Summer Musings

Summer arrived on May 29, 2008 as I frantically packed anything I could get my hands on and rushed down to Florida to welcome my new niece, Grace Lillie. She was supposed to arrive on June 2, but it seems that babies tend to ignore their actual due dates. To see pictures of this sweet girl (and the sweet family) click here.

Lots of time on the road, especially yesterday and today, gives me time to think. I always back a Vera bag full of stuff to read and do, but generally I use time in the car to think or sleep. This morning as I trekked from Lincolnton back to Madison, I pondered many random thoughts.

One thought that kept coming back to me was about the number one question I get when I tell people that I am a Primitive Baptist. As a new believer still learning about the truths of the Primitive Baptist faith, I find myself struggling to tell others what we are really all about. I generally just stutter through what our services are like and contrast them to the services of other churches. Our preacher, however, challenged me at one time to not focus on what we do not do, but to instead focus on what we do. Focus on what we do have that makes us Primitive Baptists. So, I thought about in the car today what I have as a Primitive Baptist:


I have grief in the knowledge that I am a sinner, and that I am doomed to sin by my human nature.

I have joy in the knowledge that Jesus saved me from those sins. Jesus' blood was the sacrifice that washed away those sins, making me whole again. Jesus. Not me and my belief or actions. Not my minister. Not my youth minister. Not the gospel truth. Just Jesus and His loving sacrifice.

I have regret when I sin.

I have encouragement that there is absolutely nothing I can do to mess up the salvation my sweet Lord granted me from my sins.

I have a refuge in timely salvation. I have a church home where I can fellowship with those in similar belief in a simple service of acappella singing, prayer, and preaching. In this refuge, we worship the Lord in simplicity to focus the spotlight on Him and not others. This church home revamps me from a weary week out in a wicked world.

I have a promise of eternal salvation. I know that I will one day walk with my Savior in heaven.

I have relief to know that eternal salvation does not rely on one's church attendance, actions, or belief. It's all Jesus, remember. :)

I have a passion for Jesus. A passion for living as He commands. A passion to seek after what is pure and holy. A passion to serve His church.

I have an understanding about why bad things happen in this world (and it is NOT God's fault).

I have hope that more of God's children will come to enjoy the Lord's church.

I have a thankfulness for the light the Lord has blessed me with to hear and rejoice in the Gospel truth and the truth of His church.



I know I cannot line these up with scripture or doctrines just yet. I am still getting there. These were just some thoughts I feel that the Lord gave me while driving today... a whole jumble of ideas gathered through meager studying of the Bible and paying attention to sermons on Sunday.

I know these were a sense of encouragement to me today, and I hope that you find them to be the same for you, too.

God bless!