I was raised in a Christian home and had times of seeking God but was never consistent. I knew who God is and that Jesus is His Son and that Jesus died on the cross for me but I had no relationship with Him. He was simply someone who I believed in not someone I belonged to. Then at age 28 God got hold of me. I don't know if it was the responsibility of two year old twin boys (Don & John) or someone praying for me but God pursued me and He had great mercy on me. One faithful Sunday I was sitting in the basement of Wildwood Baptist Church in Footie Lambert's Sunday School class and it was right then that I realized I was in great need. I had tried to find Jesus before but never did. That day I found what I had been looking for all my life. I remember thinking Lord I need You and without You I'm doomed. It was then that I became His and He became mine. From that day on nothing and I mean nothing about me was the same. From the way I thought to what I did and what I said began to change.
At that time Tommy, the boys and I lived in a mobile home in Athens. We attended Eastanallee Baptist Church. I know I said it was at Wildwood Baptist where I got saved but I was visiting and searching for answers. I got Baptized at Eastanallee. I had been baptized as a child but I felt I needed to get my baptism on the right side of my salvation, as they say. No one understood why exactly but I did. God had done a new thing in me and I wanted to do it right. To me baptism is the outward expression of the inward change that had taken place and one of the first steps of obedience. This happened in the month of November 1988.
I spent the next seven years in discipleship. First, I wanted to read the Bible from cover to cover. I read with a determination to find the answers I was looking for. Tommy & I moved to 123 Shawnee Trails, Athens Tn and that's where was are today. Central Baptist Church was less than a mile from our home so I started visiting there. We later join the church and began to get involved. The church had an outreach called Total Life Encounters and eventually I got involved with the group. A friend from church told me about Precept Bible Study an inductive way to study the Bible. I did that and enjoyed digging deeper and deeper into the Word of God. God was preparing me. I felt a sense of determination I can't explain. It was like I need to get as much knowledge about the word as I could for some reason. I now know I got a crash course in Christianity taught by the Holy Spirit.
During that time I was working at the McMinn County Sheriff's Department as the secretary to my father in law D.T. Nation. I felt a compassion for the women in jail and even thought about teaching them the Bible. I prayed about it and felt God may be wanting me to do that. I asked the jail administrator if anyone was teaching Bible to the women and he said yes there is a lady that come every week and sings and preaches. I was relieved it was being done and most of all I was relieve I was was not going to have to do it. I was afraid. I left it at that and time went on and there was a sheriff's election and D.T. got beat and he and I were not longer working at the jail.
That would seem to be the end of that. But God had different plans. A couple of years later our church was doing a in home Bible Study called "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackabee". It was one cold winter night our group was meeting at a home in Decatur. During the prayer time that night God reminded me of the jail ministry. I remember praying that if He wanted me to teach the Bible in the jail that He would have to open the door. I was sure the current Sheriff would not allow me to do it. That prayer meant more that I could have ever thought. God was listening. My heart was tender and pliable. I simply believed God. I didn't think much more about it until August 1994. One hot August day after the Sheriff's election, the new Sheriff came driving up in my driveway. Sheriff Steve Frisbie came to my house and asked me to be his secretary. That had to be God. I had not even thought about it. So there it was the open door that opened one way. His way.
I started my new job September 1, 1994. I began to find out about the jail ministry right off. I found out that about four groups of people were doing ministry and there was some differences among the groups. The Sheriff was interested in jail ministry and wanted to open it up to more people. A meeting was organized and one could tell that there were some strongholds in that jail. It's interesting how the enemy fights unity. I started going to every service on Wednesday night and observing the services. I was not received with open arms by everyone. I can see why. I think I was more liberal than most of the ladies involved. The first service I went to I think I had on jeans. All the other ladies had on long skirts. I did not care. I was just being me.
Finally early spring of 1995 Me and Cher a friend from Church got a day to go and lead a Bible Study. This came with some opposition. Like I said we were not like the others. Later I grow to have some fine friendships with some of the ladies that I feel is still have to this day. They taught me some things I would have never learned if I had not known them. As I said, it was finally our day. I had been preparing for weeks for this day. God had led us to John 4 the story of the Samaritan women. I'm one to get big ideas so I had this idea of dressing up like I was the women at the well and telling the story as if I were her. I remember listening to John 4 on my headphones over and over trying to get the story in my spirit. I wanted our first experience at the jail to be a memorable one. I had no idea just how memorable it would be. As it has been on the journey there was a huge obstacle that night. There was a tornado warning and the jail was on lock down so church was canceled. That was one of many times I have had to press though and wait on the Lord to open the doors.
If you missed your night you had to wait until the next time you were on the schedule. So I think it was about a month before we finally got to lead the Bible Study. We did just like I had planned. I wore a long tunic with a rope tied around my waist and a scarf on my head. I told the story as if I was her. I remember looking into their faces and thinking I hope I'm telling this right. God reminded me that this was His ladies. He loved them. Going to the jail is a huge responsibility because those ladies are so hungry that they will listen to your every word and can easily be led astray. And some were led astray by people who came in to do services. It's amazing what some people focus on. What a privilege it was to be there. I was hooked. I wanted to do it every week. Some of those ladies in that jail service are still coming in and out of jail. Some have changed and some have died. The Women at the Well, I'll never understand how God did it but He did. Looking back I see the way He led me and used every event to bring me to where I am today. The door that opens one way. His way. The best way. I plan to continue to walk though them each one as he opens them.
The Story I told that faithful night:
I started my journey to the well. It was the sixth hour. A time of day when there was no one else at the well. This is the time I come every day. I would not dare come when the others are there. I can't take the glares and the whispers. I don't blame them. I've done a lot to talk about. I'm so ashamed. I feel so dead inside. I want to be alive. I have prayed for help. Many times I have cried out to God. I don't think He cares about me. How could He. I'm so dirty and filthy full of sin. I long to be loved and accepted. I have never had that. Oh, I've had love but only for a short time then when they get tired of me they are gone. That's why I'd just as soon come to the well by myself. But look there's someone at the well. It looks like a man. Oh, yes it's a Jewish man. Well at least He want talk to me or even look at me. Jewish men don't talk to Samaritans. Especially Samaritan women. I'll get my water quick and go home.
What's that He said " Get me a drink". Sir are you talking to me? Saying "get me a drink" Jews don't talk to Samaritans. Then He said If I know the gift of God and who it is that asks this of me I would have ask Him and He would have given me living water. I did not understand this what He was saying. Living water? What's living water? Then He said everyone that drinks this water will thirst again but the water He would give would well up in me to eternal life. Living water? Yes, Yes, Yes, I want to be alive. I don't want to have to come to this well again in the heat of the day. I said give me this water. Go get my husband but I have no husband. He says He knows I have no husband. He also knows I'm living with a man that is not my husband and I have had five husbands. He knows all this about me yet He still talked kindly to me. He still wants to give me living water. He must be a prophet since he knows all this about me. Sir may I ask you a question I have been wondering about? Where are we suppose to worship? On this mountain or in Jerusalem? He explains to me that a day was coming when we would not worship on the mountain or in Jerusalem. There will be a day when we will worship in Spirit and in truth. This is the kind or worshiper God is seeking for. Oh yes if that is true I can worship God in my heart not on the mountain and not in Jerusalem, in my heart. May I ask another question? The Messiah called "Christ" when He comes will He explain all this to us. He says "I am He". Could it be this man, this kind man is He the Messiah? I know there is something different about Him. Love I feel true love coming from Him. Something in me tells me He loves me.
About that time a group of other men came to the well. They were not like Him. They seemed upset that He was talking to me. It doesn't matter, He talked to me. He loves me. He gave me living water. He's the Messiah. I left my water pot sitting on the well and ran as fast I could to tell the others. I have seen the Messiah, come see Him for yourself. Many came and many believed that day. My life was changed. If you look in your Bible in John 4: 39 you will see it says many came and believed because of my testimony. Can you believe it? God used me a Samaritan women with a past to lead many to Jesus the Christ. What about you, do you believe God has sent Jesus to bring living water to you? Do you believe He knows all about you but He has still come to save you? Can you imagine being free from shame and guilt and made clean and pure? Can you see yourself telling others what He has done for you? Even better can you see others coming to know Him as their Savior because of your testimony? He's at the well waiting on you. Walk on up get a drink. You'll never be the same. Come all who are thirsty and drink the living water.
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