Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new each morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him." (Lamentations 2:22-24 NIV)
IT WAS JUNE of 1999. I had vested much time and energy into getting my college daughter Faith ready to travel to the Ukraine as a summer missionary intern. I thought my relationship with Christ was fine. After all , I read my Bible and faithfully attended Sunday school.
The day Faith finally left, I realized how bankrupt spiritually I had become. God used my daughter's departure to show me just how much of my life was slipping away with spiritual indifference. I had long admired Martin Luther -- thus I decided to visit Faith Lutheran Church.
The day I visited was June 13th -- their ground breaking day for their new Christian Life Center. I hadn't read anything about that in the newspaper nor heard any reports of the event on the radio. Nevertheless, I was there for their special event. From that moment on, I joined in the life of Faith Lutheran.
I have to say that my life has been totally transformed. I've found myself getting back to disciplines I had long abandoned such as playing the piano, learning to work with folks on projects, teaching Sunday school, reading more and watching television less.
Today I'm an active member of our church. It has also transformed my marriage. I think more of little ways to let my husband know how much I love him. Likewise, he has opened up his heart to me in a deeper way. I look forward to our prayer times, our walks together, and our simple suppers. Although Art attends a different church than I do - we are the happiest we have ever been. We've been married for almost 27 years and have raised four beautiful children.
All these events are the greatest Christmas presents I could ever want. So my daughter Faith didn't know what she started when she left for the Ukraine the summer of 1999 ...."The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23 NASV)
By Sylvia Boldt
