SHAUN DONDELINGER
When I was growing up my parents dragged my brother and me to
church every week. I thought I was a pretty good kid. One day, my little
brother went forward during the invitation. Well, this was something. I
soon learned that he accepted Jesus Christ into his heart. I saw that I
needed salvation too. Several agonizing invitations came and went.
Finally one Sunday, Jesus was knocking on my heart and about the
seventeenth chorus of “Just as I am” I went forward to kneel before God
and everyone. The pastor led me in a prayer of repentance from sin and I
accepted God's gift of salvation, Jesus Christ. I knew then that Jesus
was in my heart and that He would always be there.
My life has had many ups and downs, trials, setbacks,
frustrations, broken relationships and broken dreams. Basically, things
haven’t gone MY way. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve tried to fit in with the
crowd. I’ve tried to satisfy the flesh. I’ve tried to hide from God. I
am not perfect, but by the grace and mercy of God, through the finished
work of Jesus Christ I can be forgiven and walk with God! My Heavenly
Father who works all things for my benefit, who gives good gifts, who
truly knows what is best for me! His love is bigger than anything else
I’ve encountered in this world. Sometimes it just blows me away. When
I’ve been lonely, depressed, hurt or in trouble, I’ve cried out to Jesus
and HE WAS THERE for me. I know that whatever might happen in the
future, HE WILL BE THERE.
Sometimes when I look at creation I see God’s artistry –
a night sky or a sunrise that is just for me. When I stop and look at
any living thing or admire the complexity of the human body I know that
these things did not just happen. I can only conclude that God made us.
Man’s attempts to explain away creation are outright silly. He loves us
as His children. He gave us His Word, the Holy Bible – our instruction
manual. He gave us His only begotten son, Jesus, to show us the way and
die in OUR place for OUR sins. He even gave us His Holy Spirit! It is
out of perfect love that He “interferes” with “our” lives. If we get
pride-full, he humbles us. If we stray, He pulls us back in. If we
stumble, His hand is right there Ready to catch us. If we demand “Why,
why, why?” like a child who cannot understand, our Heavenly Father
reminds us that He is God and we should simply trust Him!
If you do not know God, I guarantee that He wants to get
to know you. He’s probably been trying to get your attention. He might
even be dragging you, kicking and screaming, to a place where you might
humble yourself and obey.
