I'm forgiven because You were forsaken
Almost exactly a month after I turned 16 in the April of 2014 I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and King, and I confessed my understanding that I could add nothing to my own salvation except for the sin I carried in my flesh. For the first time in my life I really thought about what Christ bore on the cross. More than the tempestuous pain and suffering; He bore the wrath of God poured out upon His head in my place. He cried out "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
I'm accepted, You were condemned
I have a family and church family that loved me through the hardest year of my life when I was struggling with rebellion and an identity crisis, and yet Christ was hung on a tree by some of the very men that He was dying to save. That thought alone is humbling to me.
I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again
Christ proved His faithfulness to me nearly two thousand years ago when He rose from the grave, just as He promised He would. On that day that I gave my life to Him I thought back on His death and resurrection and knew then what the victory of the grave was that Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 15:55. Christ gives the victory.
Amazing love, how can it be?
That You, my King would die for me?
Am I worth it, I asked myself that day. Yes, I am. Christ's blood is covering me, and by His grace, the Father sees His righteous Son when He looks at me. This indescribable love the Lord has for me was made real to me on that hot day in May.
Amazing love, I know its true
All of the doubts I ever had in my mind were washed away, and I felt the embrace of Christ's love surrounding me. I cried for pure joy, and texted my mom to tell her that I was changed. Changed. I could hardly believe it. And I was happy again. I wanted to give my life back to Christ, to serve Him in return for all He had done for me. But I wasn't sure just where to start.
It's my joy to honor You
In all I do, I honor You
It wasn't but a week or two after that I started to write. I felt like it was a gift I had that I could use to honor God. And then towards the end of June my mom found ApricotPie, and I was overjoyed to have an outlet where I could share my art with others. Through my writing I learned other ways to honor God, and I truly do try to give Him the glory every chance I get. I am humbled by His grace in my life, and it is my prayer that my life would be a reflection of His love so that others may share in my joy.

Part Three: Hold You Up