First Love

I need to remember this morning, so I take you back to North Rome Wesleyan Church in October of 1977. The Robert Ross family found it necessary to take in Sunday PM meetings. I had enough trouble going Sunday mornings. My elementary principal was my Sunday School teacher. Talk about intimidation! The second week we joined Sunday morning worship, I barfed from the emotional distress of changing churches to North Rome.

The unease broadened the longer we attended meetings there in North Rome. Soon I found another being getting after me about my temper tantrums. When I verbally attacked my Mom or my brother, some being outside my thoughts was now shining a light on all that mess. Jealousy was revealed in me. I'm not sure I even was consciously aware of all this, but I'm remembering now.

We sat in the closest section to the outside door that evening. The days had shortened, so it was dark. Pastor Brentlinger was preaching his second sermon of the day. God moved into my life through his words. Being a Christian was about a relationship with a loving heavenly father. I felt a tug, like a gentle hand was turning my face into His. I looked away. All that anger, jealousy and selfishness sat there as well. Christianity was not about being good, but about receiving forgiveness and new life through the Holy Spirit. Those hands turned my shoulders and faced me toward Himself. He pulled me through all the guilt and selfishness. Within minutes, I raised my hand to ask for prayer for that forgiveness and new life.

God had moved into my life. I had never read the Bible period. The next night I was drawn to my Red King James that my Grandma Keeler gave me. As I read through the stories of Jesus' life, the content started syncing with my life. Soon I was pocketing my Gideon New Testament to read on the bus before school, as well as reading at night.

I was too shy to go to youth group, so I went with my parents to prayer meeting on Wed. nights. This was like walking into a Leyden Jar full of power. Folks were praying for neighbors, friends and family members to "get saved." Folks were praying for God's Spirit to move through them and through the church. And it worked! People reported weeks later about sharing Christ with those same friends and they made the same decision I did.

I began to pray for a couple of friends, asking God to give me the chance to tell them about what I was learning and experiencing . . . and God set up those conversations! Thanks to principal Ray Fleming, several of us began praying before school each day. We prayed for our teachers and friends to feel and know the influence of Jesus in their lives. The meeting grew from 4-6 kids to 10-12 kids. I was still quiet, but God was speaking in spite of my quietness. I was still shy, but God put His joy in my face. I could talk to Him as I walked the halls, rode the bus and played basketball with my brother. God stemmed my temper and helped it ebb. God met my deep need for acceptance, so my jealousy withered.

Thank You, Lord for giving me so much to remember. You launched me through Mary Brentlinger and Mick and Cindy Martin and Keith and Karen Crain and Joan and Fred Dinse and Brad and Bea Sink and Glen Lafy and Larry Burke and so many others. What wonderful times I have to look back on! Thank You for that first love you poured into me, even through King James Version words. Thank  You for seeing this wall flower and reaching beneath my camouflage and loving me. Amen.