Bonus blog this week 🙂

30 years ago this week I made a decision that would forever change my life – for all of eternity.

The journey to that decision started early in life. I always went to church and my mom’s parents (my grandparents) taught Sunday School. Then, when I was in 6^th grade I was told by my mom to go forward in church and get baptized. I went to a Southern Baptist church where you still had to “walk the aisle”, but I had no idea at that time what it meant. I knew I wanted to, I just had no idea what was truly involved. I remember walking down the aisle and when we came to the pastor he asked if we had accepted Jesus at home and my mom answered, “yes”. I was taught not to argue with an adult – especially in public, so I said nothing. You are to honor your father and mother right?

It was so confusing, and yet as I entered Junior High, or 7^th grade Sunday School I got involved in the youth group at church. I was at church practically every time the doors were open. I did all the things a “good” Christian should do…I didn’t drink, or smoke or go with guys that do…but I was lost.

I went on mission trips, and played my flute for church services. I loved church and I loved what I was doing – it felt good. Yikes, that should have been a clue that I was making all about me, but I didn’t get it.

It wasn’t until some great new youth leaders came to my church to lead the youth choir and youth group did I start to really hear the truth be preached. I knew that every time I sat down to read the  Bible it was a struggle and made no sense. I knew I would read devotionals and they didn’t make sense either. Yet, when Mike would get up and preach to our youth group, or I would talk one on one with him and his wife on nights I babysat their girls…I knew something was missing. I started to realize that was that I had never placed my faith in Jesus. The song by Steve Camp would come on about how one day many will cry “Lord, Lord, we prophesied in Your name, and yet He will say I never knew you.”

My heart would feel like it would burst out of my chest at those words.

So, when I was at a camp called “Super Summer” with my church youth group, and was heading into my senior year of high school, I faced the make it or break it time. The camp – ironically – was an evangelism camp. Yet, it’s hard to share your testimony when you have none.

Ken Freeman got up and preached and he laid it out clear. That night I was so convicted I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned all night. What would people think? They all thought I was a Christian – what would they think when I said I never really was? I had pretended to be….

God confronted me with this that night, “Will you follow them or me?” That night was a night of strong spiritual warfare. I could literally feel the fight going on for my soul. And it was at that point I surrendered. I said, “Yes, God, I choose You. Your way – I want to follow You no matter the consequences. No matter what others think.”

WOW was a weight lifted! I felt as light as a feather! I still thought I had to pray the sinners prayer and do the official good Baptist thing, so I did with my camp counselor that night and shared my decision with everyone. Blew them away – not more than me, I’m sure, but they were shocked.

I am thankful Mike and his wife Perri, were so supportive of me – especially when my mom was not okay with me getting baptized – because she said I already had. I wanted to truly follow Jesus and to do what I needed to follow Him in obedience in baptism for real.

I don’t know where I would be without Jesus. Yes, I have failed Him over and over, and I strayed, and didn’t root myself fully in Him. So, when life fell apart, I fell from Him, but He drew me back. He saved me from literally physical death more than once and He has blessed me beyond measure. I cannot believe how He has redeemed my life. How He has led me to run my own business that is running full swing – and publish a devotional, and oh so much more! I am blown away by His grace and mercy and none of it is because of me, and all because of Him.

As I thought about this today I came across the song that was playing the night I chose to follow Jesus – Shout to the Lord.

“Nothing will compare to the promise I have in you. “

The promise of heaven.

That this world is not my home.

That I am a co-heir with Christ.

That I am redeemed, chosen, loved, and so much more by the amazing God of the universe.

You can be too, so if you have not, it is as simple as what Romans 10:9-10 says. The verses Mike reminded me of while we sat on a bench at Worlds of Fun after the camp. His words to me were, “When Satan tries to convince you that you didn’t really follow Jesus remember Romans 10:9-10 – “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” I have referenced those verses numerous times, because Satan does try this. If he can’t keep you from heaven he’ll try to keep you from taking anyone else, and by putting doubts in your mind he can do this.

So, have you chosen to follow Jesus? Today is the day. The time is now, and God is waiting arms open wide. Just pray and seek Him and follow Him.

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