Deuteronomy 28:3, English Standard Verse

“Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.”

Four Phases with Christ Part One

I believe my walk with Christ happened in four phases. I cannot remember a time when I did not believe in God because from an early age I knew He was there. I would look around and see all the beauty and couldn’t understand how everyone didn’t see what I saw. I had a friend in college who was an atheist and no matter what I said it didn’t change his mind. We did not stay in touch, but I hope something I said changed his heart. This was the first phase.

The second phase in my life began when I took a greater turn to Jesus. I was approximately sixteen years old. Stan Scott came to the school gymnasium for a couple nights’ revival. It was very well attended, and many answered the altar call including me. It was a humbling experience and the next step in my Christian faith. From that day, I found myself embedded deeply in tasks that in some way affected others. I started teaching Sunday school after High school graduation. I actually taught high school students and four of those boys lit the candles at our wedding. Over the years, I was Sunday school superintendent and teacher, youth director, Bible school director and teacher, as a 5th grade teacher. I spent many hours preparing lessons, decorating the classroom and hallway and coordinating Camp Fitch. And the home front planning and hosting family dinners. Looking back, I still don’t believe I was as committed to Jesus as I should have been. I was like Martha worried about all that was on my plate (which grew larger when our daughters were born) that I didn’t take quality time with God. This all changed five years ago.

Before the third phase occurred, I was married to my husband, Tom, for forty wonderful years. We just knew we were meant to be together. I truly don’t remember either one of us proposing (I didn’t get a diamond until fifteen or so years later.) Tom and I were definitely the two halves that make a whole. I made the bed. He turned it down at night. He set the alarm. I turned it off. He got the tractor ready. I cut the grass. He opened and closed the pool. I took care of it in between. We did everything together except for our jobs.

Tom would do anything for me (all I had to do was whine a little and he usually cared.) He watched the Cleveland Indians with me even though he said it was like watching paint dry. He took me to Graceland even though he didn’t like Elvis. Every time he left home, on his return and before going to sleep, I received a kiss. We seldom went to bed without each other. As far as I can remember, he only raised his voice once to me and that was when I sliced the tire on our daughter’s wedding day. He didn’t even get upset when I put gasoline instead of diesel in the tractor and he spent a long time fixing it.

For most of my life happiness dominated. Let’s face it, I was living the American dream. I had a wonderful husband, two great daughters, a job I loved, and all the things for a comfortable life in which God was a part of– but not as deeply as He should have been.

Please come back next week to read, “Four Phases with Christ” (Part Two)