New Life

Today is my spiritual birthday!

My testimony of salvation isn’t a flashy one. In fact it happened rather quietly, as God used the prayers of many people, and the words and testimony of a few to bring me to a saving knowledge of the Lord, Jesus Christ. It was March 18,1985, at about 10:30 A.M. Although it was a sunny, warm morning, spring had not yet arrived. The trees were still bare, and the yard was a mix of slush, mud and puddles. I was sitting on a stool in my porch, reading my Bible, as my children played in the front yard. I knew what I had to do, and that now was the time to do it. I quickly went into the house, and grabbed the salvation tract that I had been given the night before. I had already read through it before, purposely skipping over the prayer. I refused to even look at that until I was ready to pray it, and mean it. I went back out to the porch, and read the tract one more time, this time praying the prayer at the end. I cried all the way through, as I received Jesus Christ as my Saviour.
I looked up and once again watched the kids playing outside, too busy to notice their mom sitting there crying. But I immediately noticed some things. The first was a feeling of such utter relief…...the burden had been lifted! Then I looked out at the yard around me. Suddenly everything was beautiful! Somehow, I didn’t see the mud and the slush, or the gray, barren trees. All I saw was the sparkling sun on God’s wonderful creation, and the promise of new life!
God is so faithful. He heard the cry of my heart, and answered the prayers of those believers who had been interceding on my behalf. I thank God for that promise, and for giving me new life that sunny morning.

When I began to write songs, one of the first was my testimony song, called "Because I Stopped To Pray."

Having no direction, living day to day;
content with my portion, making my own way.
Wasn’t seeking answers, nor looking beyond today.
I thought I had what matters, why should I stop to pray?
Out of the fog and mist, a voice came soft and low,
bidding me to listen….a voice I seemed to know.
The tugging on my heart, I couldn’t brush away.
Softly, he’d been calling all along the way.
Breaking down the wall I didn’t know was there,
I gave my heart, my all, to Jesus Christ in prayer.
Now I have direction, living day by day;
content with my portion, following his way.
For he has the answers; my hope is beyond today.
I know I have what matters, because I stopped to pray.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Thanks for joining me!~~~Deb