Two Important Memories from Childhood

During my life there have been a number of things that have happened to me that have helped to mold my character or have pointed me in the direction that the Lord would have me go. I grew up going to the First Baptist Church of Helena, Arkansas. They had a very good children's program. During the school year I went to G.A. (Girls Auxilliary), a weekly children's Bible Club. The summer I was nine I went to camp for a week. The camp brought in missionaries from all over the world. I remember clearly the missionary I heard was from Thailand. I don't remember her name, but remember how the Holy Spirit touched my heart and made me want to be a missionary. From that time on, I wanted to be in the Lord's work. A child's faith is so simple and trusting and wonderful. The Lord has had His hand on me all of my life, and I do praise Him for His faithfuless to me.

Another memory stands out for me. My brother, Bob, had started going to Mid-South Bible College in Memphis, Tennessee and he had come home for a weekend. I was 17 at the time, in the 12th grade. The Baptist Church in West Helena was having evangelism meetings and Bob wanted me to go with him. The speaker was Angel Martinez. He was speaking on John 10. As I mentioned, a child's faith is so simple and for whatever reason, I had always believed (from my salvation) that I belonged to the Lord and was going to heaven. I didn't know verses in the Bible to prove this, however. Anyway, Angel Martinez read and spoke on John 10:28-30 about "Jesus' sheep hearing His voice and He knows them and they follow Him, and He gives to them eternal life and they shall never perish and no one shall snatch them out of His hand. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." I remember the joy that I felt when I realized what He was saying, that no one could take me from my heavenly Father's hand. Driving home I talked with Bob to make sure I understood it correctly. We do have a Mighty and Awesome God!