Fifty-four years ago in the summer, I was born into the family of my beloved parents, Jerry and Joyce Dickey.
"When I was just a baby girl, you rocked me in your arms;
You dreamed for me, and you gave me back to God.
Pretty ruffled dresses, little bows in my hair,
I was unaware of the love with which you cared."
This is a verse from a song my husband and I wrote for our wedding. It was written in gratefulness to our parents for bringing us to the point of beginning our own home.
Forty-five years ago, I was born into the family of God. At the age of nine, I realized my imperfect condition - my sinful nature - that would separate me from God forever. I asked the Lord to forgive my sins, and accepted His gift of salvation made possible through God's perfect Son. My Savior, Jesus Christ shed His blood for me on the cross, died, was buried, and rose from the grave, and lives forevermore! He ascended to Heaven, yet He will return to earth to take me (and all His children) Home to live with Him forever.
Everyone is not God's child. God gives all people a choice to take His gift of salvation by faith and be adopted as His child. When undeservingly we call on the name of the Lord to be saved, He saves us by His grace.
The greatest gift is life with Jesus Himself... beginning with the decision of salvation and lasting forever. The Holy Spirit lives within us and helps us through the rest of our lives on earth. As we seek Him, He will guide us in Truth. He gives us counsel and understanding as we read God's written Word to us - the Bible - making it a Living Book.
Heaven is our promised Home where our souls will live when our body dies or when Jesus comes back to gather His children.
I am thankful that I know Jesus, and that I am an heir with Him. Above even this, He has never left me in the hard times, and He continues to fill my life with good things.
If you do not know Jesus personally, I pray you will ask Him to reveal His Truth to you .
"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." - Titus 3:3-7
Just as my song lyrics relay how I did not understand the deep love of my parents as a little girl, so I keep growing in my understanding of the deep love of my Heavenly Father.
In reflecting on my journey with Jesus for 45 years, I have hope in my faithful God for the next leg of this trip to Glory.
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
This grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright, shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun. - John Newton
Take a few minutes to watch this Gospel Film which further explains our need for God.
I want you to know my Lord.
Prayers,
Jeri Lynn
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