For starters, I don't believe that it has been an coincidence for writing this today even though it is on Mother's Day and a portion of the sermon I listened to this morning had everything to do with the subject. I believe it to be divine planning and I feel privileged to be a part of this.
A little background ----- Over the last couple weeks I have heard some amazing testimonies on how God brought ("or bought") someone out of tragedy and then opened their eyes to the truth of Christ. A vast array - varying from cancer survivors to underprivileged and non-educated people have voiced their stories. I along with most, are often taken back by the fact that when someone is at their worst, God is at His best and grants forgiveness. The more dramatic the story, the more amazed I find myself and the more likely I am to regurgitate the account to any and possibly everyone I come across. This led me to wonder about my own testimony.
If someone asked me today to share my testimony, would my story be "interesting" enough to captivate their attention. Better yet, have I even offered to tell someone about my path to Christ? You see, there has been no palpable tragedy in my life (personally), no life threatening disease and I cant recall a time where I've reached that point of no return. So my second thought, do I even have a testimony? (--Don't get me wrong - I was a sinner --condemned to Hell before I accepted Christ.---) The answer to this after a lot of thought (tractor time) is Yes!! You see my testimony is by worldly standards - the uncool and boring kind! I am the product of a Christian home. One with a Father and Mother who were BOTH Christians and taught me about Jesus. How did my parents become Christians? They are the product of Christian homes with Fathers and Mothers that were all Christians and taught their children not just to recite a dinner time prayer but about who they were praying to! (Can you see a trend?) Rarely, have I heard an individual publicize their testimony when they coincide with mine (me included!) But why not? Have we got so hooked on the flair of the dramatic that we often over look the miracle which is the Christian home. With a divorce rate of 50%, is it not a miracle from God that multiple generations of a family evade separation? Absolutely!!( Before I go on --The important thing is that an individual knows Christ, not necessarily the path to Him.)
The point is this -- Teach your children to pray and about who their praying to in order that they may teach theirs the same!!
Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
(Proverbs 22:6 ESV)
An example (one of many in my life) of Christian parenting -- the day I left for college, I visited my grandparents. About the time I was to leave, my grandfather shook my hand and said this : "We're proud of you ---God gave you a good head and if you stay away from alcohol and drugs -- you can use that thing and go somewhere.." Two things with this... there was absolutely no Hypocritical statements made and due to this - I believed him! Because of the example my parents and grandparents set in a Christ-like manor - I never once drank alcohol or turned to drugs - and still haven't! Thanks be to God for this - and its one of many instances when Christian advice was passed along and displayed for my viewing!
If I had to tell you the one greatest thing my parents and grandparents have done for me - and Lord knows they've done a lot -- they not only acted like Christians, but proved that they were in the their actions and praise of Him - furthermore being a witness to me! This removed every last plausable excuse for me not knowing Christ!!
In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame!
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me, and save me!
Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
you are he who took me from my mother's womb.
My praise is continually of you.
I have been as a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
and with your glory all the day.
Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength is spent.
For my enemies speak concerning me;
those who watch for my life consult together
and say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue and seize him,
for there is none to deliver him.”
O God, be not far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!
May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
who seek my hurt.
But I will hope continually
and will praise you yet more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge.
With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come;
I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.
Your righteousness, O God,
reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?
You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up again.
You will increase my greatness
and comfort me again.
I will also praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy,
when I sing praises to you;
my soul also, which you have redeemed.
And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
who sought to do me hurt.
(Psalm 71 ESV)
A closing thought: Even the Uncool testimony Glorifies God and needs to be told. As our world continues on its Hell bound path, the Christian Family will continue to be a minority and a those that exist are Miracles!!
Feel free to comment at your leisure.
God Bless!!!
