Twenty years ago today, I began to truly live.  Twenty years ago today, YOU spoke life into a dark place – a soul that ran from You and fought against You.  A soul that desired peace, but only found chaos.  A soul young in physical age, but You knew from before You knit me together.

You are The Sovereign Saviour.

You are my defining course.

You are my first love.

You define me.  And make me whole without any want in this life.  Complete.

Lord, I thank You for Your unending love, grace and power in my life.  I remember the moment like it was yesterday – Wednesday night youth group meeting in the big room with the 2 doors.  I sat on a big, over sized cushion in the floor.  One of my very dear friends, whom I had always thought knew you, confessed that she had found YOU that night for the first time.  And then another did as well.  Two girls, both preacher’s kids, now accepting You for the first time – how can this be, I thought?  But yes – they declared peace.

As the night and the service wore on, I remember the very same call to my soul.  The man in the front of the room had a passion and love for You that it was evident and contagious.  This love grasped me.  As he shared his heart, which is Your heart, that none should perish and all should come to knowledge of Jesus Christ.  I was gripped.  I was focused.  I was consumed.  He spoke of getting your salvation in order.  He spoke of Your great love, mercy and how only YOU made a way in the wilderness.

He spoke of the great, all consuming peace that only YOUR Spirit can bring.

He spoke of joy, endless joy!  And hope!

He spoke of receiving Your free gift of salvation.  And I heard.  I heard YOU calling my name.  Reaching out to me to the uttermost parts of who I am.  I heard YOU and responded.

With my very best friend, my second mother and my youth pastor, I received His free gift of salvation.  And in that moment, I was made whole for the very first time.

April 15, 1998.

But then what?  Is that where the story ends?  At salvation?  No, it is where it begins.

His powerful Holy Spirit has drawn me into an intimate love relationship.  A walk, a journey, that is ever changing and ever growing.  He led me through high school and college, on mission trips, in ministry with some amazing middle school & high school girls and now with adult women.  He has led in my career and has orchestrated each and every step.  He has opened each door and illuminated each step, clearly.  And He still does.

His Word is the driving force of my devotion and His Voice with a megaphone.

While the ministry looks different today, the Power, Peace and Authority has not changed.  His Voice is clearer than ever.  But so are the battles.

Walking with God is not an easy terrain.  The path goes through mountains, valleys, floods, wilderness and lands with lots of giants.  Walking with God takes trust in One bigger than yourself and hope that He keeps His Promises – that He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Walking with God takes strength that only comes from Him.

May my life be wrapped up by following His Voice.

“Walk in God’s statutes and keep His commands, so as to carry them out.”  Leviticus 26:3

“Be it unto me according to Your Word.” Luke 1:38

“Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.”  Genesis 1:28

“Now then, if you will indeed obey My Voice and keep My Covenant then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine, and you shall be to me a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation.”  Exodus 19:5-6

“Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations.  Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded and I will be with you.”  Matthew 28: 19-20

May these words never be said of me: “You have not obeyed the Voice of the Lord your God.”  Jeremiah 3:25