Answer the Phone, God is Calling
I met the Lord in 1991.
I married young, had three children and was a functioning alcoholic. Life was messy.
But all of that was to change when I met Him.
Oh, I had heard about God, had a fleeting acquaintance with Him when I was a little girl, had visited His house, even read the Book, but I didn’t really “know” Him.
You know, have the kind of relationship with Him where I could call on Him, have a chat, really sit down and have good cry, share the highs and lows of every day life.
But that all changed. It wasn’t an overnight change, it was more like the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years, when “suddenly” it happened.
I have to tell you though, I didn’t get there on my own. Who does?
I have known my friend Jane since kindergarten. She gave her heart to the Lord about five years before me. The thing is, I thought it was a “fad” she had been through those before. Have you ever heard of the Maharaja Guru? No, me neither, but Jane had been a follower many years before.
This one was no phase, no fad. This was changing her life. She nearly drove me nuts. Jane preached at me, to me, Bible bashed me, cajoled me, prayed for me but most of all loved me.
God bless her.
After yet another long day of drinking, I got into my car and started to drive home. I know, stupid, but it was what I did back then. I had a near fatal car accident. It was the wake up call I needed.
The next day I called Jane, asking her to take me to church, to introduce me to her God. It was without thought really, more of a reaction, a desperate need. I was ready to reach out for the God she had talked about for so long.
Walking into church that day I was confused, ready, messy, sad, overwhelmed, full of emotion, when suddenly “it” happened. I said “Yes, I’m pleased to meet You Lord”.
Bringing the Lord into our lives was revolutionary. My husband and children quickly followed. My life, our life, the lives of our children, have never been the same.
So, what can we learn from this? That our friends and family are the doorway to the Church, the introduction to the Lord. WE are the link from the world to the Church.
Nobody makes friends by walking up to someone on the street and saying “Hi”, it’s our loved ones, the ones we have relationships with that say “you’ve got to meet this new friend I’ve made”.
Mark 16:15 Jesus says “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone”. I love the way St Francis of Assisi put it “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words”.
Dominique 48ish
Gold Coast, Australia
I like this. I was a functioning alcoholic/drug addict at one time too. I’m glad you found Him…He’s made all the difference in the world to me!
Before anything else, I just want to say congratulations. I imagine it’s been quite some time since you have mastered sobriety; though I know from those close to me addiction isn’t one of those things you ever truly master.
I don’t I could ever tire of hearing stories such as these. Thank you for being open and honest about your journey to finding Him.
This is such a wonderful reminder of what “we” are called to do and be:
“So, what can we learn from this? That our friends and family are the doorway to the Church, the introduction to the Lord. WE are the link from the world to the Church.”
Blessings,
Cara
Thank you so much for sharing my story on The Daily Mustard
Thanks to you for sharing your story! Another thanks to God for bringing you out of that situation!