FREE TO LIVE ABUNDANTLY

Amazing Grace

2012-02-15T21:02:00.000-08:00

Tears were rolling down my cheeks as I was driving away from my mother’s house. My heart was deeply touched when the realization hit me that my mother lives in the ghetto. But the difference between my mother, and others that live in the ghetto, is that she lives there by choice. She had previously lived in an upscale home in a prestigious community until she heard the voice of the Lord nudging her to move to a small town in West Georgia to plant a mission church with her husband. She followed Christ's leading, sold their home, left upper middle class suburbia, and moved to a tiny house in a mill village that was built around the turn of the 19^th century.

I clearly remember the first time I saw the neighborhood. I had never seen anything quite like it, and neither had some of my other family members. My brother’s humor lightened our shocked state the first time we visited the new place that my mom called "home." He said, “This reminds me of Archie Bunker’s neighborhood.” We had a good laugh, but the truth of the matter is Archie Bunker’s neighborhood (in the 1970’s sitcom) was much nicer. During one of our first visits there, my daughter asked me, why are there dishwashers and furniture in some of the yards of this neighborhood? As inquisitive as we were, I knew in my heart, this was where God had called my mother to live.

Seeing the elegantly dressed, middle class woman in an impoverished area may have seemed odd to some people. But for me, as her daughter, I could see that the place she had chosen to move to, fit perfectly with her Christ-like heart. She had found her mission field right here in America , in a community filled with people in great need of God’s grace and love. This is what defines my mother: her gift for sharing Christ’s mercy with the poor in spirit and brokenhearted.

I could fill a book with many examples of how I have seen Christ’s light shine through my mother, but there is one that has impacted my life the most. Shortly after my 13^th birthday, my father told me that he didn't love my mother anymore and he was leaving. I have the memory etched in my mind of my mother sitting at the table weeping as she read her Bible. She had just heard my father’s words of rejection. Her college sweetheart, whom she was married to for 17 years, was divorcing her, piercing her heart. Shortly after the divorce, my father remarried another woman. My heart was crushed, so I can only imagine the depth of pain my mother was experiencing. Yet in the midst of her grieving, she continued to exemplify the amazing grace of God.

My mother never spoke any unkind words about my father, and she lived out what it means to forgive the way our heavenly Father forgives. Her loving words revealed her love for Christ. She told me that we needed to pray for my father. We began praying that he would surrender his life to Christ. She continually showed love and kindness to my father and his new wife. My mother’s life was building tremendous faith in my teenage heart as I watched her faithfulness. In the midst of my broken life, I saw a miracle come forth. A little over four years later, my father radically surrendered his heart to Christ. At seventeen years old, it was a blessing to have spiritual eyes to see that the merciful love of Christ displayed through my mother had drawn my father to the Lord.

Over a decade later, while my mother was recovering from cancer, my father shared with me the true impact my mother’s love and forgiveness had made on his life. What I had discerned in my spirit, my father’s words confirmed. He began telling me that the most significant factor leading him to a fulfilled life in Christ was experiencing the unconditional, Christ-like love of my mother. It was beautiful, hearing with my ears what I had known in my heart for many years.

The Lord honored my mother by bringing her a wonderful, Christian man to marry several years after my father remarried. My mother’s life is a beautiful picture of how the Lord is able to take a devastating situation and use it for good (Romans 8:28). But most of all, her life is a true example of Christ’s mercy and kindness. The Lord had a good plan when He placed her in a neighborhood where there is poverty, drug addiction, and homeless people. These people are the ones that need to see grace the most.

I have often shared stories about the grace I've seen in my mother and I've told friends that the perfect name for her would be, "Grace." I even wrote a poem about the grace displayed in her life and titled it, "Her Name Should be Grace." I had never asked my mom the meaning of her name. But on the day I presented her with the special poem, she looked at me with joy, and said, "That’s what my name means: GRACE."

I love you, Mama! Thank you for being the living example of Christ's love. You will have an abundance of crowns in heaven. Happy 71st birthday!

Eternally grateful,

Amy

This was originally written in 2008. Today, I have updated it in honor of my mother's birthday.

The Purpose of Pain

2012-02-08T21:08:00.000-08:00

We were standing next to a table that had a variety of breads and desserts. I was helping out at a ministry (Divine Resourcing) that gives out food to people in need. I picked up a pie and handed it to a sweet, young mom. Tears came streaming down her face. There was an abundance of food to give her because our supplier (Trader Joe's grocery store) had a large amount to donate that morning. The pie had been the straw that broke the camel's back or I should say, "The pie that broke the mother's heart." She was deeply touched by the generosity of God through this ministry.

Through her tears, she began telling me that her small boys had been hungry that week, and not had enough to fill their tummies. While she was sharing her heart, I was overcome with emotion and I embraced her tightly. With tears rolling down my cheeks, her story was taking my mind back to the time when I was experiencing a difficult circumstance similar to hers—the place where compassion was birthed in me.

The memories flooded my mind. I was thinking about the time my husband was self-employed and because of a lack of business, he was delivering pizza and working for less than $7.00 an hour. And I was a busy mom with 2 children trying to earn money by babysitting and doing other odd jobs. I was remembering the day when our refrigerator was almost empty and my daughter asked me, "Are we going to starve, Mommy?"

I don't think there is anything worse for a mom than not being able to provide everything her children need. It was painful to say the least. Within days of my daughter asking if we were going to starve, the Lord came through and provided for our family in ways our minds could have never comprehended. Our refrigerator got low, but it was never empty. Jesus always comes through just in time.

We saw God’s grace over and over during our struggles to make ends meet. My husband went back to college, earned a degree and ultimately was blessed with an incredible job. It's been over 6 years since my refrigerator was nearly empty, but it seems like yesterday. It was one of the most painful times of my life, but also one of the most necessary seasons of my life. It was the season that God began growing a deep compassion inside me for hurting, impoverished people. Through those dark days and hard times, God was preparing me for my life's purpose. He was cultivating in me an understanding of those in need that I would never have gained without living it out myself. Through those years and times He birthed in me a compassionate heart that actually feels the despair that others are experiencing in their lack.

As I stood there with the young mom, gathering her boxes of food and listening to her share the details of her hardship, the pain was as though it were my own. The compassion in my heart enabled me to encourage her and ensure her that things would get better and that Christ would take care of her every need. During the weeks after meeting the hurting, young mom I shed tears every time I thought about her.

Compassion is the fuel that drives me to pray for this young mom and the other people God allows to cross my path. Without it, I would feel like a robot going through the motions of praying and helping others.

Trials are necessary in this life. The Bible urges us to consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds (James 1:2). There is a purpose to our pain. Without pain we wouldn't need Christ. A child of God is created to display the compassionate heart of Christ. We are to be His very helping hands to those in need. We need to allow God to fulfill His purposes through our pain. We need to embrace it with a willing heart the way Jesus embraced the pain of the cross for our sake.

Live Abundantly!
Amy

Free Indeed

2012-02-01T09:46:00.000-08:00

I walked into my father's house and there she sat. My step-mother, Debbie, was in the final stages of cancer. Her frail, weak body made her barely recognizable. She burst into tears when she saw my face. She must have seen the compassion in my eyes. She was not usually emotional. However, that day was different. There was a keen sense of God's love in the atmosphere...To continue reading, click on the link below.

http://www.askwisecounsel.blogspot.com/2012/02/free-indeed-by-amy-von-borstel.html

Blog Tour Event

2012-01-31T20:40:00.001-08:00

Just before Christmas, I was invited to participate in a blog tour event. I am honored to be a part of the tour because the theme resonates deeply in my heart: "Freedom Rocks!" There are few things that inspire me as much as the message of freedom. My piece will be published on February 1st. This is a cross-promotional campaign for promoting author, John Beehner, and fellow Christian authors, entrepreneurs, and spiritual leaders.

Visit John Beehner's site:
http://www.askwisecounsel.blogspot.com

Radical Love

2012-01-28T19:55:00.000-08:00

Loving God is the greatest commandment that Jesus gave us. Loving others is the 2^nd greatest commandment in the Bible. Jesus said all of the law hangs on these two commandments. When each of us meets Jesus face to face, the one thing that will matter the most is how well we loved Him and how well we loved one another. It is only through the power of Jesus Christ that we can love purely and unconditionally. The love of Christ is radical and gets the attention of the most hard-hearted people. His love heals. His love drives away darkness. His love never fails.

A Prayer:

Beloved Jesus,

I am astounded by Your love. You amaze me. Thank You for never giving up on Your people. Thank You for Your never-ending patience and kindness. Thank You for always waiting with arms of love. Thank You for pouring Your love into the hearts of those who love You and follow You wholeheartedly. Lord, I ask You today to give Your Church a new revelation of Your love. Teach us how to love the way You love. Show us how to love brokenhearted people in radical ways that would reveal the truth of who You are. Forgive the ones who have misrepresented you to the world. Reshape the Body of Christ into a strong vessel of Your love. Let us show the world Your incredible, undeniable, irresistible, perfect love. Jesus, You are the light of the world. You are the restorer of broken lives. You are a mighty fortress. Let Your Church rise up and be givers of Your awesome love. In Your mighty name. Amen.

Matthew 22: 36-40 (NIV)

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”

37-40 Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Live Abundantly!

Amy

Strength

2012-01-21T13:21:00.000-08:00

I remember times when the trials in my life were so intense that I felt as though I couldn't go on. In my weakness, I fell onto my knees and Jesus lifted me up. He is the strength we all need. And the beauty of following Jesus is how we can fall into His arms over and over again.

A Prayer:

Beloved Jesus,

I thank You for Your kindness and Your great love. I thank You for the way You lift up Your people. Thank You for Your encouragement. Thank You for always coming through in Your perfect timing. I hear You whispering to me to pray for strength for the body of Christ. So many people are struggling at this moment with many kinds of trials. Lord, I ask You to lift up Your Church today. Bless each one of Your children with peace. Give each believer Your strength to carry on. Give them the revelation that You are their strength. Let them hold onto You and Your promises. Lift their spirits and give them the energy they need to do all You've called them to do. Lift up the sad ones and fill them Your joy. Lift up the brokenhearted ones and heal their hearts. Strengthen Your Church and make us a strong tower for the world to see. In Your mighty name. Amen.

Psalm 61:3 (KJV)

For you have been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJB)

And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Live Abundantly!
Amy