As we journey together through Lent, Christians throughout Columbia will be sharing their own beautifully written personal meditations. Each will be accompanied by a corresponding scripture reading, and be linked to that passage in the Holy Bible. If you would like to join us on Columbia’s Lenten journey, please submit your personal meditation by email. Especially meaningful submissions will be printed. Let us continue our Lenten journey, day by day, to its glorious culmination on Easter Sunday.
Scripture reading: John 2:23-John 3:15
I have always thought of myself as a leader, not a follower. I have tried never to cave in under influence, or do anything wrong because of peer pressure. I sit with my friends at lunch during school, and I have been the only person who would miss lunch three days a week to be in Bible studies. I hadn’t minded going by myself, because I always knew someone there. Out of 15 people sitting with me at lunch, I was the only one to leave. So, I decided something needed to be done. I eventually started taking different friends to Bible studies, and a couple have kept coming back with me. I want so badly for others to want what I want, see what I do, and do what I do, but I know this is not going to happen. I just have to work for it.
One of my strengths is always to see the positive side in things, and when everything is going wrong, to somehow find the good. Although it looks like my friends will never come with me to the Bible studies, I’d like to hope that somehow, someday, they will take that first step. God works in mysterious ways. I know He has a plan, and I am prepared to live out that plan until my very last day.
It felt amazing when I started devoting my life to God, and I want others to be able to experience that. One of the three friends I started bringing to Bible study with me has had a difficult past. She has experienced two family divorces, bad grades, and was hanging out with the wrong crowd. We had a class together, so I started talking to her about her faith. She would tell me about her problems, and I would give her advice, of course, but I would always make sure to let her know that I, too, was in her place for a while. But when I found my faith it seemed as if all my problems were smaller, and I had this feeling that everything was going to be okay. To this day, she tells people that I changed her into the person she never thought she could become. She is always happy now, and lights up the room whenever she comes in. She comes to every Bible study with me, and is very interested in learning more about Christ. People say she is a whole new person, and she is. I am so glad that God came into her life, so she can know that no matter what, God is going to be right there. He has an undying love for us. Everything you do, do it through the Lord.
I know it wasn’t only me who helped her find Christ. As it is said in one of my favorite songs, “Surely it is God who saves me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid – for the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, and He will be my savior.” It was God who saved her. And I can only thank Him for this small, yet huge miracle.
Eleanor Crawford
A. C. Flora High School, Freshman
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia Prayer Chain: Wednesday, February 20
In our prayers: Mary Ellen Joiner, Elizabeth Jean Emerson, Mary Reames, Richard Smith, Claudia Strattman, Jennifer Williams, Betty Jo Carson, Gary Davis, Eddie Bolton, Doug and Sharon, John Kelchner, Elizabeth Matthews, Nedrick Griffin, Jennifer Handy, Nancy Stuckey, Annemarie Sullivan, Greg and Lisa Steele, Dean Timothy Jones, Linda Langford, Marty Fritz, Harriet Hancock, Tommy and Robby Palmer, Patty and Ted Mac Laughlin, Janet Long, Bobby Wilson, Debbie and Pat Barry, Patrick and Patricia Barry, Jordan Hill, Doris Clevenger, Charles Sigel, Bob Davis, John Whatley, Nancy Zuckerman, Charles Davis Sr., Bill Carter, Betty Peavy Frick, Joye Cantrell, Dale and Norma Sessions, Padge Arrington, Jerry Callahan, Norman Masters
Special prayers for Mary Ellen’s four-year-old grandson, Joseph Patrick, who is fighting cancer
In memoriam: Pastor Marion Bates Jr., Theodore Jefferson Blizard, Glenda Collier Hutto, Constance Hampton, David Ian Stagg, Charlotte Schwartz, Ronald L. Schermbeck
Our prayers are with: the elderly, the homeless, all currently fighting illness, all beloved pets, our president and congress, our police officers and firefighters, all who serve in the armed forces
Columbia Prayer Chain is open to all residents of greater Columbia who would like to share prayers and receive the prayers of others. Please leave your name in the comment box or email me.
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