How The Sunshine Machine began…

Welcome to my blog and website! I’m so happy you’re here!

The reason I started this blog was to share about God’s redemption in my life and marriage. God transformed my life and circumstances from hopeless to full of hope, healing, and grace. It is because of Jesus that I am who and where I am today. Without his redemption and love, I would be lost and without hope.

I have always known about God and believed in him, but it was when I actually decided to follow and give my whole life to Christ that everything changed.

It was about four and a half years ago that I recommitted my life to Christ. Growing up, I knew about God and had a personal relationship with him. As I grew older, I decided to live life on my own terms and put my relationship with Christ on the back burner. I wanted to do things my own way and follow my heart. Instead of building my life on the solid foundation of Christ, I chose to build it on my career, feelings, and selfish ambitions. When the storms of life came for me and I lost my mother and was involved in a traumatic accident, my life, built on a faulty foundation, crumbled. It was following my heart and feelings that led me deep into hopelessness, sin, and despair.

And that is where Jesus met me… right in the middle of my mess.

In my life’s greatest mess, Jesus met me in a powerful way. When I couldn’t love myself, he loved me. But he called me to a better life. He called me out of my sin and into a life of his freedom and grace. My marriage was broken and my life was a wreck. Despite my situation, he told me there was still hope and always hope with him.

Jesus met me where I was but called me out of my life of sin and my identity of shame.

It was my encounter with Christ that changed everything. When I turned to Jesus and decided to follow him, my life was transformed. I came to know Christ as a loving and forgiving God who grants us grace for our failures. Instead of identifying as a failure, I now identify as forgiven and healed. Instead of identifying myself by my mistakes, I now identify myself only through the truth of Jesus. He said that I am loved, forgiven, healed, and set free. He said that I can change and become a new creation through him.

Once my heart and mind were transformed, my behavior followed. One decision after the next, my life began to heal. Our marriage and relational trust were restored. My heart was healed. My victim mindset and the feeling that I could never change was cast out by the truth of Christ - that I am more than a conqueror through Christ and all things are a new creation in him.

It was through a powerful encounter with Jesus that I stand here today a new woman. I no longer see myself through the lens of failure and shame but through the forgiveness and love of Christ. It would not be possible without his sacrifice on the cross.

Whatever you are going through today, there is hope.

With Jesus, there is hope. Hope to start over again, hope to repent, and hope to overcome any situation you are facing. You no longer have to be hopeless and live in the shame of your past. God has called you to a new life through Christ. Jesus loves you no matter where you are today. If you feel you have dug yourself a pit, He will be there to help pull you out. It will take faith, commitment and effort, but with Christ all things are possible (Matthew 9:26). In fact, God even promises to use all things, even our worst mistakes and failures, for our good and his glory (Romans 8:28).

You are not a victim, but more than a conqueror through Christ.

You, my friend, are not a victim. Bad things may have happened to you or you have made bad choices. Your trauma and pain are indeed very real. But with Christ, you can change. You are not stuck. You can make good choices and find joy despite any circumstance you face. I believe in you, and Jesus loves and believes in you too. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13) Please reach out if I can encourage or pray for you. You are loved and there is hope. Hold onto Jesus. He will be your refuge and carry you through. He is a loving God who cares about you deeply and he is faithful.

Rather than identifying as the victim of my failures and circumstances, I now identify as an overcomer through Jesus Christ. Not only can God transform your past from pain to purpose, but He can entirely redirect your future. When you surrender to God every part of your life, God can craft even your darkest shadows into stories of His redemption.

The name “The Sunshine Machine” was inspired by one of my poems. It is about finding the light inside of you, which can only be found in Jesus, and sharing His light and hope with the rest of the world. My desire is that this page of writing and poetry will direct your attention to the forgiveness, love, and redemption of Jesus; that if you are broken or struggling, you will find comfort and victory through Him; if you are lost, that you will be found in His love; if you feel unworthy and unloved, that you will be wrapped in His loving arms and given a new identity as His beloved child; that in a world filled with darkness, you will find hope in Jesus and your heart will be ignited to shine His light into the world. Fear, doubt, shame, and sin have no power over the love of Jesus. I pray that you will take hold of this hope and find your identity as an overcomer in Him.

Shine. Sparkle. Glitter. Gleam.

Transform into a Sunshine Machine.

Ignite your light. Kindle the flame.

Incinerate your doubt and shame.

Radiate fiercely. Brightly shine.

Show the world “this light is mine”.

Glisten in the shadows. Glow in the dark.

Light your fire. It takes only one spark.

-Kristi Collins