When I spoke of the church I "grew up in," my young son questioned me, "You grew up in a church?" At the time I just chuckled and confirmed that I had. I'm pretty sure he thinks that's where I lived. I need to explain to him that I meant it was the church where I went to learn about Jesus when I was a child.
God's family was a part of my life even before I myself trusted Christ and became a child of God. Practically from the time of my birth I heard the message of how God's Son Jesus died on the cross for the wrong things I had done. I heard about how he rose on the third day and then went to live with God in heaven. I was told that if I trusted in Him I could be forgiven for my sin and go to live with him someday.
One evening when I was four years old there was a thunder storm. The lightening flashed the thunder crashed and I was afraid. It was more than a normal fear of thunder storms, I knew that if I died I would be separated from God and Jesus forever. I asked my mom about the one way to get to heaven, and she prayed with me as I received Jesus as my own personal Savior. That day I was born into God's family. John 1:12 says, "yet to all who received Him to those who believed in His name He gave the right to become children of God..."
Just like it is only the beginning of life the day a child is physically born into a family, so also is the day of spiritual birth. Just like a baby I began to grow little by little. At first I was spoon fed; my mom would read me stories from the Bible, take me to Sunday School, and take me to church. As a preteen I was baptized, and during that period in my life I also began to read the Bible on my own. God used Christian friends in my life and experiences at their churches and in their youth groups to help me grow. He used Camps Farthest Out to help make my relationship with Him more one one one. He has used my relationship with my husband and our experience of setting out on our own away from family and friends. He's used the church he's led us to, and he teaches me more about His grace day by day.
I have been given the privilege of being involved in ministry within our local church as well as beyond the walls of our church. Everyday He pours out His grace, His Mercy and His love and I grow. Don't get me wrong, I mess up a lot, and I regret the disobedient choices I have made. Many days I wonder how He can possibly use me at all, but He is God and He is not limited by my weaknesses. "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
To God be the glory forever and ever, amen!
God's family was a part of my life even before I myself trusted Christ and became a child of God. Practically from the time of my birth I heard the message of how God's Son Jesus died on the cross for the wrong things I had done. I heard about how he rose on the third day and then went to live with God in heaven. I was told that if I trusted in Him I could be forgiven for my sin and go to live with him someday.
One evening when I was four years old there was a thunder storm. The lightening flashed the thunder crashed and I was afraid. It was more than a normal fear of thunder storms, I knew that if I died I would be separated from God and Jesus forever. I asked my mom about the one way to get to heaven, and she prayed with me as I received Jesus as my own personal Savior. That day I was born into God's family. John 1:12 says, "yet to all who received Him to those who believed in His name He gave the right to become children of God..."
Just like it is only the beginning of life the day a child is physically born into a family, so also is the day of spiritual birth. Just like a baby I began to grow little by little. At first I was spoon fed; my mom would read me stories from the Bible, take me to Sunday School, and take me to church. As a preteen I was baptized, and during that period in my life I also began to read the Bible on my own. God used Christian friends in my life and experiences at their churches and in their youth groups to help me grow. He used Camps Farthest Out to help make my relationship with Him more one one one. He has used my relationship with my husband and our experience of setting out on our own away from family and friends. He's used the church he's led us to, and he teaches me more about His grace day by day.
I have been given the privilege of being involved in ministry within our local church as well as beyond the walls of our church. Everyday He pours out His grace, His Mercy and His love and I grow. Don't get me wrong, I mess up a lot, and I regret the disobedient choices I have made. Many days I wonder how He can possibly use me at all, but He is God and He is not limited by my weaknesses. "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
To God be the glory forever and ever, amen!
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