The Invitation

It is nothing short of a miracle my parents survived raising me.  Yep, my middle name was trouble and if I didn't find it then it found me.  I hung out with my teachers in high school, a 27yr old (with a really nice car) took me to my senior prom, and I lived in my own soap-opera (diva, drama, and devious all rolled up).  Madonna was my role model, not this one:

But the "Ladies with an attitude, fellows that were in the mood, don't just stand there, let's get to it, strike a pose, there's nothing to it" one.  Yikes!  I believed there was a God, but not one who could know someone like me.  While in college I fell in love and married in 4 short months.  I graduated, got a teaching job and everything, absolutely everything fell apart.  My husband's son from his first marriage was hospitalized with cancer.  He passed away a few short months later.  The pain and turmoil that entered him was a force to be reckoned with.  We fought terribly and regularly.  About a year later I left.  I spent that summer walking in a haze wondering what had become of my life.   He agreed to counseling and that fall we picked up somewhat where we left off.  I got pregnant and toward the end of my pregnancy came to breaking point.  I had been attending church on and off and the message was starting to take hold of me.  I clearly remember sitting at my dining room table writing thank you notes from a baby shower and started crying.  How could I possibly become a mother and raise a baby when my marriage was so broken.  I could not, but I knew someone who could.  I committed myself to Jesus right there.  "I can't do this alone, nor do I want to, but I understand that You want to be a  part of this mess."  That Sunday I went to church and was baptized, 9 months pregnant!  I accepted Christ's invitation of complete renewal and restoration and began a new life.  I needed to read the bible over and over because my way of living was not in the same grove as God's and I needed to know what changes had to happen.  I was very eager for this living water; I had been thirsty for 25 years!  I faithfully prayed for my husband to come to know my Savior, but the more I tried to talk with him, the angrier he got.  I felt the Lord tell me, "talk more to Me about hubby, and less to hubby about Me."  It was about 2 years later that he did finally accept Christ's invitation as his Lord and Savior.  Oh what a glorious day that was!  He literally went down in that baptism water a dead man and came up a new creation.  That began our new journey in our marriage.  Because we went through such horrible turmoil, we  now have the privilege to mentor married couples.  God is so faithful, so amazing, and so good!   I don't worship any Madonna now; I worship the one, true God.  15 years ago I accepted an invitation that forever changed my life.  That same invitation is for everyone. 

This Sunday a friend of mine is preparing to accept that invitation.   My heart is beating in anticipation of this forthcoming glorious moment.  In our family devotions this morning I told my children I would be fasting from my favorite treat, dark chocolate, on behalf of my friend who will no doubt be met with unseen spiritual warfare this week.  I was surprised when my oldest said that he would also fast from his favorite video for the week as well.  My other 2 committed to prayer every time they picked up their favorite activity.  We have been memorizing scripture this school year and every week we have a new one.  This week our verse is from 1 Tim 4:7b, "Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness."  One element of spiritual fitness is fasting, so this week we are honing that discipline.  Being spiritually fit is a daily quest.  Warrior's must prepare and practice just like the Olympic athlete's.  Reading God's Word, memorizing scripture, meeting weekly to worship at church, and fasting is how we get in shape for the tough times ahead.  I pray you will take time today to get in some training.  Blessings, E.W.