Resources 
| Volume II: The Word or the World by Tiffany Chacon |
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| by Tiffany Chacon -- Gainesville, FL | |
| 05.22.09 | |
 One of the convictions I have developed as a disciple is that the Word of God is a “reality book”. It’s not just a book of laws, rules and commands; it’s a book of realities and truths. Even though I have grown up reading and hearing the Bible my entire life, it wasn’t until my late teens that I could understand and appreciate this truth.
Growing up, we always read the Bible and prayed as a family. Almost every morning we would have breakfast together and read the Bible. Not only did my parents read me the Bible, but they also taught me how to understand the Bible as the Word of God and how to have a relationship with Him. This was not a mindless chore, but a whole-hearted devotion to our Creator and Lord. Without this foundation I wouldn’t have been able to begin my own search to understand and know God. 
Tiffany's Family (all disciples)
This was a difficult time in the church and in our lives because there were a lot of changes and very little personal accountability. Over time I became better friends with the group of kids who, although they were going to church, were not disciples. This had a tremendous impact on me spiritually and the eyes of my heart became very worldly. I struggled with wanting acceptance and attention. I had a hard time separating myself from the world and became critical of the church and especially of the leadership. Looking back I am amazed at how fast Satan crept into my heart and mind and caused bitterness and resentment. I became selfish, lazy, prideful, impure and unholy. These sins led me to begin dating someone who was not a disciple. While I was in this relationship, I began sneaking around to see this guy, lying to my parents, manipulating my friends, and being impure. By choosing to date someone who does not have the same convictions as I did (or was supposed to have had), I was hurting God and the people around me. Plus this decision led me to sin in ways I never had before. My experience has taught me that, when the Bible says, “do not be yoked with unbelievers” (2 Co 6:14), it’s because there is a reality behind this command that is this: when a child of God is “yoked”, or connected to a person who is not a child of God, there are complications. I experienced these complications in the form of a softening of my convictions, a lack of faith in the commands of God, impurity, deceit and unholiness. The more I was tied to the world, the less I began to look like a child of God. Today I am so incredibly grateful for the people in my life at that time: my parents, Kay Hoyt, Youlande Levy, and Amy Overstreet. They encouraged me, challenged me, showed me the scriptures, persevered with me, and most of all, they loved me. During this time, the more I read the Scriptures, the less I could deny the reality and truth that was in every word.  That time in my life left me with a lot of stronger, deeper convictions. It definitely made me more grateful for the church, which displays the power and love of God on a daily basis. I completely believe that God has better plans for us than we have for ourselves.Now I get to marry a spiritual man of God who loves me and protects me, instead of someone who makes me second-guess my convictions and has no interest in presenting me holy before God. I understand a little better now scriptures like 2 Corinthians 6:14. I understand that God wants us to belong to him, as his people, his sons and daughters, not just as his servants. I developed a deeper conviction for the book that had become commonplace in my life- the book of life. Tiffany married Tyler Chacon (pictured right) on Memorial Day, May 25 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. |
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