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| photo by Pam Williams |
Any of you who have read the story of my
faith beginnings know that for 20 some years of my life I went to church,
but my faith was rather like a museum piece—nice to have and admire, but not
really relevant. Then Dick and I met a couple, Bill and Peggy Williams, who
introduced us to the living reality of daily life with Jesus as Savior, Lord,
and Friend. That reality has changed our lives on every level, forever!
Ever since
that day, my deepest desire has been to share that reality with others—family,
friends, co-workers, fellow church-goers, and readers—to let them know Jesus is
real; He cares; He is constantly with us; He intervenes for us.
Helping
others to realize these truths isn’t easy. Consistently treating others as
Jesus would have me treat them is challenging. Speaking of my faith without
sounding “preachy” or pious tests my communication skills.
The desire
to open the eyes, the ears, the hearts, the souls, the minds of others
persists, though. So I am constantly on the lookout for better ways to
communicate the message of salvation through trust in Jesus and the difference
He can make in a person’s day-to-day existence.
SacredSpace.ie
recently shared these encouraging words about passing along the message of
faith in Jesus: “I am not called to live this [faith] alone, but with others,
in the community we call the Church. I talk with Jesus on my membership in the
Church, and ask him to help me be a living stone in this his house.”
Others have
been a living stone for me by expressing God’s love and their love for me in encouraging
cards and texts. Bill and Peggy shared the reality of Jesus just by living in constant
communication with Jesus. Others have shown me acts of kindness in the name of
Jesus, like bringing meals when we were packing or unpacking from a move,
taking care of our daughter when Dick and I were at the hospital with our son, and
bringing me small gifts each time I endured a chemotherapy treatment.
I, too, want
to be a “living stone”, not a museum relic. Proverbs 27:17 says we learn from
one another. What have you found that helps you introduce others to Jesus? How
have others communicated a living faith to you? I would love to read your experiences
in the comments.
I pray
that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith.
I pray
that you may have your roots and foundation in love,
so
that you, together with all God's people,
may
have the power to understand
how
broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ's love.
Ephesians
3:17-18
Blessings!
Pam
©2016 Pamela D. Williams
