My favorite story

I just have to tell you about the wonderful group I had the privilege to serve last night. They were so welcoming and hospitable, and I loved them from the moment we met. Now the last thing I ever want to sound like is a gong or cymbal crashing whenever I speak or teach, so I always pray and ask God to give me a sincere love for those He gives me the honor to serve in these ways. I am absolutely stunned at how He honors this prayer every time. (See 1 Cor. 13:1.)

By God's grace, there are many testimonies of His activity in my life that I can share. Habitual sin that I have been freed from (before I knew Christ as my Savior - and after), strongholds that He has delivered me from, His healing hand in my life, destructive and sinful thought patterns He revealed to me and transformed... This list is certainly inconclusive, and the nearest and dearest testimony of my entire life is the testimony of my salvation. I am absolutely stunned that God would extend His amazing grace to me. And you know what, the longer I am in Christ and the more I learn about Him, the more amazed I am that He saved my soul! I am very thankful for the opportunity to share my story with the amazing group that met last night.

I vividly remember my pit of lostness. (Like that word, lostness? I made that up... I do that from time to time.) I remember a constant sense of impending doom, the stench of despair, and the anguish of helplessness. I felt as though I was cloaked in darkness and many times I wanted to die. I was broken and tried so many things to self medicate and fix myself. Every attempt in vain, of course. God forbid I should ever forget this pit. I want to remember not so I can live in perpetual self condemnation, guilt, and shame; I want to remember because it drives me to worship.

"I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD" (Ps. 40:1-3).

I never cease to be moved by these verses, for they concisely describe my life.

Man how I love my Savior. The more my little mind attempts to grasp the reality of His saving grace imputed to me, the undeserving sinner I am, the more I marvel at Him.

Thank you again for the honor to tell my favorite story last night ladies, and for the opportunity to serve you. You are a wonderful group and were such a blessing to me.

Now look out couch here I come. As soon as I grab a Skinny Cow, that is. Have you ever tried Skinny Cow ice cream novelties? Oh you simply must if you like ice cream but not all the fat it contains. I especially love their drumsticks and ice cream sandwiches. Trust me, you'd never guess they are low fat, or that they have fiber in them for that matter! No, that was not a typo... The addition of fiber in ice cream - I'd like to shake the hand of the person who came up with this genius idea! Step aside straw tasting cereal, gritty drinks and pill supplements, I scream for ice cream! I mean this is one of the greatest additions to ice cream since the ol' Oreo cookie was introduced! Sorry, I'm getting a little carried away. Now please excuse me while I go increase my fiber intake for the day.