By RTF Guest Writer Amanda Steiner

Have you ever noticed that the best movies are those that cause us to experience every emotion? They leave us on the edges of our seats yelling at our television screens. They teach us lessons about life and allow us to walk away motivated.

Like any good movie, my life started out with a sad beginning.

My parents divorced when I was less than one year old.

I was raised in a home that was in no way Christian and I experienced almost every type of abuse known to man.

As a kid, I’d watch Disney movies and think “That stuff never happens in real life!” I mean, come on, if we all had a fairy godmother and a little bit of pixie dust – what kind of world would we be living in?!?

But, truth be told, we have something – or Someone – so much better than any wacky character Disney could ever have imagined.

We have a God that loves us too much to just walk away or put us on mute.

For a long time I was bitter. I hated life and I feared everyone who tried to begin a friendship with me.

But on April 1, 2004 God radically rocked my world [no fooling] by showing me something I had never experienced – grace.

God’s mercy is when He shows us what we deserve and gives us a “get out of jail free” card, so to speak.

But, God’s grace is Him giving us what we do not deserve – like your parents still giving you an allowance after a super clumsy week. One in which you knocked over and broke a lain grandmother’s lamp, spilled coffee all over their favorite jeans, and nearly burned the kitchen down.

God by His mercy released me from the punishment I did deserve [death] and gave me something I did not deserve – a personal relationship with Him.

Failings, mishaps, disappointments – we can expect them – we’re only human.

But I can’t help but picture God watching the story of my life unfold, sitting on the edge of His throne cheering me on.Yet there’s something much different about God viewing our story, as opposed to us viewing another person’s story – He is actively involved in our lives.

Thank God not making us mindless robots that worship Him, rather than having a choice. It’s like the question:

“Would you rather someone marry you because they have to or because they want to?”

That’s radical grace for you right there! One day when God and I are looking back at the major motion picture called my life, I can know that through the good and the bad, it’s been a life well-lived because it has been a life of loving and pursuing the God who loved and pursued me first.

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Amanda Steiner loves painting, singing, writing, reading, and anything that falls under the category of crafty. She does almost anything with her hands except sports, since she’s more likely to suffer a concussion than make a goal. Her passion is building relationships with people and helping them grow closer to Christ.