Something’s a little different today! Yes, it’s Friday. Yes, I’m writing for 5 minutes (plus) to the prompt “Where” over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com AND I’m also writing to the prompt “Begin” to join in on the #Write28Days Challenge at http://www.anitaojeda.com So, here we go….
Where to Begin
“So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.” 1 John 2:24 (NLT)
Hmmmm….Where to begin? That’s easy! Isn’t it? Of course the best place to begin is at the beginning! But wait, which one? Life offers each of us many beginnings. Here are just a few of mine:
Beginning of Life: Jackson, Michigan 1959
Beginning of Sisterhood: Santa Maria, California 1961
Beginning of Elementary School: Santa Susana, California 1965
Beginning of High School: Jackson, Michigan 1973
Beginning of College: Jackson, Michigan 1977
Beginning of Teaching Career: Circleville, WV 1982
Beginning of Married Life: Jackson, Michigan 1983
Beginning of Motherhood: Petersburg, WV 1985
Beginning of Retirement: Riverton, WV 2014
Beginning of Grandparenthood: Huntington, WV 2015
Each beginning has a unique story of place and time to tell. Each leads one to the other; but there’s one beginning that tells not just my greatest story, but the greatest love story of all! That beginning took place at a youth retreat in the church pictured above:
Beginning of My Salvation Story: Hanover-Horton, MI 1975
Little did I know when I signed up to participate with my youth group that weekend, it would be a new beginning for me! We spent those days studying, singing, sharing and praying. On the final evening, as the music softly played, the speaker concluded by inviting us to accept Christ as our Savior. In that moment I felt in my heart such longing, tears filled my eyes, and before I knew where my feet were taking me, I found myself kneeling at the alter and asking for forgiveness at the foot of the cross. I don’t always get it right. Often, I have more questions than answers but there’s no doubt that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, my life hasn’t been the same since that night many years ago! Like I said, “the greatest love story” ever!
So, that brings me back to my original question…. Where to begin? And the answer is to begin with “The Beginning”!
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:1 (NLT)
We often don’t know where a beginning in life will take us. Some may lead us through grief, pain, and discouragement; while others usher us into joy, fulfillment, and peace. And of course, there’s everything in between. But, when we begin a new life in Christ, we have assurance that He shepherds us through each start and stop, every success and failure, and all of our dreams and disappointments. And here’s the best part: in choosing a new beginning with God we do know exactly where it leads…..to eternal life with Him!
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NLT)
I took this picture of the church where I made the decision to receive Christ as my Savior on one of my recent trips back to visit family because to be honest, I hadn’t thought of that night in a long time and I wanted to keep it close as a reminder. Sitting there in the parking lot, I was flooded with such an overwhelming calm. I can’t explain it but once again tears began to flow as I recalled how much the new beginning I experienced in that place has blessed me. It’s not a salvation story that books will be written about or movies will portray, but that doesn’t matter. Mine is a story written by the Author and Perfecter of Faith, the One True Beginning! Yours is too! As you think about your many life beginnings, stop and revisit your own salvation story. If you’re willing, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. And who knows, maybe when we begin to share our stories they may just lead someone else to exactly where they need to be!
If you haven’t yet accepted Christ as your Savior I pray you don’t put it off. I’m sharing some scriptures here that helped me. I hope they will help guide you to find your new beginning, too:
~“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8 (NLT)
~“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NLT)
~“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.. For it is believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)