Memories Burning Bright

My testimony

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

—John 21:25

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible! How I wish to read these stories! Isn’t it amazing the thought of the world not being able to contain all that Jesus did?

Think of all the good Jesus has done for you and in your life. All the times He was there for you, the answered prayers, the miracles, His presence, His peace, the sleepless nights spent praying to Him, everything in your life. Can you write down all that God has done for you?

There is so much Jesus has done for me. I do not have the words to write it all down. There are moments in my life where the memories are hot and fresh. Memories burning like bright lights in a sea of stories. Moments in my life I know I will never forget. Maybe you have these memories too. Moments with God that hold a golden glow.

I think of the time an Angel saved me from sudden doom. Now…you may say it was a lucky accident and that no angel was involved. You can believe that. My five year old self would tell you otherwise. An angel saved me and I told everyone about it. I still remember the day. I was five years old and playing on the stairs—a terrible idea really. I turned my back to the stairs and slipped. I was expecting to tumble down the two flights of stairs to my doom. I felt my body go backwards. I felt my feet slipping. I felt the hold of gravity dragging me down. Then like I was yanked forward, or pushed from behind, I was safe. Even my mother who saw the whole event was surprised. As a child, I knew that angels watched over children. “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:18) I held on to that promise and from that day forth always believed an angel saved me.

Recently I was looking through a book and saw a story—a true story—that reminded me of my own. A story that felt familiar. Elizabeth Elliot told a story of her father’s encounter with an Angel as a child.¹

“My father, when he was a small boy, was climbing on an upper story of a house that was being built. He walked to the end of a board that was not nailed at the other end, and it slowly began to tip. He knew that he was doomed, but inexplicably the board began to tip the other way, as though a hand had pushed it down again. He always wondered if it was an angel’s hand.”

Photo from Unsplash by Alexander Zivr

I think of the first time I gave my life to Jesus when I was seven years old. Every time a pastor would ask if you wanted to believe in Jesus then to raise your hand, I always did. I loved Jesus. Of course I wanted to believe in Him so my hand always flew up. This time was different. I was sitting alone in the back of the church. They were doing a summer movie night (though I don’t know what the movie was about, only that there was a diner involved). At the end a pastor came up and asked the question if you wanted to believe in Jesus. I raised my hand as I always did. This time was different. I got hot all over. My heart beat fast. I began to weep. What was wrong with me, I thought. I rushed outside to find my mother. I didn’t know what was happening to me. She pulled me aside to a small room with little kid toys for my baby brother to play with. She sat me down and told me what happened. She told me Jesus came into my heart and that I was a Christian now. I was a child of God. I wasn’t afraid anymore. I was at peace because I finally understood what it meant to believe and be a Christian.

Burning bright in my memory is the next day. The reader will have to excuse me as I must lay the background of this event or it will not seem so monumental as it was. As a child I could not read. The words never made sense. The letters making words seemed so foreign. I would try and try but I couldn’t read. It made me despise books and reading because I couldn’t understand. Homeschool days usually ended with me and my mother in tears because nothing was working to make me understand. Then at seven, I gave my life to Jesus. The next morning I grabbed my Bible, flipped to Leviticus (why that was my first choice I don’t know), and read.² For the first time in my life I could read with no difficulty. The words made sense. The letters fell into their rightful place. I could read. Truly read! It was a miracle! I could only read the Bible for the first year of my conversion. Later, I fell in love with other books and the world of stories. That never would have happened if not for God’s gracious gift.

I think of my darkest years in middle school. Years when I was left speechless, depressed, dark and well that is a story for another day. I was losing my faith. I didn’t think I believed in God anymore. He never gave up on me. He met me in my darkest moment and spoke exactly what I needed to hear. He used a woman from my then church. She came to pray for me—the church had prayer teams pray over people during worship. She prayed for me and told me words that touched my soul and changed my world. She told me the words I needed to hear and wouldn't admit. She told me that all of my doubts about God, He would answer. I recommitted my life to God that day alone in my room. I prayed for the first time in years. From that day forward, God has been my teacher. He showed Himself to me. He proved to me He was real and His words were true. He didn’t have to do that. I know I didn’t deserve His love and kindness. He was still there for me. He still loved me. He showed me the truth. It was not an instant change like my first conversion. It took many years of hard work and struggles and loving patience from my Heavenly Father. He saved me, truly. I will never be able to walk away knowing now all that He has done for me.

I remember the freedom God gave me when my family moved to Hawaii when I was fourteen for a few months. That whole time was a blessing from the Lord. I became so much stronger and grew in my faith. He showed me what it meant to be a child of God and to be fearfully and wonderfully made (something I didn’t truly believe about myself).

I think of the season I am in now. I see that God is growing me and preparing me for something ahead. I see Him moving in my life and teaching me and leading me in His direction. I see Him preparing me in this season and I am excited to see all that will come of this season. I know He is doing something in my life. I may not know all the details now but I see Him moving. I look on with hope for what He is doing.

There has been so much Jesus has done for me. A book alone would not be enough. I honestly think I could go on writing and writing for years—a lifetime—and never run out of things He has done for me and taught me.

Maybe that is why I’m a writer. I’m writing down the things and blessings Jesus has done in my life. I’m writing for the things He has taught me. As of yet I have not come to an end (I don’t think I ever will).

What are some of the moments God has met with you? What is something Jesus has done for you that you will never forget? Do you have any memories burning bright? I’d love to know if you're interested in sharing!

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The start of something new…

I wanted to let you know that I’ve been working on something I’m really excited about. I’m starting a new³ podcast!!!

I’ll share more with you very soon! Until then, you subscribe if you want or check back next week *fingers crossed* for the trailer/first episode drop!

1. This story is from A Slow and Certain Light by Elizabeth Elliot and is also told in Angels by Billy Graham

2. You can read about how I gave my life to God from my mom’s perspective on her blog https://www.abigailaviva.com/2012/10/moriyahs-encounter-with-lord.html

3. I previously had a podcast called the Faith, Writing and Coffee Chats Podcast but I’m in a new season of life. I have a heart to share more about my faith and encourage others in their walk with God!