I did not grow up in church. In fact, my dad used to joke that his "church" was the church of the bedroom over the garage. In other words, he would sleep in on Sunday mornings in his bedroom, which was located over the garage.
My dad's parents were church goers, and I believe they were/are Christians. My dad's dad died in 1994. My grandmother, whom I have had many conversations with about God, turns 95 this month.
My mom also did not grow up in church. And while both of her parents were wonderful people, I don't think they ever had a relationship with God.
I gave my life to Christ when I was 24 years old, after attending church seriously for the first time for about 6 months. So in the last 9-plus years, I have had many opportunities to talk to my family about God. But because they are my family, I have found them to be the hardest people to share my faith with.
In August 2007, my grandfather (my mom's dad) became very sick. He went in the hospital and was diagnosed with encephalitis. The doctors never were sure what caused the infection in his brain. My grandfather had spent his life helping people and being a do-it-yourself kind of guy. His brain failed him. He became very confused and barely recognized his family.
At this point, I started to try to tell him about Jesus. I would ask him any time I was alone with him if he knew Jesus, if he knew what it meant to be a Christian. But his brain wasn’t working right and he never really responded to my questions. And as his sickness progressed, when he developed pneumonia, and it was clear that he wouldn't recover, I begged him to accept Christ, whispering to him between his labored breaths. Although I won't be sure this side of Heaven, I don't think he ever heard me. My grandfather died on Sept. 27, 2007.
During this time, my grandmother (mom's mom) was suffering from Alzheimer's, although she and my grandfather hid it well. It became obvious how much my grandfather had taken care of her. She couldn't take care of herself, and she entered a nursing home to live permanently.
When my grandfather died, she asked me to have my pastor perform the funeral for my grandfather. She asked for a "Christian" ceremony, and that is what was done.
Because of this, because of her new interest in things spiritual, we began to have conversations about God when I would see her. For Christmas in 2007, I got her a Bible. I also wanted to do a Bible study with her over the summer of 2008, but her Alzheimer's progressed to the point where her short-term memory loss made that an impossibility.
Still, when we would get together, she would talk to me about God. She was really thinking about it. And she knew where I stood in my faith. I never kept that from my family, I just never really talked in depth about it.
A few weeks ago, I went to visit her in the nursing home and we had the best conversation about God that we had ever had. She really had been thinking lots about God and heaven and Christianity. But I did not press her salvation. I listened and talked to her and continued to pray. Even other Christian friends added her to their own prayer lists.
She asked me where I thought Grandpa was now. She wondered aloud about Heaven and what happens to you when you die. So even in my grandfather’s passing, God used that experience to reach my grandmother on a level she had not been reached before.
And then, a couple of weeks ago, my grandmother had a stroke. It wasn't surprising, and it wasn't catastrophic. She had some slight paralysis in her right side. I went to the hospital to see her on Tuesday, March 17, to really spend some time with her. She was very aware but mumbling and frustrated. I decided to read to her from Reader's Digest.
The story I read to her was about a woman and her children who were trapped in flood waters. After their miraculous rescue, they gave the credit to God. Despite the stroke that had struck my grandmother, God was speaking directly to her through her circumstance and even in a randomly chosen story from a magazine.
I finished reading and she stared ahead. We were quiet for a few moments, and then she said, “I really, really have been thinking a lot about God.”
And I knew that she was ready. I prayed silently that God would give me the courage and words to tell her how to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
“Nana, do you know what it means to be a Christian?”
She nodded yes, then no, and then said, “Well, why don’t you tell me.”
So I did. I told her that it meant believing that Jesus died on the cross for her sins, that she had sins she needed to be forgiven for, and the only way to do that and to spend eternity in Heaven with God was to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and personal Savior. As I told her, tears began seeping out the corners of her eyes.
I finished and I asked her if that is something she wanted. She said yes. And then kind of chuckled and said, “Well, I may as well do it now.”
And then she allowed me to pray with her. Her wrinkled hands in mine, tears were streaming now out of both of our eyes. What an amazing moment. I thanked God for letting me be there as she accepted Him, and when we were threw with the prayer, she was glowing.
She was so happy. We talked about how that all the pain she has now with chronic back problems and other health issues would be stripped away when she went to Heaven some day. We talked about how it was never too late to make the best decision of your life, to accept Christ. We talked about all three of her kids and how we aren’t sure where they are spiritually. We talked about me and where I am spiritually. And we talked about her.
When my uncle called a few minutes later I answered the phone and she said in the back ground, “Tell him! Tell him what I did!” So I did, even though I expected a less than positive reaction. She told others, too. And every time I have gone to see her since, she has remembered and we have talked about it and even prayed together.
How lucky am I to witness a spiritual conversion? And to top it off it was my own grandmother! I think back to the enormous disappointment I had in myself when my grandfather died and I doubted he had heard me and accepted Christ. I was devastated that I had waited too long to share with him the most important thing in my life. And I vowed then to not let another loved one slip away without me telling them what I could about a love that would save them forever.
It is true that God works everything for the good of those who love Him, just as He did in this very situation. My grandfather’s death ultimately played a huge role in my grandmother’s new life, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Where is God When You Make Big Mistakes
I have had some memory problems during the last several days. Well, actually, I have always had memory problems. I tend to not pay attention to the details of life. I try to remember the high points, and let the little things slide. That can be a blessing (I don't really hold grudges) and it can be a curse.
This week it was a curse. My first missed detail was taking my oldest son Ryan to a birthday party Friday night. The only problem? The birthday was actually Saturday night. At least we hadn't missed it. Now the invitation came by phone and I did write it on my calendar. But I was obviously distracted when I got the details.
Then last night, Ryan had his second ever basketball game. This game, like most everything else in Ryan's world, Ryan takes very seriously. He came home from school telling me his game was at 6 p.m. But the schedule that I had made in a spreadsheet after looking at the e-mailed schedule his coach sent, said the game was at 7 p.m. When my husband got home he, too, thought the game was at 6. But MY schedule said 7. So I didn't bother to double check.
Turns out the game was at 6 and Ryan missed the first three quarters of the game, and I nominated myself for Worst Mom Ever. Ryan cried a little, I cried a lot, but all has been forgiven today. But I am still kicking myself for not paying attention to the details.
In the grand scheme of things, this wasn't a big mistake in my book. I am sure most people will forget all about this, except for me and probably Ryan, too. The truth is, we make mistakes and then we should learn from them and not repeat them. But that isn't always how it works.
I just read a short news article on parenting.com about "fallen idols." You know, Jamie Lynn Spears getting pregnant at 16, Miley Cyrus taking those provocative photos, Roger Clemens being accused of taking steroids, Vanessa Hudgens' (High School Musical star) nude internet photos, etc. They almost all apologized and had "reasons" for their behavior. You know, "I didn't realize" or "It was a lapse in judgment."
But the one that got me the most was the recent new about Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps. Photos of Phelps surfaced in a British paper that showed Phelps inhaling marijuana from a pipe.
It has been reported in many papers and on many Web sites, including parenting.com. that Phelps released a statement following this photo's release. It said: " "I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I'm 23 years old and, despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again."
The main problem people have with this, myself included, was when Phelps was 19, he was arrested for drunken driving after the 2004 Olympics, according to abc.com. At that time, he said pretty much the same thing. He said he learned from his mistakes.
So did he? Do any of us really? I have lots of times forgotten things or written things down wrong, which didn't help at all when I messed up Ryan's game.
Here is the bottom line about making mistakes, no matter how big or small. All mistakes have consequences. And all mistakes require us asking for forgiveness without an excuse.
The Bible has TONS of examples of people making mistakes. Everything from people suffering the ultimate consequence of bad behavior - death, to people being given the ultimate forgiveness - life in Christ.
When Jesus died on the cross for each of our sins, his death applied to everyone who will accept the gift. And although some people choose not to accept this gift, it is still available to them. When Jesus died, our mistakes or sins were forgiven. All we have to do is admit our mistakes, realize our need for God, accept Christ as our savior from those sins and follow Him.
In The Message Bible, Romans 8:1-2 says, "With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death."
God doesn't care why we did what we did, doesn't care the reasons we have for the mistakes that we make. He just wants to forgive those mistakes for us. And all we have to do is ask.
The New Living Translation Bible in Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
So have you made a mistake, big or small? Have you used excuses or asked for forgiveness? None of us are perfect and God doesn't care what your mistake is, just that you come to Him for forgiveness. All you have to do is ask ...
This week it was a curse. My first missed detail was taking my oldest son Ryan to a birthday party Friday night. The only problem? The birthday was actually Saturday night. At least we hadn't missed it. Now the invitation came by phone and I did write it on my calendar. But I was obviously distracted when I got the details.
Then last night, Ryan had his second ever basketball game. This game, like most everything else in Ryan's world, Ryan takes very seriously. He came home from school telling me his game was at 6 p.m. But the schedule that I had made in a spreadsheet after looking at the e-mailed schedule his coach sent, said the game was at 7 p.m. When my husband got home he, too, thought the game was at 6. But MY schedule said 7. So I didn't bother to double check.
Turns out the game was at 6 and Ryan missed the first three quarters of the game, and I nominated myself for Worst Mom Ever. Ryan cried a little, I cried a lot, but all has been forgiven today. But I am still kicking myself for not paying attention to the details.
In the grand scheme of things, this wasn't a big mistake in my book. I am sure most people will forget all about this, except for me and probably Ryan, too. The truth is, we make mistakes and then we should learn from them and not repeat them. But that isn't always how it works.
I just read a short news article on parenting.com about "fallen idols." You know, Jamie Lynn Spears getting pregnant at 16, Miley Cyrus taking those provocative photos, Roger Clemens being accused of taking steroids, Vanessa Hudgens' (High School Musical star) nude internet photos, etc. They almost all apologized and had "reasons" for their behavior. You know, "I didn't realize" or "It was a lapse in judgment."
But the one that got me the most was the recent new about Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps. Photos of Phelps surfaced in a British paper that showed Phelps inhaling marijuana from a pipe.
It has been reported in many papers and on many Web sites, including parenting.com. that Phelps released a statement following this photo's release. It said: " "I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I'm 23 years old and, despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again."
The main problem people have with this, myself included, was when Phelps was 19, he was arrested for drunken driving after the 2004 Olympics, according to abc.com. At that time, he said pretty much the same thing. He said he learned from his mistakes.
So did he? Do any of us really? I have lots of times forgotten things or written things down wrong, which didn't help at all when I messed up Ryan's game.
Here is the bottom line about making mistakes, no matter how big or small. All mistakes have consequences. And all mistakes require us asking for forgiveness without an excuse.
The Bible has TONS of examples of people making mistakes. Everything from people suffering the ultimate consequence of bad behavior - death, to people being given the ultimate forgiveness - life in Christ.
When Jesus died on the cross for each of our sins, his death applied to everyone who will accept the gift. And although some people choose not to accept this gift, it is still available to them. When Jesus died, our mistakes or sins were forgiven. All we have to do is admit our mistakes, realize our need for God, accept Christ as our savior from those sins and follow Him.
In The Message Bible, Romans 8:1-2 says, "With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death."
God doesn't care why we did what we did, doesn't care the reasons we have for the mistakes that we make. He just wants to forgive those mistakes for us. And all we have to do is ask.
The New Living Translation Bible in Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
So have you made a mistake, big or small? Have you used excuses or asked for forgiveness? None of us are perfect and God doesn't care what your mistake is, just that you come to Him for forgiveness. All you have to do is ask ...
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Where is God When There is a New Hope
No matter your political persuasion, you would have to be under a rock lately to not get at least a little carried away with emotion and excitement by the pomp and circumstance regarding the new President of the United States, Barack Obama. Millions and millions of people across the world watched as many cultural and racial stereotypes were seemingly shattered as he took his oath of office on inauguration day.
Many, if not most, school-aged children tuned in to televisions at school and watched history come alive before their very eyes. Most people will mark this event as a highly monumental day in the history of our nation, and for some, a monumental day in their own lives.
But I have to tell you that I did not tune in to the broadcasts of the inauguration. Part of me wanted to and even planned to, but when I turned on my television, I turned it right back off. Don't get me wrong, there are some very exciting things on the horizon for our nation, but I am troubled with the amount of hope people are putting in to another person.
The fact of the matter is, just as every president before him, President Obama will disappoint us some how, some way, some time. It is inevitable. President Obama is many, many things. He is educated, responsible, popular, a polished speaker, charismatic, intelligent, diplomatic and has many more positive attributes. It is hard to find a reason not to like the guy.
But what he is not is perfect.
Part of the beauty of the digital age is that we are able to keep loose tabs on hundreds of our friends by accessing popular community sites such as My Space and Facebook. I love looking at my status updates on Facebook. I now can see what my friends in different states and even countries are doing in one sentence or less.
Yesterday was no different. Nearly every status update concerned the inauguration of President Obama. My friends were sharing their joy, their tears, their laughs and their new hope in our new president.
And President Obama must realize the enormous pressure he is under - the pressure for perfection, the pressure to deliver his promises, the pressure to save our nation from the evils it is facing. We have seen other good people, even some arguably "better" people, crack under less pressure.
My point in all of this is this: President Obama - no matter how wonderful, how worthy of the title of president, how intelligent, how dedicated, how well-meaning - cannot be our hope. Truly, our only hope in this life is in a man who lived 2000 years ago and died so that we could live. Our only hope in this life is in Jesus Christ.
The Bible tells us in the book of Romans, chapter 4, verses 23-24, "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins."
We are told over and over throughout scripture, even in the Old Testament, that our hope should not be placed in man but in Christ alone. In fact, in Matthew 12:21, it says, "And his name will be the hope of all the world."
That is, the name of Jesus Christ, not the name of any man.
I believe that President Obama has the power to change many things for the better, and also has the power to change things for the worse. I don't know which will happen, and it will probably depend on who you talk to whether things are better or worse.
Like most every American, I am excited and somewhat anxious to see what the future holds for our country. I am excited and anxious to see what the economy does and how it will affect me. I am excited and anxious to see if further peace can be reached and maintained in areas of conflict. I am excited and anxious to see where we are four years from now.
But my hope is not in my president, my country or any person or thing. My only hope - your only hope - is really in God's answer to our biggest problem. We sin and have to be punished, and the only answer is Jesus Christ. He is the only solution to an eternity apart from God.
All we have to do is to believe that Christ died for each of our sins, receive the wonderful gift of salvation God has offered to every single person and finally commit our lives to following Him.
And the way won't be easy, because people will continue to disappoint us. How can we not disappoint? We are imperfect. We are sinful. We are lost causes., without the hope only Christ can give us.
Romans 5:15, says, "Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."
I encourage you to think about this solution to hope. Be patriotic. Be excited. Be supportive of our new president. But don't put your hope into something that will inevitable disappoint you.
Put your hope in a savior that can be yours, Jesus Christ.
Many, if not most, school-aged children tuned in to televisions at school and watched history come alive before their very eyes. Most people will mark this event as a highly monumental day in the history of our nation, and for some, a monumental day in their own lives.
But I have to tell you that I did not tune in to the broadcasts of the inauguration. Part of me wanted to and even planned to, but when I turned on my television, I turned it right back off. Don't get me wrong, there are some very exciting things on the horizon for our nation, but I am troubled with the amount of hope people are putting in to another person.
The fact of the matter is, just as every president before him, President Obama will disappoint us some how, some way, some time. It is inevitable. President Obama is many, many things. He is educated, responsible, popular, a polished speaker, charismatic, intelligent, diplomatic and has many more positive attributes. It is hard to find a reason not to like the guy.
But what he is not is perfect.
Part of the beauty of the digital age is that we are able to keep loose tabs on hundreds of our friends by accessing popular community sites such as My Space and Facebook. I love looking at my status updates on Facebook. I now can see what my friends in different states and even countries are doing in one sentence or less.
Yesterday was no different. Nearly every status update concerned the inauguration of President Obama. My friends were sharing their joy, their tears, their laughs and their new hope in our new president.
And President Obama must realize the enormous pressure he is under - the pressure for perfection, the pressure to deliver his promises, the pressure to save our nation from the evils it is facing. We have seen other good people, even some arguably "better" people, crack under less pressure.
My point in all of this is this: President Obama - no matter how wonderful, how worthy of the title of president, how intelligent, how dedicated, how well-meaning - cannot be our hope. Truly, our only hope in this life is in a man who lived 2000 years ago and died so that we could live. Our only hope in this life is in Jesus Christ.
The Bible tells us in the book of Romans, chapter 4, verses 23-24, "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins."
We are told over and over throughout scripture, even in the Old Testament, that our hope should not be placed in man but in Christ alone. In fact, in Matthew 12:21, it says, "And his name will be the hope of all the world."
That is, the name of Jesus Christ, not the name of any man.
I believe that President Obama has the power to change many things for the better, and also has the power to change things for the worse. I don't know which will happen, and it will probably depend on who you talk to whether things are better or worse.
Like most every American, I am excited and somewhat anxious to see what the future holds for our country. I am excited and anxious to see what the economy does and how it will affect me. I am excited and anxious to see if further peace can be reached and maintained in areas of conflict. I am excited and anxious to see where we are four years from now.
But my hope is not in my president, my country or any person or thing. My only hope - your only hope - is really in God's answer to our biggest problem. We sin and have to be punished, and the only answer is Jesus Christ. He is the only solution to an eternity apart from God.
All we have to do is to believe that Christ died for each of our sins, receive the wonderful gift of salvation God has offered to every single person and finally commit our lives to following Him.
And the way won't be easy, because people will continue to disappoint us. How can we not disappoint? We are imperfect. We are sinful. We are lost causes., without the hope only Christ can give us.
Romans 5:15, says, "Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."
I encourage you to think about this solution to hope. Be patriotic. Be excited. Be supportive of our new president. But don't put your hope into something that will inevitable disappoint you.
Put your hope in a savior that can be yours, Jesus Christ.
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