A Brief Look Back

I'm am always grateful for my mother raising me in church. My earliest memories are of various services we had to attend because my mother sang in may community choirs. Therefore I was always in a church setting. I cannot tell you when my mother became a Christian, I just tagged along with her whether I wanted to or not. It was not until I was 12 years old that I made a choice that has forever changed my life. One Sunday afternoon, my mother and I were at a particular church and I cannot tell you what the minister taught that day, what the Sunday school lesson was, or what the choir may have sang. I was not even in a seat that particular day. (of course my mother did not know that at the time or I would have been in serious trouble) What I do remember is standing in the back and waiting for the altar call. I just wanted to say that I knew God for myself. I went down the isle and handed my coat to my aunt and sat in the awaiting chair that was set in front of the entire congregation. The pastor was obviously shocked and made it a point of asking me if I understood what I was doing which I answered yes. I do not remember if anyone else came down that isle that day but I do remember that particular Sunday that changed my life. From then on, all I wanted was to read the stories from the bible. I had three or four bible story books and I think I read them so much I had memorized them. Years would pass by before I was introduced to the Strong's Concordance of the bible. But thanks to the Holy Spirit guiding my mother I began to walk the Christian walk the best I knew how. I taught Sunday school, led praise and worship services, worked tape ministries, ran camera, board oped, you name it, I have done it in church. (except pastor) It is amazing now that I have gone 25+ years in church and it's been the past 4 years walking in Torah that I feel the way I did when I took that "leap of faith" so many years ago. I look back thankful for everything that I have gone thru. I can see how the Lord was slowly bringing me closer to Him. I am grateful because now I can teach my children at an early age to walk in His ways. I am grateful that they will not have the same struggles that I had growing up. They will struggle in certain areas I'm sure but they won't have to worry about fighting years of false traditions that have been handed down from past generations. They will know that they are a part of YHVH's plan. My children will be better than me in every area.I thank Him for where He brought me from and I thank Him for where He is leading my entire family. Please no matter what may happen in our nation, let's not forget that God is in control and He always takes care of His own.
"Shalom I leave with you, My shalom I give unto you; not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27