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First Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, Springfield, OR
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I was raised in and around the Lord's New Testament Churches all of my life. I was raised in a preacher's home for most of my life. My parents were very "vocal" with using everyday circumstances to "preach" the Gospel or the Word of God to us, at us, and to anyone else who had ears. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9) When I was five years old, my father had bought my sister and I new Bibles. It had pictures in it so I was very excited! We were leaving our driveway one day and I was flipping through the pages. There was a rendition of the account of Jesus and the two thieves dying on the crosses. I immediately slammed the Bible shut and wiped away the tears that were in my eyes. For the first time in my life, I realized that it was my fault that Jesus had to suffer those terrible things.(Isaiah 53:4-5) I hid my shame because I knew that my parents would begin to "preach" to me and I didn't want them to know that I understood the truth about my sin. (Romans 6:23; 3:23) After my sixth birthday, my great grandmother died. I hid in the hanging coats at the funeral home because I didn't want anyone to see me cry. I knew that Granny Moore had gone to Heaven and that I would never see her there because I was lost.(Luke 16:19-31) Again, I didn't want anyone to see me because most of my family were saved and members of local New Testament Churches. I knew what would happen if they saw that I was under conviction. I wanted them to think that I was still a little, innocent, "good" girl that didn't understand her condition before God. (Romans 5:8) One night during revival services, July 18th, 1977, Bro. Ernie Crawford had been preaching on Hell.(Isaiah 58:1) During the invitation, almost everyone was in the altar. There were only a few of us still in the pews. I felt like he was only talking to me. My friend left the pew and I couldn't stay there any longer. I went down to the altar and prayed. I just wanted all the "yucky" conviction feeling to go away. I didn't get saved the first time I prayed. My father came and talked to me and reminded me that I had to pray desiring to have Jesus in my heart.(Romans 10:9-10) When I prayed again, I didn't care about the conviction anymore. I just wanted Jesus! (Isaiah 55:1-2) I accepted that I was a sinner. I felt as if, even at only nine years old, that I was the worst sinner in the world.(John 3:18-21) I came to Him seeking Him and He found me that night, kneeling down at the pew in front because there wasn't room at the altar. He made room for me and He delivered me from all my sins that night. (II Corinthians 5:17-21) Sis. Rhonda Shrum |
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