We should always be thankful for all that our Lord has done, is doing and will do in our life and in the lives of those we love!

King David when faced with troubles always called out to God. Then He would do a most amazing thing! He would look back and thank God for all that He had already done in His life.

When I look back, I often go way back to when Jesus first came into my life. Do you remember when He came into your life?

I still remember those days. I was clearly at the crossroads, looking for answers, direction, anything that would make sense of the life I was living! Many are like this today.

I was a young woman (20 years old). I felt like I had everything that life had to give. I was married, had two small children that I loved dearly, and a good job. And yet I was so very unhappy. I questioned this! Why, did I feel this way? Where was the contentment and peace I was supposed to have? Life had lost its sparkle to me.

The truth is … it wasn’t about what I had; it was about what I didn’t have!

At the time, I didn’t know I was looking for Jesus; but I can tell you, He was looking at me. They say, when the student is ready, the teacher appears. Well, Jesus knew my heart was ready for a change.

At work a friend began talking about a bible study she had been attending. I was not a church going person; but I did believe in God and that He could do anything! My heart was pricked!

It wasn’t long and I decided to go with her to this bible study. I was supposed to meet her at a certain location, because I was not familiar with the area. She was late however, and I kept thinking she is not going to come. The Spirit of the Lord was already at work. I really wanted to go! At last she arrived.

At the bible study, I heard what my heart needed to hear. I also saw many people healed of all kinds of things and delivered.

The Lord, however, had the greatest miracle of all waiting for me; a new heart!

The evangelist, (which was James Taylor), said there are some here tonite that would like to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I didn’t know what this was, but for some reason I felt like it was something that I should do!

He directed us to a room and as we went, He said; think of the things you have done wrong and repent! The strangest thing then happened to me. I could see my life all around me. My mind had become like a movie screen; and I could see the things I had done, even some of my thoughts were there. I didn’t really know what repent meant; but when I saw my life, my heart was filled with such sadness and I felt so bad.

I really didn’t know what to expect. Remember, I had no formal church experience at all. In this room there were those who had already received the baptism of the Holy Spirit there to help.

Jim showed up at the door! The Lord told Him to come, because He was not going to. I remember He looked around the room, there was quite a few there. Then He came right over to me and touched me. Much to my amazement, I found myself begin to speak in a different language. It just came right out from deep within. It filled my heart with such joy; words just cannot begin to describe. I was speaking in other tongues. As I left that room, Jim was at the door, and said, ‘I’m proud of you.’ No one had ever said this to me in my whole life. All these years later, these words are still held dear in my heart.

That night as I drove home, I felt like I was floating! It was as if a million pounds had lifted off me and I was free! Jesus had set me free.

To be truly born again, born of the Spirit, begat from above; is the greatest gift of all! We can have all the sparkle and glitter of this life and still have nothing at all.

The Spirit of life came into my heart because I was repentant. I was ready to let go of the old; so I could have a new life in Christ Jesus. I was so sorry for the life I had been living, those things that I had been doing that I knew were not right in God’s sight.

That was 46 years ago. Boy have the years flown by. We should never forget where the Lord has brought us from and be thankful.

Many today don’t have the compassion they should for the lost and hurting in this world; because they have forgotten where they came from. They have forgotten the tremendous love the Lord had for them, when they were in darkness and in bondage to sin and death.

Jesus has said to us, that we are to love others as He hath loved us. How did He love us; but with truth and light and power. He never condones our sins; but He sure did and does forgive us our sins, when we ask forgiveness in His name.

Do you know Jesus, or do you just know about Him? You don’t want to leave this life without Him. Through belief and faith in His name; you can have life eternal and a new life here and now more abundantly.

Is Jesus knocking on the door to your heart today? It’s time to stop ignoring His voice and let Him in! Not one of us knows when we will take our final breath. Eternity is waiting for us all!