I realized after I started my Facebook posts a few days ago that I would like to use them in my blog. So I’ve combined the first couple of days here …
First things first:
50 days ’til 50: I owed a debt I could not pay, He paid a debt that He did not owe. As a young child, I realized I needed Someone to wash my sins away …
Now I sing a brand new song: “Amazing Grace” all life long. It was Christ Jesus Who paid the debt that I could never pay. And every good thing I have, any good thing I do, and the only good in me is because of the grace given to me by God who loved me and gave Himself for me.
“…and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up…For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and I will inscribe them on their hearts.”
Because of grace, I grew up in a home where the bible was taught, sung and lived day to day. I am forever grateful for my parents, who passed on faith through their words and their lives.
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
From the very first days of my life, Sundays have been a day reserved for worship through fellowship, music, giving, bible study and resting. Although there have been hurts (getting bit as a baby in the nursery – no I don’t actually remember this), heartbreaks (seeing church leaders’ marriages crumble and people walk away), and heartaches (ministry can be lonely) … I can honestly say I am thankful I never abandoned or gave up on the local church. I am so thankful my parents took me to church and encouraged me to love The Church of Jesus. The family of God has been instrumental in my life in myriad ways.
From the very first days of my life, Sundays have been a day reserved for worship through fellowship, music, giving, bible study and resting. Although there have been hurts (getting bit as a baby in the nursery – no I don’t actually remember this), heartbreaks (seeing church leaders’ marriages crumble and people walk away), and heartaches (ministry can be lonely) … I can honestly say I am thankful I never abandoned or gave up on the local church. I am so thankful my parents took me to church and encouraged me to love The Church of Jesus. The family of God has been instrumental in my life in myriad ways.
As my daddy says, sometimes people have birthdays, but others get the gift. My sissy’s birthday is Feb 4, and when I was two years old I certainly got the gift … HER! And it has been a gift that has kept on giving everyday of every year since. I could not ask for a better sister/friend. My kids could not have a better aunt/friend. CAROL: my Cheerleader, my Advocate, my Rescuer, my Otter, and a Lifter of my soul. What a grace gift in my life!
When I was 6, on the day after Christmas I received another gift along with my sister that we never dreamed would bring us so much delight… a little brother. And through these years, with his dry wit he has been making us laugh and with his heartfelt and perfectly worded writings he has been making us cry. My brother David has a huge heart, and no matter how much he loves a Vandy game, the Braves, a Mountain …Dew, a game of golf, a good joke, a fried burger, or a Vandy game … I have never once doubted that his love for his family goes way above and beyond all of these “loves”. As a 16 year old, he graciously walked me down the aisle on my wedding day and said these words to Brent as he gave him my hand: “I give to you my sister, and entrust her life and happiness to you.”
All those years ago in December, I got more than a brother. I got a lifelong, loyal friend who truly desires the very best for me!
Unchained Melodye 