Someone Took The Time To Help Me Get My Feet On The Ground. 5/27/2025

 Good Morning.

I just poured myself a hot cup of Door County Brandy Alexander Coffee on this fine morning. 

Back in 1981 I found myself in a unique situation. I entered a Southern Baptist church for the first time. This was a place where everyone seemed to know their Bible inside out and I had just purchased my first one. By the way, I still have it. It is very dear to me.

I recall my first night attending Bible study with the men on a Wednesday. The leader of the study called on me to read. I could barley tell you one book in the bible at that time, let alone a passage from Zephaniah 3:17  I was so embarrassed by my lack of what everyone else seemed have memorized. I wanted to leave and never come back. 

There were two other guys sitting, one on each side of me. One of them reached over and flipped my Bible open to Zephaniah and the third chapter. I can read with the best of them, so once I had the address of the passage, I could function. 

After Bible study was finished they both sat me down in private and said they would make sure that until I was comfortable with my Bible, no one would spot me out again. Then they came up with a plan for me to meet with one of the men weekly for some tutoring. The other one would call randomly a couple times a week to make sure I was working on a Bible study given to all new Christians in the church. He would quiz me on the passages I was supposed to have read, and if possible memorize them.

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.  Ha! That was the first verse I ever memorized. Both men asked me if they could pray with me and for me each time we met or they called. They did this for an entire year. One has passed on to glory now and I miss him dearly. I still see the other one a time or two throughout the year. I see his son on a weekly basis. He still keeps tabs on me through his son. 

My point for the day is this. Who do you share a bond, or a link with? Are you there to mentor, love, and help others that cross your path?  Is a year of meetings too much of a burden for you. Do you actually take count of the burden or can the new guy or gal, count on you to flip a page for them? Do you take a spiritual accountability from God to get involved with a new believer or one who has fallen away? 

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, The Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you.; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

I truly believe that without those two guys in my life, you would never be reading this today. Thankful for Vern and Harlan,

God bless,

Marty