Good Friday Testimony

Today I got the blessing and opportunity to share my story at our new church. Click here>  The lifestream of tonight's service to watch, I speak at the 45-minute mark.  You can also just read it below.

          "Jesus wrecked my life, shattered it to pieces, and put it back together more beautifully.”  Katie Davis writes in her book Kisses from Katie.  Multiple times my life has been shattered, and God has built me into who I am today through those moments.  But my life moto has always been “If God brings you to it, He can bring you through it.”     

I have two older sisters and I have always been very close with both of them.  My eldest sister Stephanie, a school teacher lived closes to us and spent most weekends with us, she played a major role in my life.  I looked up to her, she was my older sister after all.  In the summer of 2011, Stephanie, called us while we were driving home from a family vacation (that she was supposed to go on).  Telling us that she got married while we were gone and moved to Kentucky, with her husband that we barely knew.  Our relationship was shattered; we were cut out of her life for 2 years.  I cried every time I would say goodbye to my older sisters in fear that hello wouldn’t come again.  You can imagine the tears that flew down my face when my biggest fear had just become a reality, my relationship with my sister and role model was destroyed.  Why would God let my sister abandon her family?  On top of that our family moved for the first time in my life and I transitioned from public school to homeschool losing my best friend.  My life was broken.  A life changing summer, that would set a foundation for the rest of my life’s changing moments.  The following months were a huge challenge, full of frustrated prayers, confused questions, and long letters of irritation.  Slowly the frustration was calmed by understanding, that God was working through the situation.  He built me back together, more beautifully, and the good news is that He continues to build and use me.  There wasn’t one moment that told me it was all better, or going to be okay.  It is the knowledge that I no longer needed to rely on individuals (family or friends) to provide me with strength.  The understanding that Jesus loves me with such great love that he desires to mold my heart, that my imperfectness can be made perfect through Him.  He states it flawlessly with such hope in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”      

Who am I?  I am Elizabeth Carroll a daughter, sister, student, volunteer, friend, follower of Jesus, and all together ordinary.  Paul Tripp a writer and pastor illustrates being ordinary in this way.  “Embedded in the larger story of redemption is a principle we must not miss: God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in the lives of others.”  There are extraordinary things that God can do with ordinary people.  Take Moses who was a shepherd in exile, but God had him lead Israel out of Egypt, to the promised land.  Or Esther who was a slave girl, but God called her to save her people form massacre.  Just ordinary people lead to do extraordinary things. I have many irrational fears, from a fear of Uber/ taxi drivers to a fear of snakes.  In February of 2014 one of my biggest fears was people my own age.  Yes, I was afraid of teenagers being a teenager myself.  That same February I went on a teen mission’s trip to Eleuthera, Bahamas, I was extremely excited and nauseously nervous to go on a trip with teenaged strangers.  Going into the week I looked forward to playing with the little kids and influencing them.  My pre planned role on the trip was to give a message or sermon each day to a group of Haitians, ages from infant to adult.  I wrote out my little talks surrounding the story of Job.  After the first message Eslaine (a teen) came up to me and asked if I could tell her more.  I spent that week in conversations with her, and the other teen girls.  Forming relationships with some of my closest friends.  God forced me outside of my comfort zone so that He could make my ordinary moment have an extraordinary impact.  Through my weaknesses, His power was made perfect.     

In Mathew 16:24, Luke 9:23, and Mark 8:34 Jesus says “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” { A selfless act to take up our crosses, to be disciples for our king.  Sounds simple at a first glance but as we go about taking up our crosses it becomes evident of the road blocks in the way.  In order to take up our cross He has to be our first priority.}  I want to look at Psalm 119 which states, “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!  Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!  Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word!  My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes.  My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.  Let your hand be ready to help me for I have chosen your precepts.  I long for your salvation, O Lord and your law is my delight.  Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me.  I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.” (Psalms 119:1-8 & 169 – 176) Verses that bring a definition of the “behind the scene” work of taking up your cross.  For taking up your cross is more than just helping the people around you.  It is a dedication to put aside the cultural idea of having Christianity as a religion and committing to a relationship with Christ.  Recently we moved away from Orlando, Florida to move here to the mountains of North Carolina.  Since moving I have been challenged to question what my purpose is in life.  Am I merely a friend that has moved away to be forgotten(?), a student who is striving toward a strong education(?), a sister(?), or daughter(?).  I wear this bracelet on my wrist that has the word purpose engraved on it.  At the beginning of this year I wrote down what I wanted my purpose to be.  To live in each moment abiding in Christ, taking up my cross through service, and taking a delight in His commandments.  In the past two months I have continued to grow as God challenges me with the idea of what I am going to do with my future, while showing me that His plan is perfect and He has a purpose for my life.   

God used my broken relationship with Stephanie to teach me to depend and abide in Him.  Now our relationship is slowly building back up, I get to see her be a mom, and play with my niece and nephew.  God used my fear, to speak through me and help other teens who needed a friend to listen.  Showing me once again that is God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.  “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” (2 Corinthians 12:9) He continues to work daily through his perfect and selfless love, to impact me and the world around me.  How can you take up your cross in your everyday life?  Will you let God use you to do extraordinary things through your ordinary life?