MOMENTS

I might already have a post titled this and if you a regular blog reader and know this to be true, excuse the same title.  Lately I guess you could say I have been on "hiatus" from my writing.  It's not that I haven't had thoughts, I've just not had any time to sit and type my thoughts.  I decided to make time on this day.

Today's sermon was a good one.  It spoke of moments in our life with the focus on salvation moments to begin.  That seemed to go right along with my thought process I've had since lying awake since 3 a.m.  Tonight begins spring revival at my church and my thoughts had been going to my own testimony or "experience of grace" as we say in the Baptist world.  And yes, you blog readers who read regularly and never miss a post, will know I've told this experience more than once and even maybe more than twice in this blog.  I don't know that I can testify enough so I guess you hear it again.

I was saved at the age of nine, a popular salvation age if you listen to the testimonies of others.  It was on a Wednesday night, the first night of a three nighter spring revival at the church my daddy pastored.  I sat about 2/3 of the way back from the pulpit on the aisle.  It seems some days I can shut my eyes and see the scene, then others I shut my eyes and feel the feeling more.  Does that make sense?

I'll not be long here with my testimony.  It's simple.  The congregation began to sing the invitation song after the preacher finished preaching, I stepped out to the aisle and went to the altar.  Funny thing is I always remember that altar as having an off-white vinyl covering.  My tears went on that vinyl, I prayed to the Lord, and got a peace in my heart.  Salvation.  Peace.  Now 57 years later, I STILL have it!  

Walking that aisle that night was a simple choice.  I've learned in the years between that a body gets to make a lot of choices.  Some we choose are good and beneficial and holy and some we choose are the total opposite.  I've determined, especially as I age, that I choose to choose joy.  I recall hearing Gloria Gaither say one time about her salvation, "I chose that day to go with the cross crowd and every good and beautiful thing that has happened to me since has been a direct result of that choice."  I would totally agree with that.  And I can testify to you that everything that's happened to me in all those years since has not been good and beautiful but I have had a loving heavenly Father to walk right there beside me and provide every step of the way.   

I know there are many in this world who don't believe in the salvation plan of Jesus.  They say it's just a good story.  I will say it's a real, life-giving spiritual way of living.  I would not debate this, I don't think, I would just testify what I know to be the truth for me because honestly, I only know about my heart and my business.  I will tell you, though, that my Jesus is real and as the preacher said today, my eternity has already begun.  I'll just move along into it later on when I move to heaven.  

Now, I will get dressed to go to revival.  I will look for those many precious moments this week.  I'm betting if I look, I will find.

I want to close with the song I sing as a solo most often.  Now understand I rarely sing solos but when I do, this is my favorite because it speaks my heart....a song by the Gaithers--you know, those that chose to go with the cross crowd....it goes like this:

"Since I started for the kingdom, since my life He controls. Since I gave my heart to Jesus, the longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.

The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.  The more that I love him, more joy He bestows.  Each day is like heaven, my heart overflows.  The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.

Every need He is supplying, plenteous grace He bestows.  Every day my way gets brighter, the longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows."

Makes one WANT to testify, doesn't it?!

Consider........