Happy 50th Birthday to Me

According to FaceBook, my birthday is not until October 20, however, today is my 50th Birthday - my Spiritual Birthday.  Happy Birthday to me!

Here's the story

Back on Oct 4, 1968 - 50 years ago today, I was reborn. 

 I asked Jesus into my heart.  I knew it was a special day.  As an adolescent, I had been searching for answers for a year.  I knew there was something different about the Jesus story.  I knew there was an application.

My mom took my younger brother and sister and me to a new weekly Bible Study geared for young folks at Dr. and Mrs. Mim's house.  It was held in an old converted garage that was turned into a game room.  Mrs. Alice Rankin was the teacher.  She carefully placed the stick figures onto the felt board.  I believe the lesson was about Joseph or Moses.  We sang songs, such as "Stop! and let me tell you, what the Lord has done for me".

After singing and listening to the story, Mrs. Rankin clearly presented the Gospel message and asked if anyone wanted to say the prayer.  Carefully I repeated it.  As we drove home that Friday afternoon, I knew in my heart my search was over - my new life had begun.

I'm grateful for Alice Rankin who pointed me to Jesus.  She graciously and faithfully spent her years telling other kids and parents about Jesus.

After that experience, I became grounded in the Word.  I memorized scripture through Bible Memory Association.  I attended Miracle Camp in Ringgold, LA.  I went on a mission trip that changed my world.  I attended and graduated from Moody Bible Institute. I started reading through the Bible in One Year.  I met my "Mr. Wonderful" and we traveled to Bolivia to serve the Lord there.  Now, we are living and serving in Guatemala.

This past summer, Glenn and I stopped and visited with Mrs. Rankin's daughter, Jan and her husband, Bob Hollingsworth.  At the table, I expressed my gratefulness to her for her mother's ministry.

In celebration of my 50th Spiritual Birthday, I presented Jan a cross stitch.

Thank you Jan for sharing your mother!  Thank you for sharing her with me! And thank you Jesus!

Happy Spiritual Birthday to me!  

Happy 50th Spiritual Birthday!