One: Why I Believe

I’ve felt the nudge to do this for awhile but the timing always felt off. Honestly, I’m in the middle of cranking out a few thousand words a week with my new series, and that takes time.

But this is important.

I try in my writing and appearances to model the life of a Christ follower. It’s who I am, but I know that definition can get muddled by the Christians we meet. I know I’m not perfect, no one here is. But my heart longs to accurately show those who do not have a daily life with Christ why it is I choose to.

Julie Arduini

I’m not Biblically gifted. I remember 80’s lyrics better than verses. I wish I were better, but at least you know I’m honest. I AM a Bible reader. And through these posts I hope to show why that’s made such a difference.

So, here I go. Simple, transparent reasons why I call myself a Christian and live it each day.

I believe in Jesus and invite Him to be part of my life because luck and coincidence could never explain the positive changes in my life. Those on FB who knew me in high school remarked that I was confident, even bossy. That’s not quite true.

I was lost. Lonely. Bitter. Angry.

I didn’t have a horrible life by any means, but there were things I observed that didn’t quite look like other families. These days what I saw is quite normal, and I’m happy to say the addiction we had in our lives became a happy ending. Thing is, my attitude and hurt didn’t change overnight.

It took years.

Ironically, addiction began in my family to numb rejection. And I was on track to follow. I used things in the world to mask the pain, give me confidence, and fit in. It was not a solution.

It wasn’t going to church that changed my life, nor what it one single sermon I heard. It was a combination of things. I heard messages about Jesus being perfect and yet being crucified. Why? He was perfect. And that’s what gets me to this day when I think about the nails pounding through His flesh. The whippings He took with a strap loaded with shards of glass and stone.

He took it.

He allowed it.

Not because He was a wimp.

Because He was standing in the gap.

For me.

For you.

For all who choose to follow.

Jesus is a circle fulfilled. All the choices I made to feel better, dodge my hurt, or work hard to inflict pain on others was never a circle. The ends never closed on my life because there was a gap. If you think about a bridge, I was on the edge of a cliff on Point A, and I could see Point B. But I had no way to get there.

It sounds like Sunday School. Cliche. But it is the truth. I am the proof. Jesus is the only way.

Reading about Him, talking to Him, and going through study after study changed my life. It was not overnight. It was not a straight line of progress. But who I am today is completely different than the ugly mess I was as a young person.

I don’t miss my barbed remarks and cruel comebacks.

I don’t miss peppering my sentences with profanity.

I don’t drink if I feel motivated by numbing pain/competing/drinking for any reason than a glass on New Year’s or my anniversary. And I don’t miss the old ways or old me. I’m pretty sure if you quizzed everyone, they don’t wish that girl back.

So that’s why I believe. Jesus is the real deal to me. Even if I didn’t believe His story, and I 1000% do, He changed me. I’ve watched others with far worse stories than mine. People in prison for murder who truly found freedom in their cells because of trusting Jesus. Victims of abuse. Even those without major woes who followed luck and therories and realized Jesus makes a mess out of math. Everything He is is statistically impossible. Yet I’m forever changed because of Him.

If that’s something you desire, close the circle in your life by asking Christ into your life. It’s nothing weird or fancy. I was in my bedroom and just started chatting. I didn’t even know I was following a prayer, but later I realized I had done exactly what millions before me have done.

I told God, my Heavenly Father, who is not mean with arms closed, but so full of love, that I was a sinner. I missed the mark. I goofed up. I named the things I’d done.

I then shared that I believed what I learned about Jesus. That God did send Jesus to earth. That although He was on Earth as a man, He was Savior. He was perfect. He was crucified and rose again. He is still alive. He is in heaven. He is the only way I’ll spend eternity with Him. Heaven is perfect. I want to go there. I believe. I believe in Jesus. I believe.

Later I learned that when I prayed that, angels rejoiced. If you grew up hearing they are just harp players, they are God’s messengers. Warriors. And they love a celebration.

I can’t promise to have all the answers, but if you have questions, please contact me at juliearduini@juliearduini.com.

Stay tuned!