"What a crazy ride it has been!"
In these words I sum up twenty years of my Christina walk. I never dreamt that God would take me around the world preaching the gospel when I said yes to Jesus. I never dreamt that God would have me pioneer ministries, teach in a Bible College or pastor at one of the greatest churches on the planet (which I believe is the greatest but I am a little biased). I never dreamt that God would bless me to have the family that I do. I look at my wife and children in amazement.
All of this is not to brag. All the praise goes to God. I couldn't have done any of this by myself. At best I would have been playing guitar in a coffee shop somewhere hoping someone would like my version of an old song and they would give me a tip with paper money rather than coins. How miserable.
Every morning I wake up with the words 'thank you' on my lips. I think God smiles when we say thanks. He knows He is good but loves a grateful heart. The words 'be thankful' occur on several occasions in the New Testament. I guess we have to be reminded. If you look around you will see the hand of God on your life.
I could tell stories of how I should be dead. How people on my street pulled guns on me and my friends while we were playing basketball. I could talk about car accidents that never happened and I don't know how they were avoided. To be honest there was one time in San Timoteo canyon I closed my eyes when a truck crossed over the double yellow lines on to my side of the road and when I opened them again I was just fine. Or when I rolled my car in Reche Canyon and told God on the way over "Here I come!" (That accident did happen but I was fine. Maybe I should stay away from the canyons?!)
As I look forward to the next twenty years I wonder at what God will do. What victories are in store and what tragedies will be avoided or withstood with grace and joy? No matter what comes good or bad I do know that two words will be on my lips; "Thank you!"
What has God done in your life since you said yes to Jesus? How grateful are you?
i remember when i wasnt saved yet i was poisoned when i was 12 yrs old ended up in hospital my family thought i was going to die but God. i used to do drugs, drinking, i tried to commit suicide when i was a young girl but God had other plans for my life i am thankful and grateful that God rescued me and saved me because He knew i would give Him all of my heart and life to Him 5years ago@ the rock church since then God has changed my life completely and i never been the same since I met Jesus!!! :)
ReplyDeleteGod is amazing! I am so glad you are at The Rock!
DeleteSome times I don't want to read what you say here. I don't want to know about near misses and such. But then I stop and take a breath, wipe my eyes, and then Praise and thank God for answered prayer. He covered you when I was not there. God is good and I had plenty of near misses in my life to. He is a wonderful God. I am so thankful for the life he has given you.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you could write your own post like this one and we all would breathe a sigh of relief at the end as well. I am grateful for you!
DeleteI left Hollywood to come to Christ. Since God sent me to 300 prisons to use comedy to share Him with inmate, 500 Youth Conferences and camps, 4000 churches, 20 stadiums and sports arenas, a beautiful wife that I prayed for 3 years and proposed to her the day I met her in Israel, three kids that are healthy and know Him, a great career in Comedy with TV and Radio appearances that Hollywood may not offer and a Peace that surpasses understanding during close encounters with death, heart issues(daughters), explosions (5 minutes after I left the place), car accidents (my son survived it). So, Am I grateful.........Not as much as I should be when I'm in the flesh UNTIL we almost lost our 8 year old at the forum in Rome two months ago. Since that moment, I'm so grateful and thankful. Comedian Nazareth.
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