Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Who Has Influenced You the Most in your Spiritual Journey?

Yes, I'm still alive. I have been without our desk computer for the past week and haven't been able to write much. It's been a nice break, actually, but I started having writing withdrawal yesterday afternoon. I have been periodically checking e-mail on my husband's laptop. However, it is difficult to write on my blog without having the computer I normally use. I'm not really sure when we will get the computer back so, today, since the kids and I are having an easy school week (a much needed little Spring Break), I decided I would go ahead and write something, regardless....

Today's topic was suggested to me by a group called The Faithful Bloggers. The question is...

Who has influenced you the most in
your Spiritual journey?

Well, that one, for me, is easy - my parents! They both grew up in Christian homes and had good examples from their own parents, thus passing it along to me and my siblings. At a young preschool age, I can remember my parents being area directors for CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship). So, from the earliest time I can remember, I have been hearing about events that happened in the Bible. Most will call them Bible Stories, but they are not really "stories" like we would read in a picture book. They are true events that happened - a part of history. Obviously, many in this world will disagree with me on that and explain the Bible away as "stories" or myths. I feel sorry for those people, as they are truly missing out on knowing God in a real and meaningful way. My parents taught me, by their example, that the Bible is true; and that God's love for us is real.

At the young age of 4, my mother was teaching a children's Bible class (called a Good News Club) to some children in the basement of our home. I was included in these clubs, and it was during one of them that the Lord got ahold of my heart. At that young age of 4, I understood who Jesus was. I understood that I am a sinner in need of a Savior (Romans 3:23). I understood that Jesus died on a cross for my sins. I understood that asking Jesus to forgive my sins and to be a part of my life forever made me a new person, as well as someone who would have eternal life in heaven (John 3:16).

THAT was the beginning of my spiritual journey, but it didn't end there. My parents are not perfect, but they continued to faithfully teach me and my brother and sister about Spiritual matters. They not only helped to bring me to a saving faith in Jesus, they discipled me and helped me to understand that faith in Jesus is only the beginning of our service to Him. Anyone can believe in Jesus, but it doesn't really mean a thing if you're not willing to live for Him.

There is more to my story, but I think I'll stop here for now. My hope is that my story never comes to an end as long as I am here on this earth. It is my desire to serve the Lord with gladness all the days of my life. And, I have my parents to THANK for their example.

Thank you, Mom & Dad, for caring enough to teach me about God's Word, to tell me the truth of Salvation through Jesus Christ alone, to disciple me in my Christian walk, and for your continual love, encouragement, support, and example. Because of you, I am who I am today.

So, now, it's your turn? Who has influenced YOU the most for the Lord? Tell me about it below, or in an e-mail. I'd really LOVE to hear from you!

God is good.....
.

5 comments:

  1. I'm so thankful you had that kind of an example growing up - so many do not. For me it was my Grandparents. They were the strong Christians in my family and showed me what it really meant to have faith and to dedicate my life to the Lord.

    Courtney
    http://faithfulbloggers.com

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  2. One day I will meet your parents. They did a great job raising you!
    For me well, yea my parents as well. Tomorrow will mark the 20th anniv. of my mother's home going though. So, my dad's imprint got larger.
    They were not raised in a godly home, though in their parents later lives they did receive Jesus.
    My mother fell in love with her Lord as a child in Sunday school and was faithful to Him till she ran through those pearly gates. My dad was a Detroit inner city hoodlem. Then at 18 yrs. old he surrendered his life as well to Jesus.
    By surrendering their lives even more they became pastors...thus my upbringing. Constant teachings on being Christ like, God's love and grace and His provisions plus healings. So much, I am blessed to still have my soon to be 81 yr. old father with me. I still drink up words of wisdom he gives thus influencing my life as I hopefully do my own children.
    Thanks for this sweet post my friend!

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  3. Thanks for sharing, Courtney and Daneille! I enjoyed hearing from you.

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  4. I'm inspired by the work your parents did! My desire is that I can inspire my daughter to live for Christ always.

    My parents never took me to church. The single exception is when my Mom took me to an afternoon anniversary celebration for my grandmother, who had served her church for 25 years. Funerals don't count. When I hear of people who were raised by parents in the Lord, I always pray that they know how blessed they truly were.

    My grandmothers were my inspiration for faith, and I will write about them later this week on my blog.

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  5. Thanks, Nicole. Yes, I do realize it is such a blessing to have parents who love the Lord and raised their children to do the same. I look forward to reading about your grandmothers.

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