My Spiritual Markers by: Sherry Adcox
I recently watched a sermon posted on Facebook by a friend who used to be my choir director at church. The sermon was titled"Spiritual Markers," a term I had never heard. It piqued my curiosity, so I decided to watch the video. After understanding the term's meaning from the sermon, I feel the need to document my Spiritual Markers for my family's future source.
I'll start by defining the term and then share some of the most significant situations I consider "My Spiritual Markers." Spiritual Markers are things, events, scents, pictures and symbols that remind us of significant events, truths, seasons or decisions in our lives." I have several that I want to share so this blog could be an ongoing post that I add new information after I have backtracked in my memory for the dates and times and spent time remembering the details so not to miss anything that is important.
The Day I Got Saved. The day I got saved I was in the latter part of grade school, I probably was just old enough to almost understand. We were in a revival and I was sitting on one of the front row pues on the far left side of the old santuary. I was sitting near two of the elder ladies of the church, but I don't remember their names. During the atlar call I remember becoming very emotional and started crying and could not seem to overcome it. I also remember being scared because I thought I was saved already. I did not understand what was happening to me, nor did I understand why I could not stop crying. I don't remember the congergational song that was being sang, but I do remember having a super tight grasp on my song book and having it pulled up close to my chest. My emotional state went on for a few minutes until one of the elder ladies stepped over to me and said, "sister, have you been saved?" I looked at her and said, "I think I have." She stepped back over to where she was sitting and left me still standing there wondering what was happening. I was just a kid and did not know the voice of God, I did not know how he prompts his children into moving forward in their faith. So I stood there a couple more minutes, just crying and squeezing my song book to my chest. Then the next thing I remember was closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, still trying to figure out what was happening to me. I think when I took that deep breath I must have relaxed a little because I felt myself speedily walking forward with my eyes closed. When I stopped and opened my eyes, I was looking Normal Watson in the face. The only thing I could speak at that moment to him was, "I'm afraid." He was very calm and gentle with me and I remember we both bowing at the altar in prayer. That was the day that I think I was saved, but remember I was scard to death and confused. So as best as I can remember that is the initial day of my salvation. I've had many days since that time that I asked for mercy and forgiveness from God and devoted my heart to his service so that was the starting point of my walk with God. I've had times I was close to God and felt his presence and there were times I struggled to feel him there at all. I think that is why I've been baptised 2 times in my life where most only do that once. I was baptised as a child and then again as a young adult just starting out on my own. The second time was sometime during my first marrage. That marriage only lasted 3 years. We were going to church at Notchey Creek, my husband and I. I was experiencing a time of slight separation from God. Maybe it was not separation, but I wanted to feel closer to him and didn't seem to be experiencing that. So as a adult I went to the altar recommitted myself and decided to be baptised again, and that time the baptism was just to be sure. Now as I look back I feel I was saved as a child because how did I get all the way up to the altar with my eyes closed. I do remember feeling my legs moving, but my eyes were closed. I know God knew me well enough even at that young age that I needed help and maybe a push to the altar. I knew that I wanted to serve God. I just did not have the courage to go up alone, so God carried me.
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