Both Sides of the Fence

"Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No. I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me and two against, or two in favor of me and three against." Luke 12:51

I never thought standing up for my faith would be so hard. I didn't think that over something so small, friendships would be tested, and quite possibly for the better? At first I thought that night I had lost friends. After things quieted, and friendships were (restored?), I realized this was only the beginning. I would probably never be invited to a party again. And strangely, I'm ok with that. Somehow, things just aren't the way they used to be. My priorities have changed. God is taking away everything that was once in competition with Him. I am radically different from how I used to be. Now, as these things are taken away, I am beginning to feel the sting of people hating me.

What do you think Jesus meant when he said that families would be split apart? I always thought, I could never hate my mom or dad. I mean, how could families, who are supposed to love each other no mater what, be against each other? But then God showed me families in a different way. These days, families all believe in different things. I know families where each member believes in a different God. But in Bible times, weren't entire families part of one religion? Wasn't a family either completely Jewish or completely Gentile? They all believed the same thing. Or they claimed to, at least. So, what if Jesus was talking about a bigger picture? What if all Christians (or people who call themselves Christians) families are going to be split apart? I think this is only the beginning of people hating me. And as crazy as it sounds, it really isn't as important to me anymore. Friendships are nothing compared to having an intimate relationship with my Savior.

All I want to do is leave everything at The Cross. I am learning that I can't serve two masters anymore; I can't sit on the fence and be content anymore. I have to choose one or the other, and I choose Jesus.

Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross

-Lines from "Lead me to the cross" by Hillsong

My Personal Statement for UNC

Ok, so I told Amanda I would put my personal statement that I put on UNC' s application up here. I almost regret writing it. I mean, it was optional. However, it's too late to take it back. O well. The Only good part about it is that I found an opportunity to mention my relationship with Jesus.

p.s. An alternate title should have been, What was I thinking?!

My Name is Ashton Lynn Coats. Who am I …really? I am a hard worker. One of the hardest
Workers you’ll ever meet. I never give up, never quit, and never back down. I am outgoing. I am the daughter of two Air Force Veterans, and they have instilled in me self control and discipline. I am a girl, a person, a friend. Give me a chance, and I will show you what I am made of. UNC Chapel Hill can give me an education that I can take and change the world. Maybe I’ll be the president, or a schoolteacher, or an
astronaut. Maybe I’ll be a millionaire, or maybe I’ll be living in Kenya in a hut one day. The thing is, I don’t know what I am going to be when I grow up, but at UNC I can choose how to start. I am a quick learner, a quick adapter, and I am quick to help others. I have a heart, and Jesus Christ, my best friend, fills it up. I love sunflowers and soccer and pizza. You don’t know me, but you have the opportunity to. I will not let you down.


Thank you for giving me an opportunity to tell you my heart, and attempt to describe myself on
paper.



ok, so i hope this gave you a good laugh. haha.
...
haha.