By Ada Brownell
The day my Aunt Marge gave her
heart to Jesus, her life turned from sorrow to joy.
I was only a kid. My whole family
witnessed what happened.
Aunt Marge screamed out in the
church service, interrupting the pastor’s sermon. “I’m lost!”
Ever since Jesus came, people
have talked about being “saved,” but before they can be saved they realize they
are lost. They don’t know for sure about how to get to heaven and how to avoid
hell. Most everyone would like to be saved from eternal death and receive
everlasting life, but they wander about devising their own ideas about the
right way to go.
Well Marge knew the way, but she
realized she’d strayed. She ran to the altar and screamed and cried, asking God
to forgive her sins and save her.
My siblings and I watched
wide-eyed. My Mama and several people went forward to pray with her. Suddenly
the joy hit. She started shouting praises to God and danced all around the
church sanctuary.
She was probably in her 30s then
and joy became part of who she was. As a senior citizen she danced in my
kitchen one time when she and her son visited. Before they left, she danced in
a little circle and sang “The Lord bless you and keep you.”
Our family never forgot what we
saw, nor how we witnessed her turning from sin and living joyfully for God,
often winning others to Him. The first thing she did when she went to assisted
living near the end of her life was win her nurse to the Lord. Her joy was
catching!
Joy still bubbled, even in times
of trouble, until she was in her 90s and went dancing off into heaven.
Her experience reminds of the day
a lame beggar asked Peter and John for alms. The event occurred shortly after the
day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost was poured out on the 120 in the Upper Room.
“Silver and gold have I none,”
Peter said to lame beggar. “But such as I have I give you. In the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”
Peter took him by the right hand
and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. “So he, leaping up,
stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping and praising
God” (Acts 2:6-8).
King David danced before the Lord
with all his might as they brought the ark back to Israel (See 2 Samuel 6:14).
I’ve seen numerous people dance
before the Lord. Most were healed or had a significant encounter with God. I’ve
never danced, although my inner spirit usually dances with others when God does
a work in them and tears of joy flow down my face.
I have a character in my latest
book, Polly, who dances when she’s filled with joy. Readers get to know Polly
well. Here’s what Deirdre Lockhart at Brilliant Cut Editing,
one of my editors, said about Polly: “By the way, I want Polly to live near me.
Not just for the food, which made my mouth water, but she made my spirit sing
too. I feel my absolute faith a little stronger after living with her and Abe
this week.”
The Bible often speaks of
followers of Jesus Christ being filled with joy.
“Joy unspeakable and full of
glory” (1 Peter 1:8).
The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness,
faithfulness, self control (Galatians 5:22).
The theme of Paul’s letter to the Philippians is “rejoice!” Even in the Old Testament we find many references to joy. Let God fill up your joy tank, and express your joy so others will
know. If necessary, dance.
Here's an excerpt from Peach Blossom Rancher showing Polly in a moment of joy.
Polly put her hands on Wellington Davenport's already bowed head and in a
loud voice quoted scripture on God’s mercy, forgiveness, and love for the
sinner. Then she got happy and shouted, sang and danced all over the parlor.
Wellington stared, his face twitching. She pulled him to his feet again, his
cold hand trembling in hers. He seemed sober now.
He squeezed her hand. “Thank you. But you’re right.
I’m a lowdown useless worm. Keep praying for me.”
With that, he was gone, his horse galloping as if the
devil himself chased him.
Buy Peach Blossom Rancher at http://amzn.to/2arRVgG
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