The idea for “The One of Ninety-Nine” came to me on my 27th birthday. Of course God would give me the idea for the passion project of my dreams on the day He brought me into this world. I have this tradition that I have been doing every year on my birthday for the past five years where I spend the morning alone at the beach. I bring a towel to sit on, my phone and headphones so I can listen to worship music, my Bible, my journal, and a pen. And I write my heart out. I reflect on the past year’s ups and downs and pray about my hopes and desires for the following year. I take the time to acknowledge the internal work I’ve let God do in my heart and ask for the strength to step into whatever He has next for me.
On this specific birthday, I happened to read Luke 15:1-7 at the beach, which is “The Parable of the Lost Sheep.” It’s a parable I’ve read multiple times, but since the Word is alive, it hit me differently this time. In what felt like an instant during prayer after I read these verses and asked the above questions, God gave me the reason behind the name (click here to read it). He showed me how it related to me personally and many people walking through life trying to find hope after suffering. And I thought of multiple topics that I could write about, on a shorter scale, that integrate Christianity and psychology. Thus, “The One of Ninety-Nine” was born.
This picture of me looking out at the beach holds a lot of significance. It was taken shortly before a pivotal turning point in my life that catapulted me out of darkness and into freedom. The 23-year-old woman looking out at the water wouldn’t believe where I’m at today. Full of hope, confident in my voice, and boldly stepping out in faith. She wouldn’t believe it because while she had a healthy fear, meaning reverence, of the Lord, she did not trust Him. Her heart was jaded from all she’d been through and she expected disappointment. Now, giving all glory to God, I am not the same girl in this picture. However, her suffering was not for nothing because it inspires my passion for helping the broken-hearted while giving me a perspective I would not have without it. I’m truly grateful for every part of my testimony, and I can’t wait for the joy creating this blog will bring me and hopefully all of you.