2014

2014 : WHAT HAS GOD TAUGHT ME THIS YEAR?

So it’s finally the last day of the year and 365 pages of 2014 have been officially written! As many of you may know, I started this year in a relationship which ended half way through the year and from then on my testimony was built. God began a healing process and guided me back to where I belong – at the foot of the cross…

What has God taught me through the process?

1.     His timing is so perfect

As I mentioned before, I was getting out of a break up earlier this year but before this I was going about my daily business. One day I was out giving out CV’s with my friend Kia and was walking home past the station near my house, when a guy gave me a leaflet. Normally I just smile and take it and walk, but for some reason I pulled my headphone out, and the guy asked me ‘do you know Jesus Christ?’ and of course, growing up in a house of faith I responded ‘yes I do!’ We began to talk and he introduced me to a bible study group for youth, so I took the leaflet, he prayed for me and I went home. The leaflet said it was on Thursday evenings, so that Thursday I got ready and headed to this bible class. As I crossed the road, I saw the same guy at the station again but he didn’t see me. I walked to try and find the hall but I couldn’t find it so went back to head home disappointed or try and ask him where the venue was. Just as I crossed the road, he was turning the corner to walk away to his adult bible study, and I ran and stopped him just in time. He shouted ‘praise God you actually came!’ He took me to the bible class that I started to attend, and then 2 weeks later my then boyfriend ended our relationship ( lol great timing God) From then, I met my now ARC church family, where I attend bible study. I knew I was exactly where I needed to be for God to reach out to me, and for me to get myself into the word properly.

2.     No wordly thing or man can fill my void

In these last few months God has really shown me my growing desire for anything and everything except Him. I longed for my ex’s attention and love when I had an overflow of love available from Jesus himself. I began to realise that I could easily jump from relationship to relationship or fill this hurt with materialistic items, but NOTHING could satisfy me as much as the presence and open arms of Jesus. I learnt to allow Jesus to consume my whole heart, and to stop searching for things to replace my ex.

3.     How to respond in love/control my anger in order to be more Christ like

Nowwwwwwwwwww! This is not even anything to do with my last relationship, but just something God has taught me along the way. I used to find so much trouble in loving people when they annoyed people, and I always let bitterness overwhelm every situation. Throughout the year, God began to work on how I react to situations, knowing that not everything needs my say, nor did it require for anger or annoyance to be raised. As I read through the gospels, I began to learn the qualities of Christ, and since then have been developing in order to be as much like Him as possible. Compassion is not easy, but I’ve been encouraged by the constant guidance of the Holy Spirit to ‘hold my peace’ and ‘respond in love.’

4.     How to forgive and pray for those who hurt you

Learning how to forgive is SO essential! How can we expect Jesus to forgive us for each wrong doing when we have a constant heart of bitterness, hate and resentment towards others? I learnt to speak life and success over those who were no longer in my life, and Jesus began to reveal the importance of praying for those who mistreated me. Forgiveness is something that already came quite easy to me, but bitterness and sudden outrages of memories from the past were something The Lord had to truly tell me to let go of.

5.     How to obey fully

For a while after the summer, God had placed on my heart to start something for young people. From then on I carried on praying about it, not saying anything to anyone until I had got an answer from God. He revealed that I should use my talent of writing and speaking, in order to encourage. I told my youth pastor and some of my sisters in Christ about the idea of starting a blog, but still felt fear and prolonged the start of my blog. After one night at Bible study, my youth pastor spoke about purpose and the Holy Spirit convicted me as soon as he said ‘’you know it’s your purpose when you feel a burden if you don’t do it.’’ At the moment I realised that my job in the body of Christ was no joke, and that there was going to be at least one young person I could help or affect. I learnt to obey what God had told me to do in the first place, which has led to countless doors opening for me because of the birth of my online ministry.

6.     My identity and worth is not based on man

After I had gotten out of the relationship I felt confused and overall worthless. Not because I thought I was ugly, but because I felt unappreciated as a whole. Christ had to take the time to teach me His word about how precious I am to Him. That I am ‘worth more than rubies’ and that He would take His time finish the work He had started in me, because one day He would have the pleasure of handing me over to a husband that He knew would understand my worth in CHRIST. I began to realise the importance of inner beauty, and not let the exterior come before my relationship with God. God and I read on scripture that helped me to understand the kind of woman I am called to be and that I’m slowly getting there by His grace. Your worth is not measured by the amount of guys that want you – Christ already thought you were worth dying for.

7.  It is time to turn back to your first love

THIS IS THE BIGGEST LESSON OF 2014 AND EXACTLY WHAT I TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY ASK ME ABOUT MY FAITH. This year was not the year I became a Christian, but it was the year that God called me back home. Being so blessed to grow up in a house of faith, religion was a natural thing to me; I would go to Church every Sunday even serving as a way to be involved in my Church, but I had got to the age where I could discover Jesus for myself. I realised that God used the break up as a vehicle in order to get me back to Him. At the time, I was angry, hurt and full of desire for other things, and was a total mess.  I had lost my passion for Christ, but 2014 was the year Jesus called me out from the crowd and said ‘’I will use her! She’s broken but I will still use her!’’ But this only happened because I let Him. I had to learn to surrender my emotions to God and stop living in my own world of what I wanted. I began to spend daily time with The Lord in prayer, worship and studying of the word, which developed the most beautiful intimate relationship with The Father. God used 2014 as a way to get me back on track, to fulfil my purpose which would then go on to help and support others in their walk with Christ.

2014 has been the most life changing year of my life so far, with new blessings of a job, starting sixth form, and the birth of a vision of helping young people. But it is only by the love of Christ that I am still standing. So for all of you who may be broken, just know that I know exactly what you are going through, but when you let Jesus be your light He will deliver you. He will fulfil the ordained plan for your life, just learn to TRUST HIM. A big thank you to all those who have supported the start of Kingdom Ambassadors, and I want you to know that God has placed some crazy things on the agenda for this ministry in 2015! Stay blessed, positive and at peace, knowing that this is YOUR year. Keep Jesus as your open door, and watch your heart and life develop.

I’m constantly praying for you all! HAPPY NEW YEAR! JESUS LOVES YOU!

Thank you to :
- King Jesus (obviously)

-          Pastor Gradi & my youth leaders

-          Angela & Anita

-          Samantha

-          Temi

-          All my beautiful girls who have supported me

-          My readers!

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Any questions/need help : caitlinnunez@hotmail.co.uk

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