchange our old lives for new ones. Jesus empowers us to accept the great exchange He has for us when we make the decision to get born again. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). This new birth is literally a life-changing experience.
The kingdom of God isn’t just some “pie in the sky” idea that’s pleasant to contemplate but we can’t experience until we get to heaven. It can start right now, when we receive new lives in Christ. The Holy Spirit begins living inside us when we get born again, and He brings peace and joy into our lives, something that everyone craves but few know how to find. “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7, NLT). When we listen to the Spirit’s direction and guidance, He helps us make the right choices and avoid bad situations.
As we dig into God’s Word, our thinking will gradually change. Our mindset and attitudes govern our whole lives, but thinking the way the world thinks is like a ship sailing without a rudder. We have no clear direction, and we’re ruled by philosophies that constantly change. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). The more we study and absorb God’s Word, the more we begin to think the way He thinks.
All living things change as they grow, and we’re bound to undergo a transformation as we learn more and more about God’s character and nature. As He lovingly points out things about ourselves we need to adjust, tweak, or completely eliminate, we undergo a metamorphosis similar to what a caterpillar goes through when becoming a butterfly. The changes we embrace radically impact our daily lives for the better. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
Life is a gift from God, and He wants the best for us in every area. We can believe that He has good things in store for us. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT). We get a new lease on life when we accept what He offers us. Trusting God to change us guarantees beautiful results.
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