About this time 9 years ago, Brent attended a "Discover Dallas" day at Dallas Theological Seminary. Before attending, he was pretty certain that if he was accepted this was what he wanted to do for the next step in his life as he felt God leading in this direction. He was a pharmacist with the heart of a missionary after Jesus forever changed his life.
Let me back up a little, when Brent and I were first married we were regular church attenders and even in leadership positions within the church we attended. However, it was not until I was invited to a bible study and began to read and study God's word for the first time that I realized I did not know the God of the bible. I did not know Jesus. And I knew that Brent did not either. I was 23 years old at the time and for all of those years before, I had heard about Jesus, knew of him (like as an outsider looking in), and most definitely would have said "yes" if someone asked me "Do you believe in Jesus?". The problem was I didn't know what believing in Jesus meant.
My now dear friend Shawn attended the bible study I was going to. My dear friend Kristi had invited me and I remember how it took me nearly three weeks to get up the courage to ask her what kind of bible she (and everyone else!) was using because mine sounded nothing like that! This was because the only bible I had was one given to me at our wedding, and it was an Old King James version still with "Thee's" and "Thou's" and different language. What a relief it was when I finally had an NIV Life Application Study Bible!! I remember meeting Shawn here for the first time, she was pregnant (and would be for almost all the rest of the time I lived in Grand Forks as she has 10 beautiful children!) and was always so relaxed. One week I politely asked her how many kids she had and she told me this was her 5th. I said something like, "FIVE! You have FIVE kids?!? Oh my goodness, I have ONE. And I am freaking out. How are you always so calm?"
From the time I met her I envied her peace.
From the time I met Kristi I loved her genuine care and concern. And how she loved to laugh!
I was seeing Jesus in these ladies. And I am forever grateful for how God used them along with His Word to help draw me to Himself. When Shawn had her sweet fifth baby boy a few weeks later, I signed up to bring her a meal. I was so excited to be going to her house! I did not know what it was about her, but I just wanted to be near her!! Looking back now and having some knowledge of what it like to have your fifth baby with four others running around, Shawn was probably not necessarily wanting me to stick around upon delivering her family a meal!! If you know Shawn though, the gift of hospitality is definitely a part of who she is, so if she minded that I stayed around a little longer than the average meal deliverer she did not let on at all.
We ended up sitting together at her kitchen table and while we were talking she asked me, "So how did you come to know the Lord?"
How did I come to know the Lord?
How did I come to know the Lord?
Ummmm, How did I come to KNOW the Lord?!?
My mind reeled. What on earth was she asking?? Know the Lord? Ummmmmm, Hmmmmm, well I've always gone to church. These were the things playing through my mind.
Shawn must have sensed my distress and started to offer suggestions and I nodded to one of ones she threw out there. And our conversation went on. But my mind was still on that question. I had no idea what she was talking about. And I did not have a the courage to ask.
I continued to go to bible study and as I read God's Word I was amazed at what I saw, what I was learning, and I was so excited! If any of you reading this were in that first bible study with me, thank you for being so gracious to me!!!! I was a mess, I know! This was in the spring of 2002. In addition to the bible study, I had also begun reading a book called "Praying God's Will for Your Life" and on the 2nd day's reading there was a clear Gospel presentation. I read the explanation of how all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory, and how that sin separates us from God. In order for God to bring us back to himself, He sent His son Jesus who took our sin and the punishment for our sin when he died on the cross at Calvary. And three days later He rose from the dead, conquering death once and for all! I read that if you place your faith and your trust in what Jesus did for you, you will live forever with God in heaven. Then there was a prayer you could pray telling the Lord how you realized you are a sinner and need Jesus to be your Savior.
On that very day, May 8th, 2002, I got down on my knees in my bedroom and asked Jesus to be my Savior. I had said His name throughout my whole life, but had never truly known what it meant to know him as my Lord until this day.
And knowing Jesus has forever changed my life.
I was hoping to share how that lead into Brent's trusting in Jesus a few months later, but I guess that will have wait until next time. I have to go pick up my boys! With two teenagers, it seems I am always in my van these days. :)
So I guess this one is To be Continued...it may take awhile to actually get to the "Discover Dallas Day"... :)
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