Friday, September 18, 2009

My Spiritual Journey, part 1


1932

A Swiss Miss is born


1941


The High Calling

Good News

Born Again


Finding a Well of Peace


Certainty in an Uncertain World

I was the first child of my parents, Bud and Grace. Dad was a grocery store manager and mother was the head of an obstetrics hospital here in Portland. My mother was a Christian, but my father was not. They had married without her parents' full blessing.

When I was four years old, an evangelist, Charles E. Fuller came to our town, Baker, Oregon, for one night. It was below zero, but Mother persuaded Dad to go. He was truly gloriously changed that night as he found the Lord....and his life was never to be the same again. He was so excited he forgot his overcoat, despite the cold temperature.

Shortly after that, we returned to Portland and were part of a body of believers called Grace and Truth Assembly (Plymouth Brethren). After the mornings of worship and preaching, I used to come home truly disturbed over all of the talk about "eternity". In fact, it was the most disturbing word in my childhood vocabulary! "Forever" just blew my mind and I found it frightening to think about.

************


As the winds of war began to whirl around us, the inner peace was driven further away. After letting these thoughts fester in my inner being for several years, one night, long after I had gone to bed, I couldn't sleep, as the prospect of eternity was so overwhelming to me. It was at that time I knew that I was not a Christian and out of fear of the consequences, I got out of bed, went down to the living room and crawled onto my Dad's lap and spilled out all of my fear and unhappiness. My Daddy led me to the Lord Jesus that night and I asked Him to come into my life. I confessed to God, that night, that I was a sinner and needed the Savior....and I was forgiven. My heart was cleansed and set free. Oh JOY! for that little nine year old girl, who had struggled so long about being "left behind". I HAD BECOME PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD!!

He has held me with an everlasting love from that night on, even though I have been rebellious, have been cold in my heart toward Him, have drifted and have grieved His precious Spirit within, many times. However I have never doubted His love for me. (I have certainly doubted my love for Him over the years, but I have always been secure in Him, although I had a period in my life when I believed that God had turned his back upon me.)

stay tuned--there's more

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've familiar with some of your early family history, but it will be interesting to have it all put in chronological order. Love the picture you painted of you in your Daddy's lap. What a wonderful memory for you...Wow.

Els

Kathleen said...

"My Daddy led me to the Lord Jesus that night ...". What a powerful, priceles gift to have received from your Fathers!

I'm staying tuned, Joan. This is precious.

Kathleen

Ruth said...

Thanks for sharing this. I look forward to hearing more.

sister sheri said...

You have whet my appetite!

Isn't it funny how we think our children our too young to understand their mortality? My husband at around the age of 8 accepted the Lord and promptly told his father that he felt that the weight of the world was lifted from his shoulders!

So glad you were able to get this to post!

Anonymous said...

Anxiously awaiting part two. you left us with a good line to wonder what next!

Joanne@ Blessed... said...

...I'm trying to be patient over here...but as you can tell, it's not my greatest gift!

Can't wait to read the rest Joan.

Hugs!!!

Robin Lambright said...

I think that foundation is so very important. You can come to Christ without it (I'm living proof of that) but having a Christ centered home and parents who love the Lord are so very important!

What a sweet precious memory you have of your father.

What a blessing he must have been in your life!

Thank you for sharing this my sweet friend!

Like all the rest, I wait eagerly for the next installment.

Shalom
Robin

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

I am listening to every word!! What a great testmony!!! Hugs...m..

Amy said...

Dear Joan, What a sweet vivid testimony! I just love hearing about your dad hear and in the post you wrote about him a while back. What a blessing. I love hearing your story!!!
Love,
Amy