50 years ago today - the most important day of my life!

I am so excited! I’ve been thinking about this post for 6 weeks or so, knowing that I wanted to write something about it and not really knowing how to best go about it. And I’ve been kind of struggling with it. I don’t know if it has been Satan trying to deter me (that wasn’t going to happen). Or has it just been the fact that I know the importance of this day and the decision made, and with my limited writing abilities I haven’t known how “I” can possibly do it justice.

So, here’s what I’ve decided. I’m just going to sit down and tell you about it, and trust “God” to use it and bless it in any manner “He” may desire.

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I grew up in a great Christian home. I have two parents that were and have been very good Christian examples and who, since the first weak of my life, had me in a solid, Gospel of Grace, Bible believing, church every time the doors were open. So, I grew up knowing about Jesus. We prayed before every meal and often had a family devotional time. I went to Sunday School and Church every Sunday, Wednesday nights there was a lesson for the children (while the adults had Bible study and prayer), and we had Vacation Bible School every summer. And growing up, I suspect everyone that knew me would have said that I was a “good kid.”

BUT……… even at a young age, I knew something else. I knew I wasn’t good enough. I knew I did bad things at times. And early on, I learned that we all sin and that sin separates us from God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Rm 3:23  And I knew about Jesus dying for my sins. But for whatever reasons (maybe my age) it hadn’t all sunken in real well. But in 1962, on Wednesday night June 13^th into early Thursday morning the 14^th, it did!

I still clearly recall the night. Melvina Wichert was teaching the children this Wednesday night. I don’t recall much of what she said, but I do recall this one thing. She asked, “If Jesus were to return tonight, would you be ready to go to Heaven?” Rm 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

That night after going to bed, I could not sleep. I lay there in bed for hours thinking about what had been said in church and knowing that I had never invited Jesus into my heart. Finally, quite late (I believe it was after midnight) and with everyone else in the house asleep, I got up and went and knocked on my parents’ bedroom door. I could not go another moment without Jesus in my heart!

I told them I needed to talk, and mom came out. I told her my situation, and she shared Acts 16:30, 31 with me. Paul and Silas were in jail, the earthquake had occurred, and the chains had fallen off and freed them, and the jailer was in fear and didn’t know what to do with himself (he was actually on the verge of killing himself). He comes to Paul and Silas, and this is the conversation, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved….”

Following the reading of this Scripture and a little conversation about what I knew I needed to do, mother and I prayed together. I told the Lord that I knew I was a sinner, that I believed He is the Son of God, and that I wanted Him to come into my life and forgive me of my sins. And, HE DID!!!

There was no doubt in my mind, and there was immediate comfort and complete peace. I KNEW that if Jesus came back that moment I was headed for Heaven with Him.

So, this occurred when I was eight years old, shortly after midnight on June 14, 1962. And today, that is 50 years ago!!! So, Spiritually speaking this is my 50^th birthday today! I have now spent 50 years with Jesus in my heart, walking along side of me, always there, my best never-failing friend. It has been a journey, and though I have failed Him over and over, He has forgiven me over and over. And not because I have been good enough, not because of anything I have done, but simply because of what He did in dying for me on that rugged cross at Calvary. The only, and vitally important, thing “I” have done is this, I asked Him to forgive my sins, come into my life, and I committed my life to Him. That’s all “I” did. I said, “Yes Lord.” He did ALL the rest!

I know some of you have made this same decision and are part of what we call “the family of God.” I praise God, with you, for that. But some of you may be wondering, “If Jesus returns tonight, will ‘I’ go to Heaven or not?” There is a way of knowing for sure. And it is not about how good we have been, how many times we’ve been in church, how many Bible stories we’ve read or Christian songs we’ve song, how many times we’ve confessed at the alter or to the priest, if our parents know the Lord, or anything else. It’s about, have we personally believed in Jesus (put our faith in Him) and what He did for us, and have we given our life to Him? If you’re not sure whether you have done that, please be sure… today!

At the top of this page is a tab labeled “Is there really any hope?” Click on that tab and you will find more information and a link that can guide you and help you to be SURE that your eternal destiny is secure in Jesus!

Then, thank you for celebrating my 50^th new-birth birthday with me. There has never been, nor will there ever be, a more important day in my life!

I am so broken! But …… maybe not broken enough.

Seriously, look at the Spiritual condition of the world, of our country, of our church, AND ……………… of our own lives!!!! NO, do not compare each to itself or its neighbor. Compare them to whom we are called to be compared to. Jesus Christ!

IF we, that profess to be born again Christians, are accurately seeing the current condition of each of these, and if we understand who the Lord is, and if we understand who He has called us to be, I don’t see how we cannot be in massive brokenness.

Now, I’m not saying we need to all quit school, quit our jobs, or come out of retirement and each become pastors, start up additional ministries or go to the mission field. Just maybe, there are already too many in those positions that have never reached the point of true brokenness and consecration themselves.

But here’s what I do believe and would suggest. I suspect it is way past time for us to strongly consider giving up a lot of other things, maybe TV, or golf, or chasing rabbits. And instead go to our knees in passionate brokenness, surrender, and a plea for the Lord through His Holy Spirit to do a might work and that it begin in each of us personally. And maybe we need to go to those knees in fasting and praying, and just not get up until we see it happening!

I would encourage each of us to not just read this blog and go on without prayerfully committing to at least consider what I’m proposing. If we are satisfied with how things are, then I’m concerned that maybe, we are the problem.

We serve a mighty mighty God and there are no limits to His capabilities! But, for some reason, He has a plan that involves (yes a sinful, but also) a broken and consecrated people. Are we truly that people?

No, I did not have lunch with Kevin Durant today. But.....

Ok, I’m going to “name drop” a bit today.

No, I did not have lunch with nor am I personal friends with Kevin Durant (OKC Thunder professional basketball star). But…………..

I’m sure you all have very intriguing friends and family. I also have some amazingly interesting friends and family, of which several are fb friends.

In thinking of one particular perspective a certain group comes to mind. One or more fit each of these description by title and responsibility (PhD Theology, PhD Biblical Counseling, PhD Medical Field, PhD Education Administration, Bible College and Seminary graduates, Bible College instructors, life-long ministers and missionaries, a couple of Bible translators to tribes throughout the world, 50s year olds that just now have gone to the mission field and other prestigious titled individuals with Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees, and some I’m sure I’m just not thinking of right now). At this time, I’m focusing mostly on those with the Bible training. (Really, if I stop to think of some of their Bible knowledge I would be hesitant to ever post some of my Biblical related posts. In this particular case, I guess I don’t feel God has called me to “think”, just to “do” what He is asking.)   J

Now the thing that really impresses me about all of these people is that they seem to be very intelligent individuals that are equally committed to the Lord. Some I know well (siblings, classmates, cousins, uncles, friends, past Bible study partners, etc) and I know that they have given up lives of far greater “human” wealth and “human” fulfillment to dedicate their lives to the Lord’s work and will receive little or no worldly recognition or any form of acclaim.

Once in a while, I share one or two of their posts or blogs, but far more often I am tempted to and decide against it. I just often sense that what I post isn’t read and feel to share further would be futile. My thought here is that some of us, I’m afraid, have really limited our exposure to many vital and intriguing ministries throughout the world. If I didn’t personally know these people, I likely would not be aware of their ministries.

Today I read a blog of a high school Bible academy classmate of mine who is currently in S. Sudan and/or Uganda working with a tribal (or small locale language) translation of the Book of Luke and the “Jesus Film.”  Just amazingly intriguing things go on in such an activity as this. I was truly blessed to hear some specific details, occurring right now with this work.

Also, almost daily, I am aware of another extremely interesting ministry in Guatemala. Another Bible academy schoolmate of mine is there with daily heart breaking challenges and almost daily invigorating victories.

Another graduate from the same Bible academy is a single woman in her 50s and is in a very violent area of Mexico and living a life of servanthood to the Lord there. Others (including a sister and a niece) are also field missionaries, interpretors, pastors, and Bible instructors or counselors in Panama, Italy, Mexico and across the U.S.; and all are in major potential life-changing and disciplining ministries.

I guess my point is this, there is so much going on that unless our churches are dedicated to sharing worldwide ministries with us, as well as sharing local ministries, we just may not even be aware of what is being done. And maybe, I’m just bragging a bit on the fact that I am so privileged to closely know people that have such knowledge of God’s Word, intimacy with Him, commitment to serving Him, and influence on potential eternal destiny decisions; and they are all over the world in very different environments.

Now, I’m not berating those of us that are not as Biblically educated, God can also use us in a number of ways if we are also willing to submit to His use. But there really are some extreme needs and amazing ministries that, at times, we just are not exposed to. They are there and they will bless us if we take the time to look for them.

And then I just thank God for those who have gone out and seriously taken God at His directive and have intensely “studied God’s Word and hid it in their hearts” and are sharing it with those lost and in need of intimacy with Him and Spiritual growth, and those that are also ministering to physical needs in areas of massive need. God blesses that obedience and He tells us it is vital to His work.

“Thank you Lord for your work through these, your committed ministers!” 

(I feel I have rambled a bit here. But I am feeling so blessed to know people that have seriously sought God through time with Him and His Word and are now really making a difference for His Kingdom, some in very diverse environments.)