My name is Gina Lindquist and I am a 18-year recovered alcoholic. I was a single Mom when I chose sobriety. Convicted of a DUI, I was left broke, without a job, or a license. I cried out to God when I had no other options and He showed me His love and grace by restoring my life and my family. I had spent most of my adult life trapped by addiction as a result of childhood emotional and physical abuse but today, with the support of loving people and an understanding of how God sees me, I have found healing and wholeness. At 46, I returned to college for an Associate degree in Human Services and in 2016, I graduated from Charis Bible college with a Bachelors in Theological studies and a license in ministry. My greatest passion is to help other women break free from the lies that lead to addiction and find healing and restoration for themselves and their families.
I am the President of Passion Ministries Inc. an organization formed to minister to women whose lives and families have been devastated by addictions and other self destructive behaviors. Everyone on my team knows someone who has experienced the damaging effects that addiction can cause to friends, family members and even communities and we are committed to providing a solution for this. Our vision is to create a residential group home that would service Brevard and the surrounding counties, where women who suffer from addictions can recover physically, mentally and spiritually. It will be a safe place where they can abstain from their substance and focus on healing and recovery. They will be loved and accepted for who they are while encouraged to be all they were created to be. Our program curriculum will help them break the bonds of addiction by redirecting their lives to an understanding of the love of God towards them and the freedom that was obtained for them through the Savior, Jesus Christ.
Gina’s Blog…
PARABLE
This story is about a King and His people. The King had unlimited resources and was a loving and generous. He wanted others to benefit from what he had so he opened up a bank account in each of their names. In that account he deposited an infinite amount of money. It was designed to replenish upon request and never run out of funds.
Some people when told about the bank account, decided that they wanted no part of it. They figured that they were doing just fine without it and they didn’t want to have an obligation towards the King because of the funds. Others heard stories that the King was mean and wanted them to suffer and figured it was just too good to be true.
Some people were happy when they heard about the account. but they left so much unused. The reasons for this varied. Some took sparingly because they didn’t really believe it was unlimited and they lived in fear that someday it would run out. Some felt uncomfortable taking the money because they didn’t do anything to earn it. Some found that the withdrawal process interfered with other things that they wanted to do. Others although grateful it was there, just never felt worthy of this gift, so they only used it in desperation.
But some took a chance though and went and drew out all that they thought they wanted. After taking care of their needs, then went to the King and thanked him. He urged them to go back, that there was so much more. At first they were doubtful, but they went back and sure enough there was more. They went back and thanked the King again, this time they stayed for a while, talking and getting to know Him. Again the King urged them to draw from the funds. In time, their needs all being met, they became a people that everyone talked about. They were so happy and peaceful that others wanted to know why and because they were grateful, they eagerly told them. To convince them, they started giving away their funds and this inspired a lot of people to start drawing from their own bank accounts. The King was getting more and more visitors every day, people coming to thank him and many staying to dine. He urged them to continue to use the resources because it gave him great pleasure and he had plenty. He also told them to spread the word to the other kingdoms out there that if they made him King, he would do the same for them.
YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN! ALL OF THEM!
Did you know that this is true for all people, not just the ones in church?2 Corinthians 5:19 says “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting their sins against them”. It says the world’s sins, not just believers. All sin has been paid for, past, present, and future; for every person ever born. The key is choosing to believe it for you. Maybe you think, what sin? I’m basically a good person. I don’t steal or kill, I’m definitely not as bad as that person! As long as my good outweighs my bad, that’s what counts right?
But the Bible says in Romans 3:23:” For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard”. Jesus said in John 3:18“There is no judgement against anyone who believes in Him. But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only son”.
Before the cross we were already condemned. Born into sin because of the rebellion of our Fore-father Adam. Does that seem unfair? Maybe, but there’s good news! It is what we call the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:18 says “Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everybody”. Jesus paid the price and became the sacrifice for the sins of the world. He died on a cross but in three days God raised Him up from the dead, proving that mankind’s debt had been satisfied. No one will go to hell for sins they have committed but only if they reject the one who paid the price for those sins.
God is not mad at you, He loves you! He sent Jesus so you could have a life, free from all guilt and shame. Romans 6:23 says, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. John 3:16 says, “This is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life”.
Eternal life starts when you receive Jesus as your Savior.1 Peter 1:23 says: “For you have been BORN AGAIN but not to a life that quickly ends, your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living Word of God”. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new one has begun!”
Sin and all that came with it, sickness, poverty, addiction, mental and emotional issues: you can be free from it all by putting your faith in what Jesus did because of God’s love for you. Romans 10:9, says “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith, that you are saved”. Vs 13:” For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”. Why not call on Him and enjoy your forgiveness today!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The song “I heard the bells on Christmas day” was originally a poem penned by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1863. Longfellow, having suffered much tragedy in his life, wrote the song as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It was put to music in 1872 and has become a regular among our carols of the season. Though the song is inspirational, and God is acknowledged as one who would ultimately right all the wrongs of the world, it has caused many to misunderstand the Bible verse he was referring to in Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will towards men. Longfellow writes “And in despair, I bowed my head, there is no peace on earth I said: For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth good will to men.”
Did the Angels, get it wrong? Fortunately, no. The message of Christmas was not declaring peace between men but something far more important: peace between God and men. The Angels celebrated knowing that the birth of Jesus was God’s way of reconciling mankind to himself. Immanuel, “God with us”. Jesus Christ born to die for the sins of all mankind so that sin was no longer an issue between A Holy God and an unholy people. Jesus took the wrath and judgement that we deserved upon himself. God is at peace with us and we can choose to experience that peace. Romans 5:1-2 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
We may never see peace in this world among all men, but God, your creator, is at peace with you. For God so loved the world (you) that he gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world (you) but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)
In 2022, may we all rejoice with the angels at the gift of Jesus Christ the Savior, born for me and you to give us the peace that will bring us through whatever the year should bring.