For my whole life I have known the story of the birth of our saviour. When I was very young it was the one Sunday out of the year that many people went to church. The only Sunday we were allowed to miss was when we were loaded kit and kaboodle into the back seat of what ever old car we had that was running and off we went to grandma's house. It was an all day trip because we had to stop several times and put water in the radiator and one of us always had to hop out and go pee in the ditch. It was an all day ordeal making that 22 mile trip over to Plevna and back, but it was the one thing momma insisted on doing at least once a month.
Dad never went to church. He did not buy into that malarkey and until the day he died he never ceased to remind us that we were damn fools. His funeral when I was 25 years old was held in the Lamb Funeral Home and I am not sure who officiated, but I am sure he was up there some where looking down and pitying us poor fools who were trying to get him into a place he never believed in. I was just devastated because we were burying my father and I never knew him. Eight months later we buried my brother. I digress.
Everyone who knows my story knows that I married at 19 and immediately had 4 kids, took a short break and had the last one. My husband was an athiest and so church was not important. It was not that I forgot any of my upbringing, but it was just easier to not push the buttons that set him off. After our divorce when I became truly independent, I made sure the kids got to Sunday school and back every Sunday. Well, most of them any way. Now that did not mean that I went, but they did.
And so I grew into adulthood cherishing my beliefs, but not doing much about them. And much like the parables in the Bible, I had my awakening after I married Kenny. Things happen in our lives that tend to bring us full circle and we end up on our knees. So it was with me. We all have our moments and as I look back, I wonder what in the world I was thinking. At age 16 I wanted to be a missionary and was on the right track. 10 years later I was a single mom and working 2 or 3 jobs to feed my brood. But I never lost hope. Never once did I think there was not a God that loved me. Several times I wondered why he did, but there he was.
Someone asked me the other day if I really bought that story of Jesus Christ being born to a virgin. That just doesn't seem possible. My answer at the time and will always be, " I beleive that story with my whole heart, soul and being. I always have and I always will." Then my friend asked why Jesus suffered and died on the cross. He could have run away and hid. He did not have to do that. To that I say, "He died for my sins and your sins. He died so we could have life ever lasting."
And that, my friends, is what I beleive. It is why I get up for in the morning and it is my last thought at night when I go to sleep. I am not scholarly in my Bible like some people, but Lou Mercer is a true beleiver and I will be when I take my last breathe.
I beleive in Christmas miracles and I beleive in August 4 miracles. I beleive there are angels among us and they guide our feet so we do not dash them on a stone. I beleive there is good in everyone and if I die tomorrow I will meet Jesus with a smile on my face.
I would love to see you at my church because we have a very nice pastor named Karen Howe, but if I don't see you, please know I love you and accept you as you are.
Dad never went to church. He did not buy into that malarkey and until the day he died he never ceased to remind us that we were damn fools. His funeral when I was 25 years old was held in the Lamb Funeral Home and I am not sure who officiated, but I am sure he was up there some where looking down and pitying us poor fools who were trying to get him into a place he never believed in. I was just devastated because we were burying my father and I never knew him. Eight months later we buried my brother. I digress.
Everyone who knows my story knows that I married at 19 and immediately had 4 kids, took a short break and had the last one. My husband was an athiest and so church was not important. It was not that I forgot any of my upbringing, but it was just easier to not push the buttons that set him off. After our divorce when I became truly independent, I made sure the kids got to Sunday school and back every Sunday. Well, most of them any way. Now that did not mean that I went, but they did.
And so I grew into adulthood cherishing my beliefs, but not doing much about them. And much like the parables in the Bible, I had my awakening after I married Kenny. Things happen in our lives that tend to bring us full circle and we end up on our knees. So it was with me. We all have our moments and as I look back, I wonder what in the world I was thinking. At age 16 I wanted to be a missionary and was on the right track. 10 years later I was a single mom and working 2 or 3 jobs to feed my brood. But I never lost hope. Never once did I think there was not a God that loved me. Several times I wondered why he did, but there he was.
Someone asked me the other day if I really bought that story of Jesus Christ being born to a virgin. That just doesn't seem possible. My answer at the time and will always be, " I beleive that story with my whole heart, soul and being. I always have and I always will." Then my friend asked why Jesus suffered and died on the cross. He could have run away and hid. He did not have to do that. To that I say, "He died for my sins and your sins. He died so we could have life ever lasting."
And that, my friends, is what I beleive. It is why I get up for in the morning and it is my last thought at night when I go to sleep. I am not scholarly in my Bible like some people, but Lou Mercer is a true beleiver and I will be when I take my last breathe.
I beleive in Christmas miracles and I beleive in August 4 miracles. I beleive there are angels among us and they guide our feet so we do not dash them on a stone. I beleive there is good in everyone and if I die tomorrow I will meet Jesus with a smile on my face.
I would love to see you at my church because we have a very nice pastor named Karen Howe, but if I don't see you, please know I love you and accept you as you are.
And with that, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. May peace and prosperity be yours for the whole year and the rest of your life.
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