At Home in Wyoming

My Sister's Testimony (Part 2)

Hanging in the dining room of the Irma (the Hotel that Buffalo Bill built and named after his daughter Irma) hangs a picture of the area where the city of Cody now stands.

The following is Part 2 of my sister Kathy's testimony.  Please read the previous blog entry first...

From that point on, it seemed that everywhere  I went I saw a gospel tract.  (For those of you that don't know what that is, it is a little paper pamphlet that explains the plan of salvation).  On the front of the tract I would see the words, "Heaven or Hell" and I would begin to wonder what if it's true?  Perhaps for fear, or whatever reason, I couldn't or wouldn't pick up the tracts and read them.  I can even remember a tract nearly blowing in front of my feet while walking to a concert in Washington, D.C.  I watched the wind carry it with the leaves, round and round it went until it landed against a fence.  I looked at it and wanted to run and grab it, but I didn't.

Then one day after cheerleading practice at school, I went into the girl's bathroom and there was a tract on the sink counter.  I debated whether or not to pick it up, but I finally did.  After all, this had to end.  I took the tract into the bathroom stall and began to read it.  I soon realized that I was a sinner, and that my sins separated me from God.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God."  Romans 3:23

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Romans 6:23

It also said that God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins, and that by repenting and accepting Christ's sacrifice for my sins, I could be saved.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6

So I prayed the sinner's prayer and asked God to forgive me of my sins.  I told Him that I believed that He died on the cross and rose again, and I accepted His sacrifice for my sins.  I asked Him to come into my heart as my Savior and Lord of my life.  Now I was born again, and could enter into fellowship with God and spend eternity with Him in heaven.  I remember walking down through the door of high school feeling completely new, and free.

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9

                                  XXXXXXXX

I asked my sister if she kept happening upon Christian tracts after she committed her life to God, and she said no...not another time.  And I do have to admit to teasing her about accepting Christ in a bathroom stall!  But it just goes to prove...He will meet you wherever you are!  Have a good weekend...DLB

 

 

 

My Sister's Testimony (Part 1)

For those of you that read my testimony on the two previous blog entries, this picks up where they left off.  Once I found that I was assured of eternal life...I remember telling God that I couldn't conceive of spending eternity without my sister Kathy.  I began to pray in earnest for her salvation...here is her side of the story, and a blast from the past for me.  I had forgotten all about earth shoes!

I came to accept Christ when I was a junior in high school, in 1974.  I remember sitting on the floor in my room, doing my homework, when my sister barged in with her blonde hair flying and her infamous brown leather earth shoes hitting the floor.  She had an urgent message to give me,  that I would go to hell when I died if I did not accept Jesus Christ as my Savior!  That was just like Debby, direct and to the point!  She said that she had just accepted Christ as her Savior, and didn't want to get to Heaven and not find me there.

Debby had recently gotten a job at a store in Dumfries, Virginia, where she became friends with a co-worker.  She said that she noticed something different about her friend, she seemed to have peace.  Debby asked what made her so different, and she said she had accepted Christ as her Savior.  Debby said that she wanted to do the same, and Christ became her Savior as well.

Well, I thought that Debby was just off on one of her tangents.  After all, why hadn't my parents ever told me about this?  We went to a Methodist church nearly every Sunday, and my minister never  told me this, nor had anyone in the confirmation class that I attended.  I tried to dismiss it,  but something inside of me kept gnawing, but what if it's true?

Tune in tomorrow for Part 2 of my sister's testimony that demonstrates how far God will go to find you...and that He also has a sense of humor!  DLB

 

 

My Testimony (Part 2)

If you just tuned in to this post, please first read the entry before...or none of this will make a lick of sense!

I went to that prayer meeting more out of curiosity then anything else.  I wanted to know why my friend radiated peace and contentment.  Let's face it, these were not qualities many teenagers possess!

I must have been a little late getting to the meeting, because when I entered they were already praying.  Two things struck me...one was that they seemed to know exactly Who they were praying to.  Not a remote God, but a God that actually cared about the big and little things going on in their lives. 

The other thing that I realized was that if God could care about them...as imperfect as they were (and I knew some of those kids from high school...their imperfections were apparent) then possibly He could care about me.  That I could come, as in the words of the old hymn, 'Just as I am'.  I didn't have to be good enough first, because I would never be good enough.  And God knew that.  He knew that none of us would ever be without sin, which was why He sent his Son in the first place!  We wouldn't have needed a Saviour if we didn't need to be saved.  I learned later that the Bible states,

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" (Romans 3:10)

For me, that was the missing link for the child that sat in the Methodist Church all those years ago... longing for God, but knowing full well that I could never be worthy.  But Jesus is worthy, and He died to bridge the gap between me and God.  He covered my sin with His blood.

So toward the end of the meeting, when it came time for more prayer requests, I asked them to pray that I could have what they had...a relationship with God.  In those moments I asked Christ to forgive me for my sins, and asked him to come into my heart as I turned my life over to Him.

In that sweet moment, I became born again.  Still a sinner, but saved by Grace.  If you are one of those people who think you can never be 'good enough' to be a Christian, you are right.  But Jesus IS good enough, and that is all that matters!  Just come as you are!

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life with Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

If you have questions about the free gift of salvation, under my blog role there is a link to In Touch Ministries...click on Salvation under the Go Deeper section for more information.  DLB

 

 

 

My Testimony (Part 1)

It spit snow and rain all day yesterday, and was pretty chilly this morning when I left the house.  My husband spied this robin perched in the tree by our front gate, and he stood real still while I ran to get my camera.  Amazingly, this little robin waited for me...apparently he too is waiting for Spring!

My sister pointed out to me last week that we had never shared our testimony on the blog.  Now, for those of you who are not of the fundamental persuasion of Christianity, a testimony is your description of the moment when you turned your life over to Christ...what led up to it, and what followed.  So I decided to share my testimony over the next few days, and will follow up with my sister's  testimony that she kindly emailed me.

I was raised a Methodist. I remember sitting in that church Sunday after Sunday hearing the preacher drone on about the goodness of God, and the importance of living a Christian life.  I remember the music, the candles...the feeling of good will at church.  I remember when I heard, for the first time, that there was an actual Heaven and Hell, and devoutly hoped I would not end up in the latter.

Parts of your childhood you recall so clearly, and I can remember many a Sunday going home after church trying so hard to be 'good', so I could get to Heaven.  I remember thinking, "I will be good, I will be good", only to get home and smack my little sister with the dishtowel while we were washing up the Sunday dinner dishes.  I don't think I was ever able to handle being 'good' past 2 o'clock on a Sunday afternoon!

My teenage years were difficult, to say the least.  But somewhere along the way I met a girl that was actually happy during her teenage years.  She oozed happiness, peace and contentment.  Through a series of "coincidences" I ended up working with her at a store in Dumfries, Virginia.  We were in the clothing department of Belle's Store (I think that was the name), and we were folding clothes to put on display.  Her cheerfulness and sunny disposition were beginning to get on my nerves, and I remember throwing down the blouse I was folding, and asking her just what it was that made her so darn happy all the time.  I remember her laughing, and she sweetly told me that it was because she was a Christian.  And I told her that I was a Methodist, and it didn't particularly make me happy.

It began to dawn on me that maybe there was more to this Christian thing than attending a church and trying...and failing...to be good.  My friend invited me to a prayer meeting, and out of curiosity I agreed to go.

 

To be continued on my next blog...DLB

 

The Fragrance of Spring

The weather in Cody, Wyoming fluctuates wildly this time of year...we had a beautiful Easter but I see snow in the forecast later this week.  Those of you in warmer temperatures are already enjoying Spring flowers...but in Wyoming you have to be a little more creative. 

Some of the Spring bulbs that I bought at Walmart a few weeks ago are in bloom on my sideboard today, and I have been especially enjoying the fragrance of the hyacinths.  One whiff and I am magically transported back to my childhood in Virginia.  Isn't the sense of smell fascinating...you hadn't thought of a place in years, and then in one sniff you are transported in a split second back in years.  So many gifts from God we often take for granted, but the smell of a hyacinth will awaken thanksgiving for the gift of smell...and for me the memory of Spring in the south!  DLB

 

Birthday Presents

 I am lucky enough to have a birthday in March...right before the Easter holiday.  For my birthday present, I always request "Easter Somethings", which has netted me a collection of rabbits and spring items that I always dig out before Easter.  One of my favorite rabbits is the one above, so ugly that she is cute, draped in Easter grass next to a sidewalk chalk egg.  I discovered sidewalk chalk eggs at the Dollar Store a few years ago, and they are great to decorate with...they last from year to year, come in a variety of colors and can always be used to decorate the sidewalk!  She had more jelly beans in her little basket...someone has been raiding her Easter basket! 

As we prepare for Easter dinner tomorrow ( I have a broccoli salad and a banana cream pie to make today) let's keep foremost in our minds the One who took the burden of our sin, that we might have life eternal.  DLB

A Solemn Day

Clouds drifting across the Rattlesnake Mountain on this Good Friday 2009...

On this solemn day, ever mindful of what was done for us at the Cross, I have been reflecting on this verse from Isaiah 53:5,

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

 

Hopping Along the Bunny Trail!

I finally got a bloom out of one of the daffodil plants that I bought at Walmart last week...a cheery sight on a snowy day!

I wanted to share with you one of my family's Easter traditions that has brought a lot of joy, a lot of laughs, and a lot of good pictures over the years...and that is the tradition of the Bunny Trail!

Ever since my son was young (again, a long time ago) I made up Easter baskets for him, and whoever happened to be visiting at the time.  Easter morning would arrive, but instead of an Easter basket there would be a carrot, lying on the floor.  We said that the Easter bunny hid the baskets, and the way to find them was to follow the carrots along the bunny trail.

If the children living or visiting Easter morning were young, we would hide the baskets somewhere in the house, and they would follow the carrots that would lead them to their baskets.  As the children got older, or if I had the grandparents visiting, I would hide the baskets out in the yard.  I would make the trail winding...going out the front door, twisting around the side of the house to the back yard.  I used a lot of carrots!  Sometimes I even hid them at the neighbor's house, and they would follow the trail down the block and through the alley!  Kids, and grownups, love a hunt!

The bunny trail became a family tradition, and I still enjoy getting out the photo albums and seeing the excitement on the faces of family members, young and old alike.  One of my favorite pictures is of my father-in-law holding the basket that he had just fished out of the bushes, with my mother-in-law in her long flannel nightgown trying to grab it.  My father-in-law recently passed away...so these memories are very precious to us.  I have another picture of my old golden retriever Gus who, unbeknownst to me, had gathered up all of the carrots that I had so carefully planted around the yard. Instead of a bunny trail that Easter, we had a guilty looking dog with a carrot in his mouth, sitting amidst a pile of carrots! 

Family memories.  Made from simple things really, but oh, so priceless.  Whatever your family traditions are this Easter, practice them and hold them tight.  Memories that will warm your heart in later years are being made right now, today!  DLB

 

Whoops!

 

Remember my blog a day or so ago, about thinking that Spring had finally Sprung?  I should have known better...This is the way that my home in Cody, Wyoming looked early this morning...and it is a lot worse than that now, a few hours later!  But the good news is that I DIDN'T paint the front porch yesterday, so this is one time that being lazy, paid off!  DLB

Easter Egg Trees

Every year since my son was small (a long, long time ago) I have made inexpensive Easter Egg Trees to decorate the house over Easter.  I cut branches from my old lilac bushes, and stick them into whatever I have on hand (old bottles, garden urns, etc).  I collect old fake birds at garage sales, and usually perch one or two on the branches, and hang eggs that I either blew out and dyed, or bought at half price sales.  The following are a few pictures of some of this year's Easter Egg Trees, so if you are interested in this sort of thing, enjoy!  DLB