My Story, Part I
Can you recall the words of your prayer when you prayed to receive Christ? I can’t remember exactly the words I spoke, but I very much remember doing it. And I know God was present. He heard my words spoken to Him. I was on my knees beside my bed. I often prayed after I went to bed. But I knew from Sunday school that God would hear this prayer, so I got on my knees and placed my hands together and prayed like I never had before.
You see, I knew I was a sinner (I still am), and I knew that without Jesus I was going to miss the biggest thing of all by a huge distance! I was going to miss heaven. And I knew full well that hell was where I was headed. And I was going to miss a relationship with Christ who died for me. I had to do it. I had no choice but to pray to invite Jesus to be my Lord, my Boss, my Savior! I knew that it meant that from that point on that I was to follow Him. And I knew that I wouldn’t be the same.
I had talked to my parents, they were encouraging. I needed to talk to God. I have yet to mention how old I was. I gave my life to Christ beside my bed on 11-05-70. It was two months short of turning 10. I was baptized on 11-15-1970.
We move forward with my life. When I was 16, I smashed my leg in a farm accident. I remember hearing the doctor tell my parents about the possibility of losing my leg. It was also highly possible that I would never have the use of it again. Me and God had a talk! I knew He had plans for me and He showed me some of those plans. After a few months, I began to regain limited use of my leg. I worked hard at restoring the sciatic nerve as well as the muscle. During the fall, I hit the bench press on the weight machine at the football fieldhouse every day. I had destroyed two large muscles, but others began to take their place. I was able to play basketball again.
After high school, I began to attend OSU. I spent more time in the Colvin Center Annex playing basketball more than I did studying. And I also began to go to a couple of dance halls as well. Well, I wasn’t doing what God wanted. I struggled with that. I came back to Cameron University because of difficult financial times. I still struggled.
He led me to the most amazing girl, and, well, I married her. One thing I know I got right. How come do we always think we know everything when we are young. Right before the wedding, I graduated with a degree in Agricultural Education. But I didn’t teach, I brought my bride to the farm sw of Geronimo. A few years later, we moved to se of Chattanooga.
We went to church. Lawton Central, Geronimo, back to Central. Then, in 1994, Cheryl and I began to seek where our church home needed to be. We were living near Chatty, and we were members at Central. I was helping teach 3rd grade Sunday School, believe it or not. We began to realize that we needed to attend closer to home. And for the first time, we really began to seek what we could do for a church instead of what the church could do to minister to us. In August of 1994, we moved our membership to Chattanooga.
I can remember observing a few interesting things: there were very few teenagers who attended church at the time. There were also very few young adults. The Lord was also showing me that I needed to get back closer to what He had planned for me. I recommitted my life to God and began to really allow Him to work in and through me.
I began to finally turn everything over to Him. I was able to get rid of a 17-year Copenhagen tobacco habit. And I began to mend some relationships with people I had problems with.
God was really beginning to do a work in me. I was spending time in regular prayer and in the Word. I was growing in Him, again. (Stay tuned for Part II next week!)
Choose Jesus, choose life! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! And y’all KEEP PRAYIN’ for RAIN! Amen