TAKE ME BACK

Take me back, take me back, dear Lord
To the place where I first received You.

In recent days, the above words from a song have been running through my mind. For all of us, there are places in our past lives we don't wish to revisit,but there are spiritual events we should revisit every now and then. We've all had more time in recent months to do some thinking. Perhaps this thinking has been mostly on the negative side. It doesn't have to be like that for God's kids though. So I have revisited some places spiritually that have been heart warmers for me.

Jesus came into my heart, one sunny morning after an evangelist's sermon. I could take you to the church and where I was sitting at the time. (Renovations would keep me from taking you to that pew now.) What a wonderful day. We were given little copies of the book of John with a place on the back to fill in our name and date of salvation. I still have it although it looks as worn as I do. I often go back to that day. Little did I recognize at that time what that decision would mean in my life and eternal future. After all, I was only ten years old at the time. There's never been a regret. How often do you return to that time in your life? It should be a heart warmer for you as well.

I received my first Bible at the age of 12, two years after being saved. I admired my friend Donna's Bible. She marked verses in it that were meaningful to her. I had never seen that before and began doing that when I got my new Bible. I still have done it with every Bible I've owned. King James was the Bible in 1949 everyone used. We could never have looked into the future to see all the translations we have now. I have used one in particular I feel a confidence in...however...in these days of revisiting time gone by, I have again pulled out a KJV I have had on a bookshelf. I'm so enjoying going back to the “thee's and thou's.” The Holy Spirit, our teacher, taught us well from the KJV we all grew up with and He still does.

A fun thing I'm doing with returning to the KJV is listing those verses and passages I memorized years ago whether in Sunday school or Vacation Bible School. Some I've never forgotten although their addresses are vague at times. Of course, there is Psalm 23. Long ago in marking my Bible, I underlined all of the personal pronouns like me, my and mine. That made that precious Psalm my own. Although memorized, I still like to read it and absorb all of it's promises on the written page.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 119:11

I've gone back in memory, remembering those past preachers and teachers in my life. They'll never know how appreciative I am of their investment in the life of a little skinny, tow-headed girl. I'm going back in grateful memory of those folks. They'll never know the difference they made in my life, secondary only to my Savior.

I remember the days of old; I meditate
on all thy works; I muse on the
work of thy hands.
Psalm 143:5

I would encourage us to look back more often. Spiritual highlights in our past lives can be such treasures and blessings for today.

Dear Father God, how grateful we are that You never change. You are our loving Father past, present and future. More important, Your love and care for us never changes. Thank You for all those dear folks in churches and other places You chose to be blessings in our lives. Thank You for Jesus and Your sweet Spirit. In Jesus' precious name...Amen