“Testimony” defined…for this application I will use the definition that pertains to this blog.

“A public recounting of a religious conversation or experience.”

Frequently I have thought of writing about my experiences with the Lord, but there are so many I hardly know where to start. I decided to get still, start writing, and see where the Lord takes this.

In the introduction of my first book Inspire Me, I told how I started writing. In my second book, Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds, I was led to write narratives about events in my life connected to the poems. They were what I considered testimonies of God working in my life. I plan to write the narratives for my first 40 poems in Inspire Me, but for now, I want to tell of other events that have had a life-changing impact on me.

Let’s start when my new life began. The day I became a believer in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I believe that is a great place to start! After all, this is the most important testimony of my life.

My story is not earth-shattering or grandeur, by the world’s standards. Still, it is as significant and powerful as anyone’s in God’s eyes.

I hope this writing session will help you know Him better and that this testimony can be used for His greater purpose, add to His Kingdom, and glorify Him. Actually, that is my Mission Statement. “To glorify God through writing, sharing His Word, and my life experiences, communicating the love of Jesus Christ to add to His Kingdom.”

So here is my next attempt at my mission…

I’m from a large family. I am number five of six children. My parents were Christians and when I was very young, our family attended church regularly. We moved from Georgia to Arkansas when I turned six years old. My dad had to work weekends and most of my time growing up he worked two jobs. Without Dad, Mom didn’t want to attend church, so subsequently, our family stopped going to church together.

My parents were great at teaching us to be honest, hardworking, and responsible, but fell short in teaching us about Jesus and the Bible. This did not quelch my desire to attend church, for reasons I cannot explain. I knew that I would learn about Jesus and the Bible there. I could not grasp the thought of anyone not wanting to attend church! I begged and nagged anyone and everyone to take me to church. I’m sure some are still around that remember. I chose friends whose parents took them to church and were willing to include me.

 So the summer I turned nine, I was invited to a Baptist church that was having a weeklong revival. I had heard about revivals but was unclear about what they did or their purpose. My next-door neighbor friend told me all about how she “got saved “ at this revival.  She said that I could come and “get saved” too. She didn’t have to convince me to go! I was ready! So that night I did hear all about God’s plan of salvation. When the Pastor finished his sermon, he had an altar call. My friend nudged me and said I had to go to the altar if I wanted Jesus to save me too. So equipped with all of the “childlike” faith I had, I mustered up enough courage to walk that long lonely aisle to reach the Pastor standing at the altar. I felt like every eye in the church was zeroed in on me. That was a painful experience for the very young and shy girl I was. Thankfully, the Pastor welcomed me with open arms. He had me kneel as he knelt with me and briefly explained that I was to repeat a prayer after him. Plain and simple, from the heart of a child, and it was done! Thank God, through Christ, I was saved by His grace and added to His Kingdom!

 To this day, I wonder why some adults have to make salvation so complicated. Don’t misunderstand, the salvation experience is just the beginning of all the Christian life encompasses. But, it can get complicated quickly with the many different denominations, Bible translations, and opinions. However, it is the simplicity of the cross of Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection, and that He did it for you and me that should not be complicated or confusing.`

My life-changing decision was quickly attacked by those who believe a child cannot understand enough to make that choice. Others were confused themselves, therefore spreading their confusion to me and anyone within earshot. Some tried to explain to me how Christians must “act.” Much like the Pharisees that preached living by the Law. That set me on a course of guilt and condemnation each time I did something wrong, resulting in becoming a “people pleaser”.  After all, when I messed up, I wasn’t “acting” like a Christian, so I knew I wasn’t pleasing God. So I would try even harder! “If I am a Christian, surely I can do this!” How did being saved by God’s grace, not by works, get overlooked?

I have lived sixty-one years since accepting Jesus as my Savior. I thank Him every day for clearing up wrong thinking for me. Through His Word, He continues to give me clarity. I find His Will so I can Walk in the Ways of God. He knows me better than I know myself. And that, my friends, is something I am truly grateful for. And you should be too!

While writing this testimony, I was reminded of a poem I had written in my first book, Inspire Me titled “Thank God for Hope”. It speaks of the very things I am writing about. Deception, confusion, having to earn God’s love, and the struggle. Then Jesus cleared it all up! Here are some verses from that poem.

“So, in the midst of confusion, He gave me eyes to see

My Holiness, Righteousness, Salvation for all eternity.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit Provider, always there for my every need

All I could hope for to become all I could ever be.

What a joy it is to have hope for us all

When He opens our eyes and we follow His call.

Just lay it all down, the struggle and strife

Give it all to Him, begin your beautiful new life.

Hope for your future, each and every day

Clearing up the deception and showing you the way.”

And in my poem, “I Am Not”, in Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds a few verses say,

“I am His child, secure, significant, most of all free

To be all my Creator created me to be.

Released from the Am Nots, having freedom to just be me!”

With this foundational testimony told, I believe I can go forward from here. Salvation is the starting point in every believer’s new life. There are multitudes of stories I could share going forward and many have a poem, a dream, or another experience to coincide. Truly, the Lord must be orchestrating the events of my life. Or as some would say weaving a tapestry, the potter shaping the clay, or the gold or silversmith’s refining fire.

Hope for your future, each and every day. Clearing up deception and showing you the way.

To be all your Creator created you to be. Released from the Am Nots, for you to be free!

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I would like to take this opportunity to invite you on a walk down …

 The Romans Road To Salvation

• God is the creator and ruler over all.

Romans 1:20:21 For since the creation of the world His visible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

• No one is righteous.

Romans 3:10 “…as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one.”

•  We have all sinned and fall short of His standard of perfect, holy righteousness.

Romans 3:23 “…for all have sinned and fall short the glory of God…”

• The penalty for sinfulness has already been set. But God has provided a gift through grace of life eternal.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• God’s love is so great for us that He gave His only son as a sacrifice for the sins of all humanity.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

• Confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and believing (placing your faith/trust) in Him for the forgiveness of your sins provides you with salvation.

Romans 10:9-10 “…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Finally… There is only one way to receive salvation: Faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.

Romans 10:13 “… for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

To simplify the Gospel message even more I have heard it taught this way:

The  A B C’S OF SALVATION:

A= Admit that you are a sinner and that you need a Savior.

B= Believe in your heart that Jesus died for you to cleanse you from all sin.

C= Confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord.

This reminds me of my earlier statement, “I wonder why some adults make salvation so complicated.” It’s only because they need clarity of the Word of God so they can know the will of God and walk with Him in His ways. All because of His salvation through God’s grace alone.

And for those of us who have already received our new life in Christ, I will end by quoting Ron Hutchcraft:

“The most important thing you could ever do is to tell others about the sacrifice Jesus made for them. The greatest possible difference you could make with the rest of your life is to help others be in heaven with you.”

I pray that you have a Salvation testimony of your own. And as I continue to write, that my mission is fulfilled.

I’m looking forward to our time together again soon. Thank you for spending your time reading my blogs. If you haven’t already gotten my books, they are available through Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and online booksellers everywhere. I would be honored if you read them. Please notice my comments and connect page. I will be looking for your response.

God Bless you, 

Reba

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