What’s Your Story?

I realize that posts of substance have been somewhat lacking this past month.  There are various reasons, and excuses, for that…some good, some bordering on laziness (or maybe sheer exhaustion?).  But, as a result, I also realized that I quit about midway through the GirlTalk Book Club questions. 

I have long since finished the book, and I am sure that no one cares whether or not I post my responses to/thoughts on the remaining 4 chapters.  But, in an effort to finish what I have started, over the next few days, I am going to finish my self-imposed “assignments” from Twelve Extraordinary Women.

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This coming week you will read about our Savior’s amazing discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well.
During the conversation, “the Holy Spirit was working in her heart. God the Father was drawing her irresistibly to Christ, revealing truth to her that eye had never seen and ear had never heard” (p. 149).
So how about you–When and how did the Holy Spirit first reveal the truth of Christ to your soul? Each and every story of conversion is a miracle.

Chapter 8 – The Samaritan Woman: Finding the Water of Life

I was excited to see the last line of this weeks GirlTalk Book Club question…“Each and every story of conversion is a miracle.”  I used to find myself apologizing because my testimony is not “glamorous” or “exciting.”  I thought it was a typical story, and just like everyone else’s.  But, I am beginning to realize just how unusual my story really is…

I grew up in a Christian home, with 2 parents who loved the Lord, served Him faithfully, and taught me to do the same.  I include this fact anytime I share my testimony, not because Christian parents have some magical power to make their children ”Christians” by association, but because I think that the impact of their lives is an incredible testimony to the responsibility of parents in the spiritual instruction of their children.  It is because I was raised in a Christian family that I was exposed to the truths of Scripture at an early age.  What I was taught at home was reinforced at church, by my Sunday School teachers and Awana leaders. So, when “the Holy Spirit first revealed the truth of Christ to [my] soul,” even though I was young, it was not surprising (to me) that I should respond to His working. 

I was saved at the age of three.  My Cubbies leader was telling a story about the “Wordless Book,” and explaining that the sins that I had committed made my heart “black.”  But, God sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die, and shed his blood (“red”) for my sins on the cross.  She then explained that if I would believe in what He had done for me, He would forgive my sins, and make my heart “white as snow.”  Then, someday, when I died, I could go to Heaven (“yellow”) and live with Jesus forever.  It was a simple, child-like understanding.  But, the last page of the Wordless Book, is green.  It reminds us that we are to grow in our relationship with our Savior.  Over the years I have grown in my understanding of this amazing truth.  As I continue to read the Bible, I am in awe of God’s grace and mercy on me.

I mentioned earlier that I used to apologize for how boring my testimony was.  I mean, I was not saved from a life of drugs, prostitution, or any of the things that this world would consider among the “worst” sins.  After all, how much trouble can a 3-year-old really get into?  (It won’t be long until I find out!)  The worst thing I had probably done was disobey my parents.  But, in God’s eyes, sin is still sin.  It doesn’t matter what it is.  I was still on my way to Hell, in need of a Savior. 

But, I am so thankful that the Lord saw fit to draw me to Himself at such an early age.  I cannot imagine the depths of grief and sin that I have been spared as a result.  I have been blessed with (almost) my entire lifetime to serve, and to grow more in love with my Savior.