You may have noticed while reading my blog that I choose to share a great deal about God's blessings in my life. I realize while reading through the history of my blog that I don't often open up about my testimony or what salvation means to me. I had this idea pop into my head at 1am this morning about a blog titled, sharing salvation.
What causes someone to share their testimony or the story of Jesus Christ? Why is it that I have an easier time sharing the gospel with a perfect stranger than with a member of my family? I haven't pondered this question in awhile until I begin reading the end of my book, Riven by Jerry Jenkins. The pastor in the book is incredibly distraught because he doesn't feel that he is bringing anyone to the Lord. I began to realize that I am not doing enough to share the gospel with others. I know that actions sometimes speak louder than words, but I often find myself upset with members of my family and hesitate to show them the love that I know that I need to.
I don't claim to be perfect, just forgiven. I am not religious. I believe that my salvation is based on a relationship with Jesus Christ and by accepting the truth that He has died for my sins so that I may have eternal life in heaven. I am stuck by the awful realization that I am a minority in my family. I was not raised in a Christian home. I actually attribute my learning about Jesus to my step-dad, Kyle, who was at the time an atheist. He believed that we still needed to go to church and would drop my sister and I off at church every Wednesday for missionettes (a youth event sponsored by People's Church). I was led in the sinner's prayer when I was in the 2nd grade, but didn't even grasp an understanding of salvation until I was closer to 12.
I was baptised when I was 12 in Salem at my church that I attended with my now "saved" step-dad Kyle. I remember now that I didn't really understand what baptism was; I believed in Jesus, but didn't understand the reason for water baptism. I tried to live a good life during my high school years. I wasn't always the nicest person to people and didn't do the best of things, but I tried to stay out of trouble. I became heavily involved in a VERY radial church my sophomore year of high school and now realize how much the effects of that experience have stayed with me.
In 2001 Kyle (my boyfriend at this point) and I began attending Grace Community Church in Dallas. We were looking for a home church to learn more about God and to experience a church family without a super traditional atmosphere. Music was incredibly important to me. The people were important to Kyle. I chose to be re baptized in August of 2003 before getting married, to be able to rededicate my life to Christ. Kyle had been baptized by Pastor Guy when he was 8 years old and still felt that he had grasped the experience and what it meant. I attribute this to being raised in a christian home. I truly believe that having a strong family foundation in your life can affect your decision of whether you follow Christ.
I am choosing to share my story because I am personally struggling with some immediate decisions. I have a few people in my life that I love very much. I know that they do not have a personal relationship with God. I also know that their decisions are affecting their children's lives. I struggle because I don't want to ruin our relationship by bringing up their salvation, but I also don't want them to lose their souls for eternity. I long to be with my family someday in heaven. I know without a doubt that I will someday get to see my precious baby in heaven. I want these people to see their lost ones too. They continue to make very rash and horrible decisions for their lives and always wonder why it turns out the same. What should I do?
