Jill, Bobby, and Jesus

My brother, Mark, and me: Confirmation Class of 1963

                                                           Jill’s Story

           

            A history book of the First United Methodist Church of Ft. Payne, Alabama holds this picture shown above with the caption: April 7 (Easter Sunday), 1963 confirmation class: new members received on profession of faith.

I have a confession. When that picture was taken, I (the little one, front row, second from left) had NOT professed faith in Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, as a first grader, I didn’t even understand what a profession of faith was! I just wanted to join the church with my brother, Mark.

          As I grew older, I repeatedly heard: “If you died today, do you know for sure you would go to heaven?” I didn’t know for sure, and that frightened me.

         One spring in my middle school years, my best friend, Mary, and I went to a Billy Graham film showing at the local DeKalb Theater. When the movie ended, the lights came up and a young man stepped to the front of the theater...

                                                      Bobby’s Story

            Bobby Welch grew up in Fort Payne, Alabama. As a teenager, he taught swimming lessons at the city pool. (I was in his class once and vividly remember him picking me up by my heels and dropping me off the high dive!) 

            Bobby says that he was saved at 16 but strayed away from God while in college and the military. As an Army reconnaissance platoon leader in Vietnam, he was shot by a Viet Cong guerilla; and believed to be dead, he was piled onto a military helicopter among the casualties. While unloading the soldiers, Welch was found alive. 

           After that near death experience, he recommitted his life to Christ; and three years later, the Lord called him to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

                                                Two Stories Collide

One spring afternoon, after a Billy Graham movie, a young preacher named Bobby Welch walked to the front of the theater and told the children something to the effect of: if you’re not sure you're going to heaven; you can be sure today. Come now and ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord.

I walked to the front of that old theater and professed, by faith, Jesus as my Savior and Lord. At that moment, by God’s love, power, and grace, Jesus forgave me, sealed me by the Holy Spirit, and guaranteed me everlasting life in heaven with Him. I was born again - spiritually!

Since that day, Jesus has never deserted nor forsaken me. He has never failed to help me through and out of my problems; and nothing has or ever will separate me from His love.

How about you? Do you know for certain that you'll go to heaven when you die? You can know today: know Jesus Christ, the Messiah!

“There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name – but Jesus – that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:13)

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Strong Men

My grandfather, World War I

“By faith in (Jesus') name, His name has made this man strong, whom you see and know.” (Acts 3:16a HCS)

My father, World War II

My family tree is filled with branches of strong men. The world may define strength by ones success, power, or physical stature; but God measures strength according to ones faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

My son, Operation Iraqi Freedom

             Have you ever heard of a man named Nicodemus? 

Well, one night long ago, a Pharisee (a powerful religious leader in those days) named Nicodemus came secretly to Jesus. Jesus told him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God.” In other words, you’ll never see heaven. Imagine that, a religious leader missing heaven!

 Amazed, Nicodemus asked, “How can one be born again?” 

Jesus explained that everyone is born physically but to be born again you must be born spiritually by believing in Him.

 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:1-16). 

"For this is will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, will have eternal life, and I Myself will 

raise him up on the last day."

(John 6:40)

God does the rebirthing: He forgives you, cleans away your sins, and gives you forever after, never-ending life with Him. His free gift of new birth isn’t deserved and can’t be earned; but by believing and 

trusting Jesus, you can have it.

            Have you been born again? I pray that today you will ask Father God for rebirth through faith in the name of Jesus and become 

a strong man or woman of God!

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In His Time

My Marine in the desert, 2009

        “...My words…will be fulfilled in their proper time.”  (Luke 1:20)

            Through Scripture in 2007, I believed the Lord told me that my son would go to the desert and would return safely from “the land of the enemy”.  Two years later, he deployed to Iraq. I was asked many times if I were afraid for my child; to which I could truthfully answer, “No, I'm not afraid because I believe God has promised he will come home.”

And he did, just as the Lord had said.

         Are you awaiting the fulfillment of a promise from God?

The Lord is sure to accomplish those things

A loving heart has waited long to see;

Those words will be fulfilled to which she clings,

Because her God has promised faithfully;

And, knowing Him, she ne’er can doubt His Word;

He speaks and it is done. The mighty Lord!

The Lord is sure to accomplish those things,

O burdened heart, rest ever in His care;

In quietness beneath His shadowing wings

Await the answer to your longing prayer.

~ by  Bessie Porter ~

“And blessed is she who believed that there would a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)

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