A Two-fer--Happy Birthday to Me!

Actually, my birthday's not until August 28, but tomorrow IS my birthday. I will be 39 years old--in the faith. Thirty-nine years ago tomorrow night, I finally had the courage to "walk the aisle" to the front of the church building to confess my belief in Jesus and be immersed into him. But what did I know?

I knew enough to know that I didn't want to go to hell. I knew that as long as I sat in the back of the building I would never walk forward. I knew that it took six weeks to move to the front of the auditorium.

When I came up out of the water, there were no fireworks, no emotional catharsis, no world looking brighter, nothing. Because of my expectations, I thought that I was still-born instead of being born again. I didn't know enough to trust what Scripture says--I mean, I knew what they said, but to apply them to ME personally...?

Still, God used it, and found that he accepted me. And has still accepted me. Despite all my gross sin, and even those sins committed after becoming a follower, and the times I wasn't all that serious about following him, and the times I disappointed people in the church, he has forgiven me, and used me, and has allowed me to be in ministry.

So thanks to you, Father, for all this! I don't know why you would call someone like me through your glorious gospel, and why you would accept me, and why you would use someone like me--but you did and you have!

How many more spiritual birthdays wll I have? Who knows? Yet when I consider my "pilgrimage" and that God has never given up on me, how can I give up on anyone else? If he has forgiven me, how can I not forgive others? If he can change and use me, he can choose and use anyone!