Finding Christ Through Social Media: Year One #A365DayJourney to Learning How to Walk with God #TruthwithGrace

By Lea Michelle Johnson

A nonfiction daily devotional with a twist. This is a story of a stay-at-home mother who was forgetting how to put God first in her day. This led to much struggle as God should be number one, but in going with the busy ways of the world, it's far too easy to forget how to see God in each new day. Lea Michelle's journey shows that walking with God is not something that is learned overnight. It takes great practice to learn how to be in the world but not of it! It takes a good solid year, 365 days, to build a lifelong routine of knowing how to make Christ a part of your day each and every day. It takes a year to discover how to never lose sight that the Holy Spirit gives us our daily bread and walks with us always. Lea Michelle's prayer is that you will pick up a pen and follow along with her journey. She has challenging questions at the end of each day for you to ponder. Challenge yourself and hold yourself accountable to walking with God each new day along with Lea Michelle. Share your heart for others to see on social media with the hashtag #A365DayJourney or share your discoveries in a private notebook. She prays that you too will open your eyes to a daily life, walking hand in hand, with our Savior Jesus Christ!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781635755213

Book preview

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Finding Christ Through Social Media:

Year One

#A365DayJourney to Learning How to Walk with God

#TruthwithGrace

Lea Michelle Johnson

www.LeaMichelleMinistries.com

ISBN 978-1-63575-520-6 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63575-521-3 (Digital)

Copyright © 2017 by Lea Michelle Johnson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

296 Chestnut Street

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Introduction

My mother one day asked me, at the young age of fifteen, if I had accepted Christ into my heart. I immediately thought it was an annoying question. With a slight eye roll, I told my mom, Yes, Mom, of course I have Jesus in my heart! I was born that way.

I was raised in the Catholic Church and went to a Catholic school all my life. As life continued, I went to college, and like many my heart drifted further and further away from Jesus. I started to distance myself from the word Christ as I wanted to discover things on my own.

I began to start labeling myself as a spiritual person. The Christian title at the time seemed to be too daunting of a task to live up to. I was too concerned about living up to the name Christian. I was not in a place where Christ could live in my heart and walk alongside me in every part of my life. Not allowing Christ to have a comfortable place in my heart lead to short-term satisfaction with no long-term grace. Life in my twenties was a constant overbearing struggle, but even through my darkest of moments, God was there just waiting for me to be his valued prodigal.

I made many ignorant mistakes, but God was patient in waiting on me to mature, grow up, and begin to love myself as much as he loves me. He was always looking after me, but I was like a rebellious teenager in my twenties and thought I could figure out life without him. What was I thinking? God was right there willing to help, but I continued to ignore him. I hurt him deeply but, after one mistake after another, I turned to him in desperation one evening at the age of twenty-six.

I was intentionally living a life of sin and often felt no guilt because I had distance myself so far from my creator. Sadly, at twenty-six, I was completely lost. One night lying on the floor drunk as can be, I honestly didn’t care if I lived or died. I was always way too hard on myself, and Satan found me at my weakest moment. He had a little grip on my pinky toe. I was so scared. I felt very alone and just plain lost at where my life was heading. I knew I needed to change! I needed God back in my life! It was the only way!

That night was the night I marked as the night that I would find my place in God’s arms once again. I would start to pray. I was at a point in my personal life where I had accomplished every single goal I had set out to accomplish for my single life and I was very ready to move forward and have a family. This is the part that I could not control, and it scared me.

I then prayed on bended knee every single night for one year. By the grace of God, he found me my soul mate. God found me a man that was in the same exact place in his life journey as me, and God knew we would spend the rest of our lives growing and strengthening our faith together. We were soon married and blessed with children right away. God had given me everything I had prayed for, but somehow something was missing. I know, this was very confusing to me too.

So, what was missing?

Here I was at thirty-three and still confused. I woke up late at night having severe panic attacks and trouble breathing. My husband was concerned and didn’t know what was happening either. I had so much anxiety and outburst during the day too. I just did not feel like myself, and my family once again grew concerned.

Then one night on September 4, 2015, I had an epiphany! I realized what it was! God was knocking loudly at my door! He was trying to wake me up and snap me out of it. It was my time to surrender my life and heart to him and follow Jesus. Once I realized this was the moment I accepted Christ, I had an overwhelming feeling of peace flow straight through my body. This was way better than any drug in the entire world! This was the Holy Spirit coming into me. Everything in my entire life began to make more sense, and I felt more free. I could finally… finally just be the woman God made me to be.

God wanted something more from me. He wanted something way larger than anything this small and average girl from Iowa could ever thought possible. He filled me with courage to approach the very thing he wanted from me. I felt a strong guiding push to share my walk with God with all the world to see. I felt a large push to share my daily walk with God on the social media platform called Facebook. This is not a blogging site so many found it awkward and strange, but to me and God it all made sense. He wanted me to be where people would watch!

And this is when My Spiritual Life Journey post was born. This was the very first post I made on social media the night I was saved.

So tonight, I woke up and in tears because at thirty-three years of age I am finally becoming who I was born to be. I am not a religious person but a spiritual person. I have always been reserved in sharing this for fear of judgment upon me. I no longer have these fears. It feels amazing to be set free. He is working through me and has been for a very long time. I am finally now realizing what it means to set your soul free. Yes, I am scared but I am finally here and ready. #Amen

After this post, I felt compelled to write the next day about how God touched my life that day. I then felt compelled to write daily, which then turned into weekly and then to monthly. Then through a series of events, I just knew it was my calling to share my daily walk with God for a complete year (365 days) and show what the first year of walking with Christ looks like.

To me and God, it all made sense. I will say God kept me very naive during this time. Looking back, that was a blessing. I was naive but I was no dummy! I knew what I was doing and I knew it was going to get harder before people actually started to take me seriously. I knew people would judge and be in disbelief of my change of heart. I knew Satan would try to get me down and make me stop because well he of course does not want me to share the truth about God’s grace to all of the world.

God did prepare my heart from the start of the journey. He told me it was going to get very hard. I then told him I was strong enough. God smiled upon my lioness presence, but he knew there would come a time I would want to quit this journey and quit on him. You will see this in my journey. The grace and courage that the Holy Spirit gave me to continue this unique journey was far more bountiful than the fear I had within me.

And here I leave you. I leave you with my daily post that began in early September of 2015. It’s a diary of my soul and true walk with God that I shared with all to see for one entire year. God helped me find time to write each day. Each day he filled me with wisdom of what to write about. This journey has forever changed my heart.

Here my spiritual life journey begins. Watch how my heart changes and gets convicted through the journey. The journey begins as a hippie-dippie spiritual one and quickly gets identified as a Christian one. Yes, I am now Christian. I love Christ and will forever share his name.

And now my #A365DayJourney and walk with Christ on social media unfolds.

Day 1

*Show Love, Not Anger*

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

—1 Peter 4:8

Today is the day my spiritual life journey begins, and I already hit a roadblock. This day did not go as planned, but I am learning to relinquish control. I was working hard to get my kids out of the house to do some errands, and I could not find my keys or my phone for thirty minutes. I feel this was a good test for me to hand my worries and fears over to God instead of trying to handle them myself.

My husband called me and told me he locked his keys in the car. Now normally I would have been furious at him for ruining my perfectly beautiful day, but instead I said, Of course, babe, I will be right there. My children and I ended up getting stuck in terrible traffic, but I used it as a time to say some prayers. When we finally got to my husband’s car, I decided to do something special for him. I gave him his favorite CD collection and a note on his front seat. The note said, Hi, Babe. You are the light of my life and the light of my world! You complete me and make me a stronger woman.

The Challenge:

I feel so often we let life just pass us by, not being grateful enough to the ones that we love the most. I often take out my frustration on my husband, but today I chose not to! Today I chose to love him earnestly and offer love and encouragement instead of taking from him. Do something extra special for your loved one today! Fill their heart and then your heart too shall to be filled!

Day 2

*Fill Your Soul*

Trust the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.

—Proverbs 3:5

It’s day two of my journey, and I can start to feel my soul filling with all the things I used to love as a young girl but walked away from them to follow others. I have always loved God. I have always loved theatre and dancing. These are just a few of the things that are starting to bloom right back into my soul. This feels so great. I am about to take on something larger than myself, but I am filled with passion. I am nervous about judgment and people thinking my intentions here aren’t pure, but I know God has been preparing me for this moment my entire life. I know I will find a room filled with loving support of my journey one day, but until then God has told me to just take it one day at a time and trust him.

The Challenge:

What are your passions from when you were younger? Think back to what made you glow. It’s time to take those things out of your mental closet. This will make you feel inspired and love life to the fullest once again.

Day 3

*A Cozy Heart*

And we know for those who love God all things work together for good, to them who are called according to his purpose.

—Romans 8:28

I am learning just how vital it is to have positive people always around you and cheering you on. I am learning how important it is to have inspiring apps on your phone. I am learning how important it is to put out only positive and inspirational things on social media for others to see. I am also learning how important it is to have music filled with love on in my car. I am learning how to be calm, connected, present, and in the moment of each and every day. I am renewed. I am alive and all I can feel is thankful. Amen! Amen! Amen!

Now for the funnier side of life. My son will not let us turn off his Jesus kid music CD. He calls it his God music. We have had it playing in our car nonstop for two weeks now! Two weeks! How can I tell my beautiful baby boy no more God music? I can’t, so I shall deal and be grateful he’s loving God songs instead of so many other terrible music choices out there.

The Challenge:

Think about ways to make it easier for God to work his plans for you. Make it easier for him to enter your heart and be a part of your life. Change what you watch, place more inspiring things onto your computer, and seek out the more positive of people in your life. With these changes, start to watch things change for the good in your life.

Day 4

*God’s Little Wink*

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

—Luke 6:31

I am starting to realize now just how much my life has truly changed and why. Three days ago I woke up in the middle of the night with my heart pounding out of my chest. Something then came to me and gave me great clarity. Some in the Catholic Church may call it coming to Christ, but I simply call it learning to hold God’s hand every day for the rest of my life. I am not a religious person but a spiritual person. I respect all religions and truly feel everyone has their very own special journey to share. When you finally gain clarity, you run with it and run fast. Run and be the best you can be.

In this new life I see God everywhere and I mean everywhere. I went to Carl’s Jr. for breakfast this morning. We do not eat fast food very often, but every now and then on the weekend it’s something we like to do. There was a lady in front of me in the drive-through line, and she paid for our breakfast. I know this is a thing these days, but I find it very ironic that it happened to me at this moment as I am working hard to change my life. I believe it was God’s little wink at me saying he’s proud. I then confirmed the people behind me weren’t about to order five hundred breakfast burgers and I then proceeded to pay it forward and pay for theirs too.

The Challenge:

Find a simple way to give and pay it forward today!

Day 5

*A Greater Purpose*

He saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him.

—Matthew 3:16

There is a mama out there on my social media wall that I truly admire! I admire this mother’s strength and I admire her ability to express the deeper parts of her soul for all to see. This mom went through something no one should ever have to face. She lost one of her twin boys at the precious age of eighteen months. This hit home to me as this was the same age as my son was when the tragedy of her son not waking up happened to her. She chooses to see the beauty that each day brings to her. Every day she shares God’s blessings. On days she’s not feeling quite as strong, she reaches out for help and prayers. To share her life with others at this challenging time is a pure gift. She has no idea how many people’s souls she is secretly touching. She has touched mine and doesn’t even know it.

Today she wrote about how her baby sent a butterfly from heaven. Yes, I do believe in butterflies descending from heaven. I actually had a situation occur with a ladybug.

I decided to mark the ladybug as my sign. I told my husband that this is my new sign so if I go before him he will know it’s me. I will send him love from above in the sweet form of a tiny little ladybug. My husband then went on to tell me he will just haunt me. He plans to shut doors and flicker lights to make his presence known. We shared quite a laugh at this thought. I am finally awakening and realizing that it is my calling to be bold, be fearless, and live out loud. Life is so much more rosy and heavenly when you finally take that leap and believe in yourself.

The Challenge:

What is God’s calling and purpose for your life? I challenge you to write in a journal today and write about what you believe God needs from you moving forward in this life. This will help him start to give you more insight and guidance on a direction to take.

Day 6

*Trust God’s Voice*

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear.

—2 Timothy 1:7

I feel as though God is filling me with so much to share. I have purpose behind all these posts I promise, and I know it will all start to make more sense as to why I feel the deep need to share this story with all to see. I know choosing to walk hand and hand with God and shouting my story from the mountaintop is no easy task. It’s probably harder now, but now I see so much grace and reasons why certain things unfold in my life.

A good friend of mine put me in check this morning. It hurt but honestly, she was right. I would have normally just felt the need to hide away and be embarrassed all day, but now in my new life I know it was God just telling me to simmer. He doesn’t ever want me to hide again, but he does want me to learn patience. He told me even if it takes one hundred years all will see your passion and your truth in time. No single person can change and go from A to Z overnight. Anything and everything in life takes time. All we have to do is say to ourselves Day by day! That’s it.

The Challenge:

What fears do you have deep down about trusting God’s voice? Jump over your fears just like a rabbit hops over the enemies he fears.

Day 7

*Finding Peace and Learning Daily*

The disciple is not above his master, but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

—Luke 6:40

Yesterday was just so inspiring, and I am excited to share. So many parts inspired me, but I will discuss two. We went to the Denver Zoo, and my son was throwing his usual three-year-old tantrum. I started to feel incredibly frazzled, but then I looked up for support. Instead of yelling at my son, I calmly stopped, sat down, listened to his needs, and spoke to him with a soft voice. We both felt better after that moment.

I am also learning to not allow myself to randomly pass by others without them teaching me something about life. We can learn from everyone and any situation handed to us. Last night, I spoke to a new business partner on the phone. She’s new in my life. I have only talked with her twice on the phone, but I felt an instant connection with her. Her name is Vivian. I opened up my heart to Vivian, and she opened her heart to me. To be honest, I believe God sent me her to be a soul sister and help guide me on this challenging journey I am on.

The Challenge:

The next time you are incredibly frazzled just stop, drop, and pray. You will find more peace in that moment. The next time someone new approaches you, find ways to learn from them. God teaches us and talks to us through others you know.

Day 8

*What Is Heaven Trying to Show Us?*

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me.

—Revelation 14:13

This evening God has showed me how sad our world has become. We are all so closed off. We are all so scared of people’s intentions. The question is, are we really living? Tonight, I went for a run and I noticed these two very large gray labs out in front of a suburban house roaming around with no owner in sight. I could see that their backyard gate was pushed open. With my brave new soul, I simply lead the dogs up to the door, and they followed me. Thank the Lord they did not bite me, but to be honest I felt God’s shield of protection around me.

I rang the doorbell once… No answer. Again… No answer… A third time… Then the owner peeked around the corner and hid into his living room. I tried a fourth time and then gave up. You see, the man was so in fear that I was needing something from him that he didn’t even place it in to his mind that maybe I was there to help.

I then said, Come, doggies, and led them to their backyard and locked their gate. Things are not always what they seem. We all need to learn to open our hearts and start to see heaven trying to show us something.

The Challenge:

The next time you don’t feel like opening your door or home to another think, that maybe God is trying to show you something. Open the door instead of keeping it shut!

Day 9

*Fear Not*

Fear not for I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine.

—Isaiah 43:1–2

I honestly sometimes wake up and fear facing the world. I get nervous, insecure, and often wait for something bad to happen to me. Then just today I found the above verse by Isaiah. This verse excited me. It is helping me heal, so I can now look forward to each new day. I know now with God on my side, I can take on the world for now my heart is more protected. He is with me every day now, and even when the waters rise, he will give me more endurance than I ever knew I had. My mind will now be unmoved and my soul unchanged. Every day with God we are alive and free.

The Challenge:

Do you ever fear waking up and taking on the day? Next time you feel this way, just envision God’s pure white cloud hovering over you throughout the day. This will give you the peace you need to not live your day in fear.

Day 10

*We Were Made Tough*

For God so loved the world he gave us his only begotten son.

—John 3:16

Each day I am learning that we all truly do have our very own journeys in life, and we can learn from everyone that passes us by. This does not mean that we have to believe every aspect of what others have to teach us, but this helps us to form our own truth.

When I think back in history I think about many people who have suffered for sharing their beliefs. One of them was a man named Jesus. How sad is his story? All he wanted to do was help others to see God, and all man wanted to do was tear him down. There is a beautiful lesson in his story. Now when people put me down for expressing my soul or try to belittle me for my beliefs, I know I can think about the story of Jesus. I now know why God gave me Jesus story. If Jesus can overcome all that he did, I can surely get through anything this world has to throw my way.

The Challenge:

When you feel weak and afraid, just think about all that Jesus overcame. You will find so much strength and boldness by acknowledging the truth in his story.

Day 11

*Trusting Your Walk*

In God I have put my trust; I will not fear what the flesh can do onto me.

—Psalms 56:4

This day was amazing yet challenging. I am learning that they are never bad days, bad weeks, or bad months, but just bad moments. I own a Princess Party Company here in Colorado, and today one of my princesses named Diana brought me such a precious gift. This gift was a coffee cup that said, She believed she could, so she did. She also wrote me the most amazing letter to remind me that this path is not the easy way but it’s the most rewarding. Diana is only sixteen years old, and she knows more about this walk with the Lord than many people will ever know in their entire lives. She truly inspires me.

Diana was the good moment of my day, and the bad moment of my day was that I had one of my family members doubt this journey of mine. It does of course throw doubt into my mind about some of my goals here, and it tears at my heart. But I do know I am in good hands and being guided by the Lord each day. Right now, it is hard to believe in the end results of what I am trying to accomplish here on social media, but don’t all constructions sites look messy, muddy, and unorganized before they turn into immaculate skyscrapers?

The Challenge:

Do you have big dreams and things you want to accomplish but others tell you that you can’t? Think about what God would tell you. If he says you can do it, then trust him over mere mortals. God loves to watch us create all things good.

Day 12

*Perfectly Imperfect*

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

—Ecclesiastes 3:11

So today, as I think every day going forward will be, I had great moments and not so great moments. I had a rough text come through today. The text basically said I am not in the position to share God’s words. I believe we all have the ability to share God’s grace when he is in our hearts. The text would have normally offset my entire day, but this time I was much stronger and prepared to answer the hard questions.

The great thing about this new journey and new passion for God is that I am still the same crazy, fun, and sensitive girl. I love to tell stupid jokes, drink margaritas in the sun with my girlfriends, and I respect all my friends who do not have the same beliefs as me. I am me but becoming a better me. God loves me the way I am, but he also knows I am a work in progress. Perfectly imperfect and made beautiful in his time. I have a unique purpose, and I do not need to apologize for being who my soul wants me to be, but yes, I am imperfect. I am learning to embrace it.

The Challenge:

Do you truly love and accept yourself for all your flaws? Tomorrow morning, write on your mirror, Perfectly imperfect and beautiful in his time. Look at this every day this week and learn to love and accept your perfectly imperfect self.

Day 13

*Less Poo, More Lemonade*

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, said the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil. To give you an expected end.

—Jeremiah 29:11

Somehow finding poop all over the floor (still not sure if it was the dog or my baby), family doubting my every move here, repulsing porn unknowingly posted on my social media wall, and my son’s largest tantrum in history, I was still able to laugh and see the bright side of my day. Talk about learning to make lemons into lemonade. My old self would have been so damaged by this day. My old self would have cried, been angry, and asked why me. Now I know why me! It’s life! Life is hard and life can have awful moments, but I am now learning that there are messages within those tough moments. Sometimes you can see blessings, but many times you can’t and that’s the tricky part in walking with the Lord. Here’s to hoping tomorrow brings less poo and more lemonade.

The Challenge:

When you are in struggle, think about the goodness God is trying to work in that moment. If you cannot see any good, just trust he is clearing the way to an expected future of hope just for you!

Day 14

*Are You Bored?*

Let not your heart be troubled,