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My daughter and her little doll Susie.....
MY DAUGHTER WAS ONLY EIGHT YEARS OLD
WHEN MY WIFE BOUGHT HER THE DOLL. SHE
WRAPPED IT UP IN SHINY PINK WRAPPING PAPER
AND PUT A BIG WHITE BOW ON IT.
I REMEMBER HOW EXCITED OUR LITTLE SHELLEY GOT WHEN
SHE OPENED HER PRESENT UP AND FIRST SAW THE DOLL.
RIGHT AWAY SHE NAMED IT 'SUSIE' AND FROM THAT POINT
ON, EVERYWHERE SHELLEY WENT, THAT DOLL WENT TOO.
IT'S FUNNY HOW THINGS WORK OUT SOMETIMES- BUT THEN
AGAIN, NOT FUNNY AT ALL. MORE LIKE A MIRACLE, YOU COULD
SAY. THAT DOLL PLAYS A BIG PART IN THE STORY I'M ABOUT TO
TELL. BUT ONLY BECAUSE OF MY DAUGHTER- “THE LITTLE WITNESS“
- I LIKE TO CALL HER. I GUESS THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS
THAT SOMEONE CAN BE A GOOD WITNESS TO A LOST PERSON. IN
MY CASE......WELL, I’LL JUST GET ON WITH MY STORY AND IT
WILL ALL BE MADE CLEAR.
MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WENT TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY
MORNING AND SUNDAY NIGHT. THEY ALSO WENT ON WEDNESDAY
NIGHTS - AND THEY WENT WITHOUT ME. IT WASN'T THAT I WAS
A BAD HUSBAND OR DAD, FOR I LOVED MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER
VERY MUCH. I JUST DIDN'T SEE THE POINT IN GOING TO CHURCH.
IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT I WAS I NTERESTED IN DOING. I HAD
NEVER BEEN A "RELIGIOUS" MAN BUT I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH
MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER GOING TO CHURCH IF THAT'S WHAT
MADE THEM HAPPY. I WAS NEVER HOUNDED OVER THIS OR NAGGED
EITHER, BY MY WIFE. IN FACT, SHE WAS VERY SWEET ABOUT IT
AND ALL SHE EVER SAID TO ME EVER SO OFTEN WAS, "I'LL BE
PRAYING FOR YOU HONEY."
OUR DAUGHTER TOOK HER DOLL WITH HER TO CHURCH AND
EVEN DRESSED HER DOLL- “SUSIE” UP FOR THE OCCASION, AS
IF SHE WERE A REAL LIVE LITTLE PERSON. IT WAS RATHER CUTE
TOO, THE WAY SHE ALWAYS SAT HER DOLL IN HER OLD HIGH-
CHAIR AT DINNER TIME EVERY NIGHT. SHELLEY WOULD PLACE
THE HIGH-CHAIR RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE SHE SAT AT THE DINNER
TABLE.
TO CONTINUE ON WITH MY STORY, THE CHURCH THAT MY WIFE
AND DAUGHTER ATTENDED HAD PLANNED A BIG REVIVAL. THIS
REVIVAL WAS TO TAKE PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH, AND WOULD
LAST FOR FOUR DAYS. MY WIFE ALWAYS GOT EXCITED AT "REVIVAL
TIME" AND SO DID OUR LITTLE SHELLEY. EVEN THOUGH THAT MAY
SOUND SILLY SINCE SHE WAS ONLY EIGHT YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.
BUT SHELLEY, AS SHE EXPLAINED IT TO ME ONE NIGHT AFTER SHE
AND HER MOM HAD JUST COME HOME FROM CHURCH, - ”HAD MADE
FRIENDS WITH JESUS!” IN ALL HONESTY, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ANY
OF IT, BUT I DID GIVE HER A BIG HUG AND TELL HER THAT 'DADDY
WAS SURE PROUD OF HER.' I REMEMBER THAT SAME NIGHT WHEN I
TUCKED HER INTO BED, SHE LOOKED UP AT ME WITH HER BIG BROWN
EYES AND SAID, "DADDY, I'M GONNA SAY A BIG PRAYER FOR YOU
TONIGHT; "I'M GONNA PRAY THAT SOMEDAY YOU'LL FIND JESUS,
TOO, JUST LIKE ME AND MOMMA DID." “AND SUSIE’S GONNA PRAY
FOR YOU, TOO!“ I DIDN'T KNOW QUITE WHAT TO SAY TO THAT, SO I
MUMBLED SOMETHING LIKE 'OH THAT'S NICE' AND QUICKLY SAID
GOOD-NIGHT AND LEFT THE ROOM.
ABOUT ONE WEEK BEFORE THE CHURCH REVIVAL WAS TO START,
I WENT ON A WEEKEND HUNTING TRIP WITH TWO OF MY BUDDIES
FROM WORK. THEY HAD INVITED A FRIEND OF THEIRS TO COME
ALONG, TOO. I HAD NEVER MET THIS FRIEND, BUT RIGHT AWAY I
COULD TELL THAT HE WAS ONE OF THOSE "RELIGIOUS" PEOPLE.
WHEN WE STOPPED OFF AT A DINER TO EAT LUNCH ON THE WAY TO
THE HUNTING CAMP, I NOTICED THAT HE BOWED HIS HEAD AND
SAID A PRAYER BEFORE EATING. ON THE SECOND NIGHT OF THE
CAMPING TRIP, THIS MAN, WHO’S NAME WAS BILL, GOT HIS BIBLE
AND BEGAN READING IT TO HIMSELF, WHILE WE ALL WERE SITTING
AROUND THE CAMPFIRE. MY TWO BUDDIES FROM WORK HAD KNOWN
HIM A LOT LONGER THAN I HAD, SO I GUESS THAT'S WHY THEY DIDN'T
SEEM SURPRISED AT THIS. MAYBE THEY WERE USED TO HEARING HIM
TALK ABOUT OUR LORD IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. IT WASN'T THAT I
WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HIM READING HIS BIBLE IN FRONT OF ME,
BUT I DID HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE FACT THAT HE WANTED TO TALK
TO ME PERSONALLY, ABOUT THE LORD. HE STARTED THE CONVER-
SATION THAT NIGHT BY ASKING ME IF I HAD EVER HEARD OF GOD'S
PLAN OF SALVATION. I ANSWERED HIM IN A PRETTY COLD TONE OF
VOICE, TOO. AFTER ALL, I REALLY DIDN'T SEE THAT IT WAS ANY OF
HIS BUSINESS (AT LEAST, AT THAT TIME I DIDN'T, BUT LATER I
WOULD UNDERSTAND AND I AM VERY THANKFUL TO THIS CHRISTIAN
MAN FOR TRYING TO WITNESS TO ME). MY ANSWER TO HIM WAS
FLAT OUT "WHY DO YOU ASK ME THAT?" I FELT A LITTLE GUILTY FOR
HAVING BEEN SO RUDE TO HIM, SO I TOLD HIM THAT MY WIFE HAD
TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT A FEW TIMES, BUT THAT IT JUST WASN'T
"MY THING." I ALSO TOLD HIM THAT MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER
WENT TO CHURCH REGULARLY BUT THAT I NEVER WENT, AND
WASN'T PLANNING ON GOING, EITHER. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT
MY WIFE AND I HAD A WONDERFUL MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIP
AND THAT SHE SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND HOW I FELT ABOUT THAT
SUBJECT. HE LISTENED TO WHAT I HAD TO SAY AND DIDN'T INTERRUPT
ME. WHEN I WAS FINISHED WITH MY 'DEFENSIVE' SPEECH, HE
ASKED ME IF I WOULD MIND IF HE SHARED SOMETHING WITH ME.
I TOLD HIM TO 'GO AHEAD, IF HE FELT LIKE HE JUST "HAD TO". HE
TOLD ME ALL ABOUT HIS LIFE. (LATER I WOULD REALIZE THAT HE HAD
BEEN GIVING ME HIS TESTIMONY). HE SHARED WITH ME THE FACT
THAT HE AND HIS WIFE HAD GOTTEN MARRIED AT A VERY YOUNG
AGE. HE SAID THAT FOR YEARS NEITHER ONE OF THEM HAD EVER
READ THE BIBLE OR EVEN TALKED ABOUT THE LORD. UNTIL ONE
DAY, FOR SOME REASON, THEY DECIDED TO VISIT A SMALL COUNTRY
CHURCH IN THE TOWN WHERE THEY LIVED. HE TOLD ME THAT DURING
THE CHURCH SERVICE, HE AND HIS WIFE HAD BOTH SURRENDERED
THEIR HEARTS AND LIVES TO JESUS CHRIST AND HAD BECOME
CHRISTIANS.
HE SAID THAT THEIR LIVES HAD CHANGED AFTER THAT.
HE EVEN ADDED THAT HE LOVED HIS WIFE SO MUCH MORE AFTER
HE BECAME A CHRISTIAN AND THAT HE BECAME A BETTER HUSBAND
AFTER GETTING "SAVED". I WAS SITTING THERE BY THE FIRE
LISTENING TO THIS MAN, WHO I DIDN'T KNOW VERY WELL, GIVE
ME HIS WHOLE LIFE STORY. I PRETENDED TO BE COMPLETELY
UNINTERESTED. BUT ACTUALLY, THO' I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT
AT THE TIME, SOMETHING WAS GOING ON INSIDE OF ME. MY HEART
HAD A SMALL ACHE INSIDE AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHY. HIS STORY
BOTHERED ME. IT HAD SOMEHOW MADE ME FEEL AS IF I WAS
MISSING SOMETHING. ALMOST AS IF I HAD A HOLE IN MY HEART
SOMEWHERE. HOWEVER, FOR THE REST OF THE CAMPING TRIP, HE
SAID NOTHING ELSE TO ME ABOUT HIS "SAVIOUR" OR ANYTHING
ELSE 'SPIRITUAL.' I WAS GLAD TOO. I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO
HEAR ANY MORE ABOUT IT.
WHEN I ARRIVED HOME FROM THE CAMPING TRIP, I MUST HAVE
SEEMED A BIT IRRITABLE, BECAUSE MY WIFE ASKED ME IF THERE
WAS ANYTHING WRONG. I TOLD HER NO, THAT I JUST WASN'T FEELING
WELL. MY DAUGHTER SHELLEY WAS PLAYING OUT ON THE BACK
PORCH WITH HER DOLL SUSIE, SO I WALKED OUTSIDE TO SAY HELLO
TO HER AND TO LET HER KNOW THAT 'DADDY WAS HOME.'
SHELLEY AND HER DOLL WERE PLAYING CHURCH. MY DAUGHTER
HAD HER BIBLE OUT AND WAS PRETENDING TO BE HER DOLL’S
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER. I SAT DOWN ON ONE OF THE PATIO
CHAIRS AND WATCHED HER PLAY, AND I LISTENED AS SHE TALKED
TO 'SUSIE'.
“OK SUSIE, NOW YOU HAVE TO LISTEN AND BE REAL QUIET 'COZ IT’S
TIME TO START OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.” “I’LL ASK A QUESTION
TO THE CLASS AND IF ANYONE KNOWS THE ANSWER, THEN YOU HAVE TO
RAISE YOUR HAND.” “OK NOW, HOW MANY OF YOU KIDS KNOWS ABOUT
JESUS?” THEN MY DAUGHTER, PRETENDING THAT HER DOLL HAD RAISED
HER HAND, SAID, “OH, THAT’S VERY GOOD SUSIE!” “NOW, CAN ANY ONE
TELL ME WHY JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS?” “YES, THAT’S RIGHT AGAIN,
SUSIE, VERY GOOD!” “NOW CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO GET TO
HEAVEN?” “YES, VERY GOOD SUSIE! THAT’S RIGHT, GOOD GIRL!"
WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING IT, I MUST HAVE HAD TEARS IN MY EYES,
FOR MY DAUGHTER LOOKED UP AT ME AND ASKED, "DADDY, WHAT'S
THE MATTER?" I COULDN'T ANSWER HER. I GOT UP AND WENT BACK
INSIDE.
THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY NIGHT, AS MY WIFE WAS GETTING
OUR DAUGHTER DRESSED FOR CHURCH, I WAS SITTING AT THE
KITCHEN TABLE EATING A PIECE OF MY WIFE'S WONDERFUL CHOCOLATE
CAKE. I HAPPEN TO NOTICE THAT ONE OF HER CHURCH TRACTS WAS
LYING ON THE TABLE. I KNEW THAT SHE ALWAYS CARRIED THESE LITTLE
GOSPEL SALVATION BOOKLETS AROUND IN HER PURSE WITH HER
EVERYWHERE SHE WENT. I'D SEEN HER SEVERAL TIMES WHEN WE'D
GO OUT TO A RESTAURANT, LEAVE ONE OF THOSE "WITNESSING TRACTS"
LYING ON THE TABLE, AS WE WERE LEAVING. BUT I'D NEVER READ ONE
BEFORE, MYSELF. I THOUGHT I'D JUST SEE WHAT IT HAD TO SAY, SO I
PICKED IT UP AND STARTED READING IT.
"JOHN 3:16: FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS
ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD
NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE."
WELL, I'D NEVER READ THAT VERSE BEFORE.
"JOHN 3:17: FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO
CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM
MIGHT BE SAVED."
WHAT EXACTLY DID "SAVED" MEAN, I WONDERED? FOR SOME
REASON, I COULDN'T PUT THE TRACT DOWN YET. I WAS CURIOUS
NOW AS TO WHAT ELSE IT HAD TO SAY.
"ROMANS 5:8: "BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN
THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US." WELL, I
HAD NEVER THOUGHT OF MYSELF AS A SINNER BEFORE. I WASN'T A
BAD PERSON, AFTER ALL. WHY WAS I A SINNER? I CONTINUED TO
READ........
"ROMANS 5:12: "WHEREFORE, AS BY ONE MAN SIN ENTERED INTO
THE WORLD, AND DEATH BY SIN; AND SO DEATH PASSED UPON ALL
MEN; FOR THAT ALL HAVE SINNED."
"ROMANS 6:23: "FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT
OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD."
I FELT THAT TUG IN MY HEART AGAIN. I FELT LIKE I WANTED TO CRY,
AND THE SINFUL PART OF ME WANTED TO PUT THAT TRACT DOWN
RIGHT THEN AND NEVER PICK UP ANOTHER ONE. BUT I DIDN'T.
INSTEAD, I KEPT READING. I COULD HEAR MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER
TALKING IN THE BEDROOM, SO I KNEW I STILL HAD SOME TIME LEFT
BEFORE THEY WALKED IN AND SAW THAT I WAS READING THE
GOSPEL TRACT. THAT'S ALL I NEEDED- TO HAVE MY WIFE AND
DAUGHTER START PRAYING FOR ME AGAIN.
"ROMANS 3:10: "AS IT IS WRITTEN, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS,
NO NOT ONE."
"ROMANS 3:23: "FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE
GLORY OF GOD."
"ROMANS 3:24: "BEING JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE THROUGH
THE REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS."
I REALIZED AT THAT MOMENT, THAT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD
DO TO EARN MY WAY INTO HEAVEN. NO AMOUNT OF WORKS OR GOOD
DEEDS. GOD’S HOLY AND DIVINELY INSPIRED WORD WAS TELLING
ME THAT IT MUST BE BY FAITH ALONE.
THE NEXT TWO VERSES I READ, MERELY CONFIRMED AND
BACKED-UP WHAT I HAD ALREADY JUST READ.
EPHESIANS 2:8 -FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH;
AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF
WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.
LOOKING BACK, I CAN SAY THAT AT THE TIME, I DIDN’T REALIZE THAT
THE TUGGING I WAS FEELING INSIDE MY HEART, WAS GOD’S HOLY
SPIRIT DEALING WITH ME-....CONVICTING ME. I BELIEVE AT THE TIME,
AFTER READING THOSE BIBLE VERSES THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT
ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS I HAD DONE FOR PEOPLE. I WAS THINKING ABOUT
WHAT A MORALLY DECENT PERSON I'D ALWAYS BEEN. I WAS THINKING ABOUT
ALL THE CHARITIES I HAD CONTRIBUTED TO. I WAS A GOOD AND FAITHFUL
HUSBAND, - A GOOD DAD. I WASN'T A LAW-BREAKER, OR A THIEF, OR A
LIAR. BUT YET, GOD'S WORD SAYS THAT WE'RE ALL BORN SINNERS AND
THAT THE ONLY WAY TO HIS KINGDOM IS THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS
CHRIST. NOT JUST BY LIVING A MORALLY GOOD LIFE. NOT BY WORKING
ONE’S WAY INTO HEAVEN.
WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
I KNEW NOW. GOD HAD MADE HIS WORD PLAIN TO ME. I READ THOSE
TWO VERSES AGAIN FROM THE TRACT, AND THEN I WENT INTO THE
LIVING-ROOM AND PICKED UP MY WIFE'S BIBLE. I BEGAN MATCHING
THE SCRIPTURES FROM THE TRACT TO WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN GOD'S
WORD. YES, IT ALL MATCHED PERFECTLY. IT WAS ALL TRUE.
"EPHESIANS 2: 8 & 9: "FOR BY GRACE OR YE SAVED, THROUGH FAITH;
AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD. NOT OF
WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST."
I GOT UP FROM THE TABLE AND WENT OUTSIDE FOR A WALK. WHEN
I GOT BACK HOME ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR LATER, MY WIFE WAS
CURLING HER HAIR, STILL GETTING READY FOR CHURCH. I DIDN'T
FEEL LIKE TALKING TO HER JUST THEN, FOR I HAD NOTHING TO TELL
HER. NOTHING HAD CHANGED. NOTHING HAD BEEN RESOLVED WITHIN
MY HEART. BUT I STILL HAD THAT SAD AND LOST KIND OF ACHE IN MY
HEART. I STILL HAD THAT FEELING THAT THERE WAS A VOID SOMEWHERE
INSIDE OF ME- IN MY HEART - IN MY LIFE.
WHEN MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ARRIVED HOME FROM CHURCH THAT
NIGHT, I TOOK THEM OUT TO DINNER. AGAIN, I NOTICED THAT MY WIFE
DELIBERATELY LEFT ONE OF HER GOSPEL TRACTS LYING ON THE
RESTAURANT TABLE, AS WE WERE LEAVING. I WAS USED TO SEEING
HER DO THAT BY NOW. AS WE LEFT THE RESTAURANT, I WAS
WONDERING TO MYSELF WHO WOULD BE READING THAT TRACT LATER
ON? WOULD THEY FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT I HAD, WHEN I READ IT?
GUILTY? ASHAMED? CONVICTED? LOST? I DIDN'T WANT TO THINK
ABOUT IT ANY MORE.
LATER ON AT HOME, AS I WAS WALKING TOWARDS MY DAUGHTERS
BEDROOM TO TELL HER GOODNIGHT, I HEARD HER TALKING TO HER
DOLL, SUSIE. I STOPPED JUST OUTSIDE OF HER BEDROOM DOOR AND
LISTENED. IT SOUNDED LIKE SHE WAS PRAYING OUT LOUD. I PEEKED INSIDE
HER ROOM AND SAW MY LITTLE SHELLEY SITTING ON HER BED, TALKING
TO 'SUSIE'. THIS IS WHAT SHE SAID TO HER DOLL:
"OK NOW SUSIE, IN JUST A MINUTE WE'RE GONNA SAY OUR
PRAYERS." "AND REMEMBER, WE HAVE TO PRAY FOR DADDY." "WE'LL
ASK JESUS TO HELP HIM SO THAT HE WON'T BE SO SAD ALL THE TIME."
"AND WE'LL PRAY FOR DADDY, THAT HE'LL LET JESUS COME LIVE INSIDE
HIS HEART.” "COZ HE DOESN'T LIKE TO GO TO CHURCH WITH ME AND
MOMMY AND YOU, AND HE DOESN'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT JESUS."
"COZ HE JUST DOESN'T UNDERSTAND YET, BUT I BET IF WE KEEP PRAYING
FOR HIM, HE'LL MAKE FRIENDS WITH JESUS, TOO!"
I HAD TEARS IN MY EYES AS I TUCKED LITTLE SHELLEY INTO BED THAT
NIGHT. AGAIN, SHE NOTICED THIS AND ASKED ‘WHAT'S THE MATTER,
DADDY?" I TOLD HER THAT I JUST HAD A BAD COLD AND THAT IT WAS
NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. (A LIE) SHE LOOKED UP AT ME AND SAID, "IT'S
OKAY DADDY, 'COZ YOU'RE GONNA FEEL A LOT BETTER PRETTY SOON." "ME
AND SUSIE PRAYED FOR YOU AGAIN JUST NOW." "AND
JESUS IS GOING TO HELP YOU.”
WHEN I WALKED OUT OF MY DAUGHTER'S ROOM THAT NIGHT, THE
BURDEN IN MY HEART FELT EVEN HEAVIER. I COULD HARDLY LOOK MY
WIFE IN THE FACE FOR THE REST OF THAT EVENING. I HONESTLY
THOUGHT SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE THE TURMOIL GOING ON INSIDE
OF ME, AND IN MY HEART....OR MAYBE SHE WOULD SEE THE HEAVY
CONVICTION I FELT. I KNOW NOW THAT GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT WAS
REALLY DEALING WITH ME.
THE NEXT MORNING WAS THE FIRST DAY OF MY VACATION FROM
WORK. I SLEPT LATE AND MY WIFE COOKED ME A BIG BREAKFAST WHEN
I WOKE UP. SHELLEY PULLED HER OLD HIGH-CHAIR UP TO THE TABLE
AGAIN, SO SHE AND "SUSIE" COULD VISIT WITH ME WHILE I ATE.
THE "LITTLE WITNESS" THEN DECIDED SHE NEEDED TO TEACH SUSIE
A NEW SONG THAT SHE'D JUST LEARNED ALL THE WORDS TO IN HER
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS AT CHURCH. I LISTENED AS SHE SANG THE
SONG OUT LOUD TO HER DOLL.
"JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, SWEETEST NAME I KNOW, FILLS MY EVERY
LONGING, KEEPS ME SINGING AS I GO."
“SOON HE’S COMING BACK TO WELCOME ME, FAR BEYOND THE
STARRY SKIES..............
SHE SANG FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN DECIDED THAT SHE AND
SUSIE WOULD GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY ON HER SWING SET. MY WIFE
SAID THAT SHE HAD TO RUN TO THE STORE TO PICK UP A FEW THINGS.
I WENT INTO THE LIVING-ROOM AND TURNED ON THE TELEVISION SET. I
SAT DOWN IN MY FAVORITE COMFORTABLE CHAIR, TO FINISH
READING THE NEWSPAPER.
I HEARD A MAN TALKING ON THE TELEVISION SET. I LISTENED;
HE WAS A PASTOR OF SOME CHURCH IN TEXAS. HE WAS TALKING
ABOUT GOD AND HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, JESUS CHRIST. I LISTENED
TO THE WHOLE SERMON UNTIL IT WAS OVER. THEN HE GAVE THE PLAN OF
SALVATION TO HIS CONGREGATION. THE CHOIR WAS SINGING A SONG
CALLED, "JUST AS I AM." I LISTENED TO THE WORDS OF THE SONG.
"JUST AS I AM, WITHOUT ONE PLEA,
"BUT THAT THY BLOOD, WAS SHED FOR ME";
"AND THAT THOU BIDST ME COME TO THEE",
"OH LAMB OF GOD, I COME,....I COME."
TO FINISH MY STORY AND TESTIMONY, I WAS ON MY KNEES RIGHT
THERE IN MY LIVING- ROOM, BY THE SECOND VERSE. RIGHT THERE-
THAT DAY- IN MY HOME, I INVITED JESUS CHRIST INTO MY HEART. I
CONFESSED THAT DAY TO JESUS, THAT I WAS A LOST SINNER AND I
ASKED HIS FORGIVENESS FOR ALL OF MY SINS. I ASKED CHRIST TO
SAVE ME AND MAKE ME A NEW PERSON- A "NEW CREATURE IN
CHRIST," AS GOD'S HOLY WORD- THE BIBLE SAYS. I DID A FAIR
SHARE OF CRYING TOO. BUT I'LL NEVER FORGET HOW WONDERFUL
AND JOYFUL I FELT THAT DAY, HAVING GOTTEN RID OF THAT HEAVY AND
GUILTY BURDEN. I REALLY DID FEEL LIKE "A NEW CREATURE IN
CHRIST." WHEN I TRUSTED IN CHRIST TO SAVE ME, IT WAS
COMPLETELY BY FAITH. I ACCEPTED GOD'S FREE GIFT OF SALVATION.
NOT FROM ANY WORKS THAT I HAD DONE, BUT I WAS SAVED THAT DAY
BECAUSE WHEN CHRIST DIED ON THAT CROSS AND SHED HIS BLOOD,
HE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO BE BORN-AGAIN, BY MY OWN CHOICE.....
BY AN ACT OF FAITH IN HIM.
WHEN MY WIFE RETURNED FROM THE STORE, SHE FOUND ME SITTING
ON THE SOFA, READING HER BIBLE. I LOOKED UP AT HER WHEN I
SAW HER ENTER THE ROOM. SHE HAD A LOOK OF SURPRISE ON HER
FACE AT FINDING ME READING HER BIBLE. I KNOW I HAD A BIG SMILE
ON MY FACE, SO SHE SHE WALKED OVER AND SAT DOWN ON THE SOFA
NEXT TO ME.
"HONEY, I HAVE SOME REAL GOOD NEWS TO TELL YOU, - I HAVE
SURRENDERED MY HEART AND LIFE TO CHRIST." "I GOT ON MY
KNEES, RIGHT HERE, AND INVITED JESUS INTO MY HEART."
I HAVE NEVER SEEN MY WIFE CRY THE WAY SHE CRIED THAT DAY.
FOR THAT MATTER, MYSELF EITHER. I CANNOT BEGIN TO EXPLAIN HOW
WONDERFUL IT WAS FOR ME TO HAVE THAT HEAVY BURDEN OF BEING
LOST, OFF OF MY HEART AND OUT OF MY LIFE THAT DAY. THE JOY I
FELT IN MY HEART WAS SO WONDERFUL THAT I CANNOT DESCRIBE
IT IN WORDS.
THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY NIGHT, AS 'WE' WERE GETTING
READY FOR CHURCH, I HEARD LITTLE SHELLEY IN HER ROOM,
TALKING TO HER DOLL SUSIE AGAIN.
"SEE, SUSIE, I TOLD YOU." "GOD HEARS HIS CHILDREN’S
PRAYERS, AND NOW DADDY'S HAPPY, TOO." "HE'S GOT
JESUS IN HIS HEART, JUST LIKE WE DO!" "AND TONIGHT,
I'M EVEN GONNA LET YOU SIT BY DADDY IN CHURCH."
"NOW WHAT DO 'YA THINK ABOUT THAT !"
Fictional Story
Written By:
Tammy Boatman-Young
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