Hello! And welcome to my blog. I am glad you're here.
There is nothing very special to share about myself. But for those who are curious to know a little about who writes this blog, hopefully I can share a little to help you know a bit about who I am. : ) And most importantly - to know more about my precious Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Back when I was little, I lived with my family in an old farmhouse with a large amount of land. I have very fond memories of those years - roaming the fields and wooded areas with my sisters, making trails, forts, and tepees, gathering wild raspberries, and playing in the creek that cut its way through the lower areas. I think those times gave me a love for the slower-paced, old-fashioned life that I now have. During those years, I did not yet know the Lord, but can look back now and trace His Hand in my life in so many ways. His hand of protection from unforeseen dangers of childhood and sparing my life; His hand of grace coming to me when I sought Him not; and His hand of mercy eventually leading me to Himself and granting me forgiveness of my sins through Christ.
For many of those years, I thought that I was saved and knew the Lord. I could quote Scripture, and prayed, and understood the basics about salvation, and had made a profession. But deep down when I questioned myself, I knew in my heart that I did not love God. When my dad would encourage us children to read our Bibles each day, I would find the shortest chapter or even just a verse in the Psalms to quickly rattle through as my duty for the day. Sadly, to my shame...even if I had only read a verse in a Scripture plaque on the wall - when my dad questioned me if I had read my Bible...I would say yes. I found no delight in God's Word or spiritual things, and began deceiving others to cover this up. This began to trouble me as I grew older. And it troubled me more that I could see others who seemed to genuinely have peace and joy in knowing the Lord, and assurance of being with Him someday. How could I have this? I wanted it, too! For years, I sought after this peace and found it not...but sadly, still was not wholeheartedly seeking the God of all peace. I was awakened to this fact when one day I heard someone quote "Seek peace, and it will surely elude you. Seek the Giver of peace, and you will find peace." However, I still did not yet fully understand or trust in the Lord. O, the mercy and grace of God to continue bearing with me when I was so blind and unbelieving.
On the struggle went. I felt unable to seek the Lord as I ought. I prayed that the Lord would enable me to seek Him with my whole heart. And He graciously, mercifully did answer my prayers and led me on, drawing me to Himself, though at the time I did not understand. It felt as if I were growing worse...my sins seemed unconquerable...and indeed they were on my own, and I see now that the Lord was allowing me to taste that so I would prize Him and His mercy so much the more. I read the book of 1 John, and my heart condemned me as I realized that the commandments of God were grievous to me...and I harbored hate in my heart. "If a man say, I love God, and hate his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" - 1 John 4:20. I read Revelation 21:8, and new conviction and dismay smote my heart as I realized that I was one of the "fearful and unbelieving". "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." One day while being so weary of this battle in my heart, the lack of peace, the struggle with having no assurance of salvation - God (I am sure that it was Him) had me to pick up a little book that one of my sisters who had married and left home taking all of her books with her (or so she thought), had accidentally left behind.
Inside the book was a letter that someone had written to an inquiring soul about salvation. She wrote these words to the recipient: "There is nothing you can feel or do that saves you; only Jesus Christ."
O, I can still remember the light of God suddenly shining into my soul and unblinding my eyes while reading those words! Jesus Christ had finished the work of salvation for me!! All my strivings, all my prayers, all my efforts were not what could save me! Only Jesus Christ!! That moment, I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and was saved by the grace of God. What peace then flooded my soul! What burden then lifted from my shoulders! I was saved. Saved forevermore. My life changed from that day forward.
Not long after I wrote this short poem:
Safe!
Safe now am I
From sin's condemnation!
Christ paid the price,
And now I am free!
Safe! What a word,
That brings sweet consolation!
Trusting in Christ,
I am happy and free.
My dear reader - are you "safe" from sin's condemnation? Do you know Christ as your own personal Lord and Saviour? Is He precious to you? Do you - in deed and in truth - love Him? Or are the fruits in your life still showing that you are an unbeliever, as they were in mine?
If so, please - I entreat you: seek the LORD with all of your heart. If you do, you will be sure to find Him.
"Live for eternity. A few days more, and our journey is done." -R.M. McCheyne
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;.."
-Colossians 1:9-11
I love "meeting" my blog readers...It would be a blessing to hear from you!
Please feel free to contact me either with a comment here on my blog, or by sending
an email to: southernsunrise7@gmail.com
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing
of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Titus 2:13
