My story - The beginning

Once again, I will start by saying, I am 'born again'.  It is at this point that I may lose some readers, but that is not my problem.  Those who share my passion will, I am sure, share the joy. 

I think it is relevant, at this point, to mention that I have two active blogs.  One is stories of my everyday life; a satirical look at events that have happened in my life.  This blog is different.  It is spiritual.  However, I do not separate my life the way I separate my blogs, but it does possibly show how life has to continue, because we have to live in this world; although living in a corrupt world should not require us to partake of the corruption.  It simply means that life goes on.  I do hope that this makes sense.

My story of how I was led to Messiah, is probably not much different to many others.  However, my background and prior years may be as far as from East is from West. I was brought up in a Jewish household.  I attended a secular school, and had a variety of friends.  However, I did think I was different, and started to ask questions.

So, what made me ask the questions?  When I was six or seven, I had made a comment to a classmate that my sister was having a birthday party.  I told her that there would be lots of cakes, sweets and other things that were not generally eaten, unless it was a special occasion.  I am quite sure I did not make a promise, but she was adamant that I did.  It would appear that I suggested I would bring some of the goodies to school.  We were in the school hall due to the inclement weather outside, and whilst the boys were running and sliding across the floor, the girls sought refuge beside the walls.
'You promised', she insisted, 'and it is very bad to break a promise!'  I was also quite resolute.  I did not actually make a promise, I may have made a loose suggestion.  'If you break a promise', she continued, 'Jesus wont love you'.  Well that was good enough for me.  At last, a saving grace.  'That's okay', I remember saying, 'I'm Jewish; I don't believe in Jesus'.  The abject horror that spread across her face was something that made me wonder from that moment forth; What is it all about?  'It is very naughty not to believe in Jesus'.  The words 'very naughty', were very strong, indeed! 
My mother explained to me that it was not so much that we did not actually believe He existed, it was that we didn't believe he was The Messiah.  Why?  Well, that question was easier.  As Jews, we were still waiting.

Throughout the following years, I listened intently to the bible stories told in assembly, and paid particular attention in my Religious Studies lessons.  Something inside me was aware that Messiah had walked on this earth and I wanted to know more.  However, I did not have access to the New Testament.  I could have found a copy in the library, but I was very concerned about upsetting my parents.  I was very affected by the films, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Godspell, but they were just movies, and none of my friends wanted to discuss the content in depth.  Life continued and I got older, left school, went to work, got married, had a couple of kids, and time was not my friend.  As my marriage started to crumble, I was introduced to Messiah. I will categorically state at this point that it was not a 'crutch'.  I didn't find Messiah because my marriage was crumbling; He found me.  Suddenly, I had more time. I started to read the Scriptures, and realised that the stories I had loved, were preceded, and succeeded, by others, which basically filled in the gaps.  I started to ask questions. I was fortunate enough to meet a man (whom I subsequently married) who had great scriptural knowledge.  However, he did not just 'tell' me, he made me study and 'listen'.   He explained to me how Messiah had 'died for me' and in turn, I wanted to be 'saved'.  I have always had a healthy fear of Elohim, the Almighty, and I was concerned that due to my Hebrew ethnicity, I would be offending my Father, my Elohim.  At the same time, I was concerned for my soul.  Eventually, I made the decision to leave my past life behind, and accept Messiah as my saviour.  I knew it would mean a life change, but I had no idea how.  What did it really mean?  I was also concerned that I would not feel any different and that I might not be 'chosen'.  It was, I am afraid to say, all very much about me!  I sat down and prayed.  I asked that Messiah be my saviour and I told Him that I gave my life to Him, and He would be my Master.  I asked him to forgive me for all my sins.  I was, even at this stage, unsure what I was doing, and what this would mean, but I also knew that if I did not do this, I would never know whether I was, indeed, 'chosen'.  Suddenly, a feeling came over me that I cannot fully describe.  It felt as if a dome was put over me, and then peeled away.  I felt 'new' and clean. 
The phrase, 'Born again', took on a new meaning.  I understood.  I was filled with a feeling of elation that I had never felt.  I was free.  It went beyond any feeling I had ever known.  I knew elation, I knew joy.  I knew love.  I experienced those feelings when I had my kids.  This was different.  This was so totally different. 

For about half an hour I was unable to speak.  All I could do was praise my Elohim and call to Messiah.  It was Friday and I had to go to work.  I wanted to shout to all the world that I was a new creature in Messiah.  I knew things would be different, yet I also knew I was still me.  I could go on, but I think it is time to stop, for now, because each step is so important. 

I would like to think that my story is of interest to others, and that I can bring others to know that joy, but I also know that the choice is not mine, it is Elohim's.  I know I need to spread 'The Word', but I am also aware that I need to listen and know what to say and when to say it.  I trust my heavenly Father will advise me as and when to write again.

Grace and peace be with you all, until next time.

Our Father - This is not the beginning.

Usually, when I begin writing, I employ the Maria Von Trapp philosophy of starting from the very beginning.  However, to start at the beginning at this point, I think, would deprive you of some wonderful things that have been happening.  Perhaps I am jumping in at the deep end, but those who have been called, I believe, will come back for the actual beginning.  This is just a little appetiser of the miracles that are performed by The Almighty, Creator of the Universe.  My Elohim.

The Texas Legislature sits for six months every two years, and for the past six years, we have seen miracles. Six years ago there were forces of evil that took over the Capitol.  To cut a long story short, a very bad piece of legislation made its way through the Senate and had passed through the House Committee.  It was stopped and never came back to the House Floor for a vote.  Three days before the end of the session, the whole bill was added to another bill, which was vitally important, and it was thought to be impossible to win the battle.  No one was willing to stop the passage of the bill as it was too crucial.  One representative said that her constituents would never forgive her if she voted against it, or in anyway did anything to 'kill the bill'.  However, we prayed.  We prayed and listened.  It was a tough time for me as, although I had been a believer for several years, I had not really had the ability to trust.  I came home on the Thursday afternoon, exhausted and stressed. I sat down and picked up a copy of the scriptures and read.  We read the Psalm of the day (if it is the 4th, we read psalm 4) and then every 30th Psalm.  (This way, we read all the psalms each month)  I came downstairs, attempting to be at one with my Father, and felt the need to fast.  I listened to the Spirit, made dinner for everyone else and did not eat that night, nor the next day.  I did not fast because I thought it would 'help', I fasted because I believed I was doing my Father's will. 

The next day, several reps got up and questioned the bill.  It would appear that over night, constituents would now never forgive their reps if they let the bill pass.  The offensive language was stripped and the other items amended.  It was, indeed, a miracle. 

This session we are dealing with the same problem.  I wont go into details as it is irrelevant, but what we are dealing with is both unlawful and unconstitutional, which is not righteous. However, unrighteousness has been rife throughout.  In order to gain support, there have been a lot of 'half truths' and even more blatant lies told.  I must make it quite clear at this point that it is not simply that I don't want certain laws to be made as it may have an adverse effect on the way I live, it is because of its unconstitutional content.   Amazingly enough, we have seen Our Father work in such mysterious ways. He has taken everything of consequence out of the picture. 

We still have a little way to go but we know that as long as we do His Will, and do it because we desire to do it, not because it's a chore, He will give us the desire of our heart.  The desire of our heart should be to do His Will.