Thank you for the warm welcome!
I am a member of a small nondenominational Gospel Chapel in New Hampshire. Even though I have been saved since I was a teenager almost 40 years ago, I lived most of my life in disobedience. By earthly standards, I was what would be called a "good" person. Never got into or caused any real trouble. It took me until recent years to realize that is not the standard God expects from me. I realized that though I called myself a Christian, I was an immature Christian at best.
I prayed often all my life. But my prayers were long on ASK and lacking in praise and repentance. My relationship with God was a strained one-way relationship. I was doing a lot of talking but very little listening. And that's where I rediscovered my love for the Word of God. I am doing a lot more reading (listening), praising, and repenting than asking of God now. I am trying to live my life for Jesus according to His teachings now. Of course, I am still an unworthy sinner!
But I am aiming to be a light in the secular darkness of New Hampshire, USA.
My pastor is the one who helped me realize my spiritual immaturity. I am not sure I would be where I am if I had not decided to walk through the doors of the chapel that Sunday a couple years ago. I do know that God led me to do so as I was looking for a place that simply preached the Word of God. No earthly compromise. In short time, I have become an active church member. Due to my experience public speaking as an English teacher (and my passion for the Word) the pastor asked if I would like to present a new memory verse each month and teach it weekly as the Spirit guides me. It has been an amazing experience to speak each Sunday! Last month, I was asked if I would like to give a sermon in the pastor's absence. Wow. I researched and prepared for a few weeks and delivered a sermon from 2 Kings on Naaman's salvation. Hence my screen name. The sermon was well received. It was recorded for the pastor who has said I am free to do another any time I feel the calling. It went well, but I know who to thank...who to praise. All the good is God, the rest is me (Isaiah 26:12).
I have been devouring the Word over the last two years in a Jeremiah 15:16 way. And it has been the joy and rejoicing of my heart. I look forward to contributing and asking questions about the Scriptures. For all that I have learned, I am well aware I am still a relative novice and have much to learn from those more experienced.
Thank you all for allowing me to join your online home. God bless you all. To our Savior, Jesus Christ, be the glory now and forever.
