New beginnings.

First day of fourth grade--new school, new clothes, and the nervous hope for new friends to fill in for the ones she left behind in Georgia. This morning was my oldest daughter's first day of school. We were both nervous, she was brave, and I was proud. She marched in like a trooper and ready for the adventure. I'm not sure why--but moments before she got out of the car, she asked me the date. Then it hit me...

I committed my life to Christ 30 years ago today (a few years after this photo was taken!).

It was at a youth camp in Central Florida. While the band played "Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus," I did. And I threw my life and hopes "upon Jesus" too.

As I was getting my tires fixed after dropping off my daughter, I wrote a few of these thoughts out... they are not proofed well, but they are a few thoughts that came to mind on my spiritual birthday.

A few things surprised me on the journey:

1. I thought I would have been more holy by now--that I would have overcome the flesh, be more consistent in my spiritual walk, and just be a better Christian. But, I have learned that Paul was right in that "the very things I want to do I just don't do" (see Romans 7:15). Keith Green used to sign a song based on Romans 7 that I listened to as a new believer--I would passionately sing the part "Lord it seems so sad, why am I so bad, when in my heart I only want to be like you..." As I grew in understand of the scriptures I have learned that does not change until I am set free from the "body of this death" (Romans 7:24).