It was in Long Beach, California,
February 25, 1973, I was nineteen
years old, and I was lost.
To quench the confusion and loneliness,
drugs started taking a role in my life.
I was desperate and didn't even know it.
But one day, I walked into that little church;
ignorant, soul-hungry, and afraid.
And I walked out a different way;
touched by and given the Bread of Life,
never to be alone again.
It was at this Chapel of our Fathers,
on the Forest Lawn Mortuary
in Cypress of sunny Southern California...
Almost too perfect to be true.
You see, a step-cousin from Florida, Bible in hand,
had, like the wind, blown in unexpectedly
to visit our family for a week or so.
("The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound
thereof, but cannot tell where it comes, and where
it goes, so is everyone that is born of the Spirit."
Bible verse: John 3:8)
He spoke those words off those pages to me
for two days straight, back, and forth,
from Old Testament to New Testament.
(the Seeds were planted).
I had to listen, he was very handsome,
and anyway, I had nothing better to do.
I did not yet see, I did not yet understand
in full, but I heard the Word. And that step-
cousin left like he came; (oh well)
as the wind blows -
in, all around, and out.
And a week or so later,
another wind blew my way.
An old boyfriend came to the house
to see me. Unannounced. Uninvited.
Just like the wind.
He asked if I would come to church with him
the upcoming Sunday.
I found myself saying "sure".
(No one comes to the Son unless the Father
draws him. John 6:44;
And I, when I be lifted up, will draw all men
unto myself. John 12:32;
Yea... with lovingkindness have I drawn
thee to myself. Jer. 31:3)
I had nothing to lose. At that time in my life,
to think that someone would even ask me to go
anywhere with them surprised me.
So I went to that little church in the big city...
see how pretty it was?
The pastor stood up there and preached.
Don't recall exactly what his message was about
but at the end, he asked for a show of hands
from anyone interested in receiving
Christ as their Lord and Savior;
that their sins might be forgiven,
their lives cleansed,
their souls revived,
and their destiny secured.
I couldn't do it.
I could not raise my hand.
(Except a man be born of water [natural]
and of the Spirit [supernatural], he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:5)
God wouldn't want me... I thought...
that's impossible! No one wants me!
So guess what He did.
He received me. He drew me
to Himself... just as the Word says...
just as He had said He would...
some 2,000 years ago.
It was like this...
I stood there in the pew, and in tears,
shamefaced, not knowing what to do...
feeling totally unacceptable... and…
there came a vision of His arms and chest...
open wide... for me.
There He was... He received me.
Imagine that.
And at the end of the service I went forward,
(how could I not?) and listened,
and nodded, and agreed,
Yes, Jesus is the Son of God,
yes, He did die for my sins,
yes, I do need His forgiveness,
yes, I now belong to Him,
and I wiped my nose
and my eyes
and my cheeks.
And from that day on,
I was no longer alone.
(Lo, I am with you always. Matthew 28:20)
I had inherited this huge, huge family.
Many more than Toula's Big Fat Greek family.
And I was welcome... to be with them.
It was all so new.
I had been so alone
For so long.
Love-Hungry.
Soul-Thirsty.
Confused.
Afraid of everything.
And now this.
It was surreal.
Yes. That's what it was.
Supernaturally REAL.
I was born of the Spirit...
born from above.
(John 3:1, 14-16)
And today, THAT is my citizenship.
One day soon, I will be going Home
where I belong. All by the grace of God.
Nothing to do with me. (No earning anything.)
Incredible. Wonderful. Supernatural.
To GOD be the glory for what HE has done!
