As I was taking the girls to school this morning, I began thinking of my life; where I had been, where I am now and where I want to be. I thought of my younger years when I was active at Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church and participated in VBS, both as a student and a teacher. I thought of my old youth group and the fun but crazy adventures we got into to. I thought of my high school and college years. I thought of my jobs and relationships. I thought of my marriage and the birth of my kids. I thought of my spiritual journey. I stopped on that thought and pondered it for a while.
I will never forget the night I received Christ as my Savior. I was almost 10 and we were having a revival at Mt. Vernon. While I don't remember the exact night, I can recall the pew I sat on and the movement of the Holy Spirit in my life. It was almost like I floated to the altar. I also remember my baptism. It wasn't a "sprinkling" that some Methodists get. No, I wanted a full fledged "dunk". I was one of several kids who received Christ that week and so we all got baptized together. Seems like it was in the fall because the water was so cold. Of course the water in the Luxapalila is subarctic in the middle of July. Yep, I got "dunked" in the river. I remember the preacher covering my nose with his hand and going under. It was amazing to me.
My mind fast forwarded to from age 10 to my late teens and early 20's. By this time, I had got into the habit of NOT going to church. It wasn't that I didn't love God, I just had other priorities. I had also witnessed other "church goers" that went to church on Sunday and Wednesdays but as soon as they left the church premises, they would go back to gossiping, lying and just being plain ol' mean...talking the talk but not walking the walk. I remember thinking, "If this is what Christianity is about, I'm not so sure I want a part of that". It wasn't that I didn't believe in God, I was just so confused about what a Christian life was to look like. I remember thinking the Ten Commandments were just a bunch of rules and regulations that I could never live up to so why try? I thought the Bible was boring because I didn't speak the King James language and sure didn't understand it!
And as I drove down the road this morning, I wondered how many other people feel or have felt that same way? It would probably be more than I realized because if it happened to me, it can happen to anyone.
After having kids, I realized I needed to be back in church because I wanted to raise my kids in church. I would go an average of 2 Sundays a month. I was dressing in mu "uniform" and standing on the sidelines. I happened to sign up for a Beth Moore Bible study for the women of our church. I had no clue what I was getting myself into. I really signed up so I could have some adult conversation because I had 2 little girls under the age of 2 that I stayed home with all day and I could leave them with my mom and go to Bible study without feeling guilty. The hour Bible study and fellowship sounded like a good thing to me! Little did I know it would spark my interest in the Word of God and totally change my life.
Spring forward 10 years and here I am head over heels in love with Christ. I can't get enough of Him. Some days I get to just nibble on His Word and other days I get to sit down and feast. I can't imagine my life without Him now. He has strengthened my marriage, healed my heart to love what seems like the unlovable, blotted out those memories when the devil ruled my life...the list could go on and on. Can I just tell you He has rocked my world. He has become my habit. He is my drug of choice because there ain't no high like the Most High! I don't EVER want to lose my zeal and love for Him. I don't EVER want to go back to the days of just "getting by" without Him. He is the lover of my soul. I don't want to ever let Him go. He has brought me from the mud and mire of a pit of sin and placed my feet upon a rock. His Rock. My soul yearns for more of Him and I don't ever want that to change. Ever.
I am not where I need to be, but I thank God I am not where I was! I think I'll go spend a little time thanking Him for what He has done in my life and let Him know how AWESOME I think He is! Catch you all later!
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