Today was a beautiful fall morning. The air was crisp and new with just a hint of wind stirring the tree tops. The warmth from the bright sun was like a blanket over our bodies. The silence of the country was hypnotizing as the acorns one after another dropped to the ground each time the breeze gently whispered. Birds joyfully chirped as they flew back and forth among the trees. My family and I inhaled the beauty and awesomeness of God as we gathered outside for a morning devotional. We like to take a break ever so often and show our children that you can worship God anywhere and one of our favorite spots is out in the wide open. We discussed with our children the necessity of knowing God and walking with Him in a conscious relationship.
A story that illustrates the importance of following God is the familiar story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4). A story of two men who came from the same parents, lived in the same environment, and experienced the same teaching. However, Cain chose to ignore God and went about things his own way. He did not appreciate what God had given him nor did he seek a relationship with God. This resulted in descendants that lived outside of God. Abel, on the other hand chose to trust God and follow His ways. Although Abel did not leave any descendants, God gave Adam and Eve another son, named Seth, whose descendants counted as Abel's seed (Genesis 4:25). It was through this line of descendants that Jesus Christ was born.
As we shared with our children, the nearness of the Lord was ever so present and overwhelming in everything that surrounded us. I have grown on this ranch as a wife and momma that loves the Lord more today than I did as a new bride. The beauty and peacefulness have allowed me to walk with God and cultivate my relationship with Him to the point that I feel His presence each time I seek him. The ranch has been in my husband’s family for three generations. His grandfather was a good man, hard worker, but he chose to live outside of God’s presence. Unfortunately, all his descendants have followed in his footsteps. My husband, by the grace of God, was the first descendant to break the line and follow God.
As we concluded our family devotion, I told my family that I wanted to go down to the pond and recommit my life to God. Before God and our children, my husband took my confession and baptized me. Yes, I believe Jesus Christ is the son of God, that he died on the cross and rescued me from Satan, and when Jesus arose from the dead, He crushed Satan. I now, because of my belief and confession of sins, belong to God’s new humanity in Christ.
My husband and his grandfather dug the 17 acre pond over 30 years ago. It took them five years to complete it. Over 30 years ago, I gave my life to Christ and was baptized. My recommitment to the Lord marked the first baptism in that pond. It is my prayer that many more will enter the water in that pond purely because of their desire to walk with Him.
Two lines of humanity begin with Cain and Abel, and you are part of either one or the other.
Carla Henson
Tuscola, Texas
Showing posts with label Personal Faith Stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Personal Faith Stories. Show all posts
Monday, November 5, 2012
Thursday, December 22, 2011
A Secure Heart
There is probably nothing more exciting and heartwarming than to hear the story of family members who get to meet for the very first time. I recently had such an experience myself while attending a conference on the west coast.
It was a glorious, tropical day, one of those picture-perfect days when you feel God’s presence in the beauty of nature and can hardly wait to get outside. My friends and I had just arrived at the elevator when I noticed a young woman who was visibly shaken and trembling. She slowly made her way to the elevator. With her back to us and her head bowed, rode quietly with us to the lobby. She was first to get off the elevator and I was not really paying attention when one of my friends looked back and pointed her out to me. I went to her and told her that I could tell she was upset and wondered if there was anything I could do to help. I had no idea I was meeting a sister for the very first time.
As we sat and visited, it quickly became apparent that we had several things in common. Early in our conversation I could tell that she was a believer so it did not take me long to ask what church she went to. She identified herself with aChurch of Christ Church of Christ
Through her tears she began to share her story. She first told me that she was planning to take her life. She had written a letter to her sister and had written several notes including one to the housekeeper who would find her in the room, apologizing for what she had done.
She had traveled two hours the day before to meet a young man whom she had known since high school. They had kept in touch by phone but she had not seen him in three years. She traveled by train and had planned to meet him for dinner, visit and then return home. She had not told anyone where she was going. She knew her family and friends would not approve. After dinner her friend had taken her to the hotel and they visited there for several hours. She was devastated when he told her that he did not love her and would not be seeing her again. She said in spite of the fact that their families would never approve of their relationship, due to cultural and religious differences, she loved him and told him that if she could not be with him, when he left she would take her life. She wanted more than anything for him to love her unconditionally as she loved him.
My sweet sister was in the depths of depression! She had left the room to make a phone call, to tell her sister goodbye. She felt everyone would be better off if she just went away, evaporated from their lives. She could see no reason to live. Her father had left her mother when she was one year old. She knew that he had sexually abused her sister who was ten when she was born. Her mother blamed her sister for breaking up their marriage.
She continued to tell of the difficulties she had faced throughout her twenty-three years. Her heart was breaking as she shared that a year ago she had given birth to a baby girl. She had given her up for adoption. I pointed out to her that someday that little girl may want to know her biological mother. Had she thought about how it would affect her when she learned that her mother had taken her own life?
I asked if there was anything she ever dreamed of doing. She said she had always wanted to be a cosmetologist. When I inquired as to why she had not followed this dream, she said everyone told her it was not possible. I assured her that God loves her and that He has a plan and a purpose for her life. I told her that by His grace and with His help, she could accomplish whatever she wanted in life.
I was able to share about experiences in my life when I also needed help. I told her about the death of my husband to whom I had been married for forty-eight years. I shared with her a description of “true love”, a mutual love between a man and woman as God intended from the beginning of time, a love worth the wait.
We went to my room to make some phone calls. She called the friend who left her at the hotel to let him know she did not follow through with her plan. When I had finished praying she asked if she could pray. With a sincere and contrite heart she earnestly confessed her sins and thanked God for intervening and saving her life.
She listened attentively as I encouraged her to share with members of her church family who could help her through this difficult time in her life. I suggested she see a physician and told her she could get help and did not have to feel this way. She shared contact information with me and I, with her. I have emailed her and recently spoken with her on the phone. She assured me that things are much better. I look forward to staying in touch with my precious sister. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
My sister and I have so little and yet so very much in common. We both have experienced broken hearts and I’m sure will continue at times to be faced with challenges beyond our wildest imaginations. However, we do know how to secure our hearts. Our loving Father whom we share has seen to that!
An age-old hymn, one I sang as a girl growing up, comes to mind, “How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts?
“How shall the young secure their hearts, and guard their lives from sin? Thy word the choicest rules imparts to keep the conscience clean, to keep the conscience clean, to keep the conscience clean.
Tis, like the sun, a heav’nly light, that guides us all the day, and thro’ the dangers of the night, a lamp to lead our way, a lamp to lead our way, a lamp to lead our way.
Thy word is everlasting truth; how pure is every page! That holy book shall guide our youth, and well support our age, and well support our age, and well support our age.”
Stephenville , TX
It was a glorious, tropical day, one of those picture-perfect days when you feel God’s presence in the beauty of nature and can hardly wait to get outside. My friends and I had just arrived at the elevator when I noticed a young woman who was visibly shaken and trembling. She slowly made her way to the elevator. With her back to us and her head bowed, rode quietly with us to the lobby. She was first to get off the elevator and I was not really paying attention when one of my friends looked back and pointed her out to me. I went to her and told her that I could tell she was upset and wondered if there was anything I could do to help. I had no idea I was meeting a sister for the very first time.
As we sat and visited, it quickly became apparent that we had several things in common. Early in our conversation I could tell that she was a believer so it did not take me long to ask what church she went to. She identified herself with a
Through her tears she began to share her story. She first told me that she was planning to take her life. She had written a letter to her sister and had written several notes including one to the housekeeper who would find her in the room, apologizing for what she had done.
She had traveled two hours the day before to meet a young man whom she had known since high school. They had kept in touch by phone but she had not seen him in three years. She traveled by train and had planned to meet him for dinner, visit and then return home. She had not told anyone where she was going. She knew her family and friends would not approve. After dinner her friend had taken her to the hotel and they visited there for several hours. She was devastated when he told her that he did not love her and would not be seeing her again. She said in spite of the fact that their families would never approve of their relationship, due to cultural and religious differences, she loved him and told him that if she could not be with him, when he left she would take her life. She wanted more than anything for him to love her unconditionally as she loved him.
My sweet sister was in the depths of depression! She had left the room to make a phone call, to tell her sister goodbye. She felt everyone would be better off if she just went away, evaporated from their lives. She could see no reason to live. Her father had left her mother when she was one year old. She knew that he had sexually abused her sister who was ten when she was born. Her mother blamed her sister for breaking up their marriage.
She continued to tell of the difficulties she had faced throughout her twenty-three years. Her heart was breaking as she shared that a year ago she had given birth to a baby girl. She had given her up for adoption. I pointed out to her that someday that little girl may want to know her biological mother. Had she thought about how it would affect her when she learned that her mother had taken her own life?
I asked if there was anything she ever dreamed of doing. She said she had always wanted to be a cosmetologist. When I inquired as to why she had not followed this dream, she said everyone told her it was not possible. I assured her that God loves her and that He has a plan and a purpose for her life. I told her that by His grace and with His help, she could accomplish whatever she wanted in life.
I was able to share about experiences in my life when I also needed help. I told her about the death of my husband to whom I had been married for forty-eight years. I shared with her a description of “true love”, a mutual love between a man and woman as God intended from the beginning of time, a love worth the wait.
We went to my room to make some phone calls. She called the friend who left her at the hotel to let him know she did not follow through with her plan. When I had finished praying she asked if she could pray. With a sincere and contrite heart she earnestly confessed her sins and thanked God for intervening and saving her life.
She had me call her boss and her sister to let them know she was fine and would be going home on the afternoon train. She called a friend from church who was happy to hear from her. She said she would arrange for someone to meet her at the train station and take her to a service they were having at church that evening.
She listened attentively as I encouraged her to share with members of her church family who could help her through this difficult time in her life. I suggested she see a physician and told her she could get help and did not have to feel this way. She shared contact information with me and I, with her. I have emailed her and recently spoken with her on the phone. She assured me that things are much better. I look forward to staying in touch with my precious sister. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
My sister and I have so little and yet so very much in common. We both have experienced broken hearts and I’m sure will continue at times to be faced with challenges beyond our wildest imaginations. However, we do know how to secure our hearts. Our loving Father whom we share has seen to that!
An age-old hymn, one I sang as a girl growing up, comes to mind, “How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts?
“How shall the young secure their hearts, and guard their lives from sin? Thy word the choicest rules imparts to keep the conscience clean, to keep the conscience clean, to keep the conscience clean.
Tis, like the sun, a heav’nly light, that guides us all the day, and thro’ the dangers of the night, a lamp to lead our way, a lamp to lead our way, a lamp to lead our way.
Thy word is everlasting truth; how pure is every page! That holy book shall guide our youth, and well support our age, and well support our age, and well support our age.”
Jan Alderfer
Friday, September 30, 2011
Personal Faith Stories
When I was 26 years old, I suffered a miscarriage.
I was 8 ½ weeks along, expecting my second child. We were so excited when we found out just a month before, and had already begun joyfully anticipating the baby’s arrival. When I had some complications, my doctor called me in for an ultrasound. The sonogram revealed that our baby, at just 2½ centimeters long, did not have a heartbeat.
I was covered with terrible sorrow. My faith told me that God was in control, but I still felt unbelievable sadness. My husband and I knew a tiny hole (a 2½ centimeter hole) was opened that could never be filled. I wasn’t sure how to respond.
I had always been impressed with Job’s reaction to the news none of us ever hopes to hear. Upon first being told that he had lost his property, his livelihood, and even his family, Job didn’t get angry; he didn’t feel sorry for himself; he didn’t lash out or bury his pain. He began to mourn and to worship God.
Here are his words:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."
--Job 1:20
I think Job understood something that is easy to miss: he realized that God was the same God both before and after losing everything… that his circumstances, good or bad, didn’t change God’s nature. What faith! As I attempted to process all the things I was feeling, Job reminded me that God is always good. And He loves us even more than we loved our tiny child.
Because of this knowledge, I knew it was important for me not to carry my pain alone. I found two ways to cope. The first was to open my broken heart to God - I knew He didn’t fear to walk through grief with me. As I poured out my sorrow to Him, I found a rich place of comfort. My husband and I felt a great loss, but I know He felt it with us. I truly knew that “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18).
I also decided that I would find the strength to share my grief with the people around me. A lot of healing came from letting others help me. I found that when I had the courage to be vulnerable, I was not taking advantage of the community, but I was helping to create the community.
I walked through some very dark moments and days, feeling a deep sorrow that I would never hold my baby. But I was able to grieve as one who has hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). I knew my child was welcomed into God’s arms. I had hope that I would have another child. I was filled with a new gratitude for the blessings all around me. And I was reminded that, in a sense, our children, our other loved ones, our jobs, our heath, and our possessions are never really ours - they are His. God has blessed us with them for a brief moment in time, and while we have them, we must use each of those blessings to honor God.
I still don’t understand why it happened. And I still feel very sad at times. But I know I can trust Him.
Bicky Tolar
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Personal Faith Stories
I grew up going to Sunday school and church and making the requisite 3 times a week appearance, learning Bible stories through flannel-graphs, listening to sermons and singing. I was a leader in my youth group, preached my first sermon in the 7th grade, have been a fill-in preacher (having great compassion on the audience for what they endured) and have taught youth and adult Bible classes on a frequent basis since my mid-20’s. From the outside looking in, I’m the church success story. I had the wife and two children and a good job and everything looked Norman Rockwall’ish from the outside. What people didn’t see was a man in turmoil, a person living multiple lives, a child of God’s who didn’t really know God and was afraid to get very close to God. Then came the divorce.
Nothing in my life could have prepared me for the tragedy and pain of divorce. Nothing could or can take away the pain of being separated from my children and only getting to see them based on a state-mandated schedule. Nothing could or has brought me so low, so close to a breaking point I didn’t know existed. Looking at it now, I don’t know that anything would have ever brought me as close to God either. In a time where I was afraid my church and my friends might distance themselves from me, I found the unconditional love of God surrounding me. Elders who laid hands on me and prayed over me. Friends who took the time to check on me regularly and not just have pity on me but ask me the status of my heart towards God. I have been able to see the father who rushed to his returning son, through his arms around him then had a party for him through my church family and close friends.
I often hear the question of why God let’s bad things happen to good people. Why, oh why, do we so often forget that Satan is alive and well and working feverishly to separate us from the love of God? For me, if God didn’t let something traumatic happen to me, a person who was pretty good, I would still be on the fringe with God, still acting like Adam and Eve thinking I could hide my shame and sin from God. Instead, my love for God has grown immensely and my faith has been stretched far past what I ever thought possible.
I have lived the past few years in the latter half of Romans 8 as a constant companion.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [all emphasis mine]
God knows suffering. We humans often forget that as we go through our hard times and wonder why God lets it happen that he gave his son’s life for me. God knows suffering and he not only lets bad things happen to good people, he allowed the worst thing to happen to the Almighty himself. As I look at my suffering, it’s the worst thing I can imagine. But I know God is with me and God understands me and, that God will keep holding on to me. He will walk with me as long as I’m willing, will open my eyes, my heart and my mind to his good and perfect will.
The worst thing I could have ever imagined has led me closer to God and continued to keep a fire burning to know God better each day.
Grace and peace to you.
Jeff Jones
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Personal Stories of Faith
"Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what He had promised." Genesis 21:1
Sighing from the tips of my toes, I leaned my head on the seatback of the car. We were on our way out of town. If ever my family needed to leave town – and the mess and mayhem – it was now.
Less than a year ago, we were so thrilled for my husband to get a job at the university where we met. We couldn’t wait to get our children moved to our new town and start the life that the Lord had for us here. Little did we know that the Lord had us on a path of learning to trust that was hard to walk.
Six months after we moved in, 8 inches of muddy water flooded our home. I tried to ‘keep my chin up’ as my home went into demolition phase. My belongings that weren’t destroyed by the flood were crammed willy-nilly into various and sundry places. We moved into an apartment complex across town full of college students thoroughly enjoying summer vacation.
Granted, we were thankful to have the apartment. There were none to be had in town since so many people were in the same situation. We were able to live in the apartment rent-free for a few weeks to hold it for a college student. She wouldn’t need the apartment for six weeks. Surely we could be back in our house by then, right?
Part of my husband’s job required travel, so many days it was just the three of us. I talked to the Lord often, and prayed to radiate Him through the loneliness and annoying circumstances. Besides annoying, floods can take as much toll on finances as a move. We were heading for financial crisis. I prayed to trust.
Now, we were getting out of town for a previously planned vacation to visit friends. But when we returned from our trip, we would have 4 days to find a place to live and get moved.
I have learned there is a very, very fine line between walking in faith and walking in denial. I was leaning WAY over on the denial side.
The kids were settled with books and music. I was happy for a moment to think of anything other than reality. My 6-year-old, however, found it the perfect opportunity to think of exactly that – and worry.
We had just passed the first red light out of the apartment complex when she spoke up, “We really need to find a place to live.” Oh, boy. I didn’t want to think about it, and I sure didn’t want to talk about, so I dreamed up an answer and tossed it back without opening my eyes, “Yes, we do, and God’s going to take care of it.”
I would love to tell you I believed that.
Brushing that statement away like an annoying mosquito, she continued, "Okay, but we really need a place to live!!"
Now I was exasperated and responded more sharply than necessary, "Did you hear me? Don't you think God will take care of it?"
She couldn't see how God could possibly relate to her immediate and pressing need of a place to live. "Well, no! It's our problem, not His!"
Trying to calm down, I realized how recently in my own faith I thought the same thing. I started again, calmly, to remind her (and myself), "We're God's children. In the same way that your problems are my problems, our problems are His problems. God is going to look out for us." I wish I could tell you that we immediately pulled the car over to pray and petition God, or that moment a truck drove by that said "follow me to your new place to live." I wish I could even tell you that immediately she got it and was at peace. The truth was she muttered, "Okay" with the tone of "whatever", but I needed to hear my own words: "I am God's child. My problems are His problems. He will take care of my smallest needs."
The conversation dropped. The kids turned to their books and other car toys while my husband and I chatted about anything but the wreck that was our (lack of) living arrangement.
Twenty minutes later we were driving through Small Town , America
To this day, I don't know who that moment had a bigger impact on, me or my daughter. But I am so thankful that in the moment that her young faith needed something concrete and my not-so-young faith needed peace of heart, our loving Father gave us both.
Sarah Stirman
www.sarahstirman.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)