What would it take
to stop my coworker from inviting me and my wife to church? He had
already invited us to Easter and Christmas services and then came his
invitation to what? A Valentines weekend service? Yes, a Valentines
service. We had worked together over the past year and I was drawn to
him as I watched him let his light shine for Christ in the face of our
coworkers who could be very antagonistic.
As a child, Mom took
me and my siblings to church on a regular basis. All I could remember
was the rules and that God was out to get me with hell fire and
brimstone. With those memories bouncing around in my head I was very
reluctant to accept my coworker's invitation.
I can't recall why
he had given me a ride home from work that faithful Friday, nevertheless
he had me "trapped." Once in the car he asked me if we'd come to church
in honor of Valentine's Day. I told him I'd see if we could possibly go.
As I greeted my wife
with a small bouquet of flowers I told her we were going to church to
get my coworker off my back, plus I told her our four months old son
needed to know about God. How were we to know that on Valentines weekend
Sunday our loving Father had prepared the service just for us.
As we entered the
church we were greeted by people we'd never met before yet they warmly
welcomed us and were genuinely glad we were there.
The worship was
wonderful and every word the preacher spoke was like it was meant for
me, it was as if he was able to look into my heart and see the God size
void. Then came the altar call as he asked for every head to bow, eyes
closed and no looking around. I'd heard this request a number of times
as a child and knew what was next. The preacher asked, "While no one is
looking around, if you want to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior
slip up your hand."
Setting with my wife
on my left and a battle raging in my mind, not knowing how to pray
beyond the children's prayer of, "Now I lay me down to sleep..." and the
"God is good, God is great " pray for our meals, I prayed my very first
prayer, inside my mind, telling God I knew I needed Him yet I didn't
want our home to be divided as my parent's had been, I quickly raised my
right hand, hoping my wife had also complied with the preacher's
instructions of no looking around and hadn't seen me raise my hand.
With the preacher's
next request for those that had raised their hand to come forward and
someone who lead us in a prayer of salvation, the battle intensified in
my mind, again, I desperately prayed to the Lord, that I didn't want our
home to be divided, yet I needed to respond by standing and going
forward. As I stood up with my eyes still closed, the most wonderful
thing happened, my wife's arm grazed my shoulder as she also stood up.
We went forward sobbing tears of repentance mixed with tears of joy. It
was miraculous, the Lord received two of His lost children into His
kingdom on that glorious Valentine's Sunday morning more than thirty two
years ago.
Thank you Alan for
being a friend who cared enough to not relent, God used you not only to
save us but call us into ministry.
It's true, "So if the Son sets you free, you
will be free indeed." (John 8:36 NIV)
Don Shepherd
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.