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This is my Story by Wilma Johnston
As a child I was always sent to Sunday
School. Our family
was a very happy one, and although we were not ‘religious’ we
believed in God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
At school, however, I used to dread the visiting minister
coming to R.E. class – he always seemed to zoom in on me and ask
questions I couldn’t answer.
This experience in my youth left me feeling apprehensive
about matters of religion.
I have always been a deep
thinker and as a child I would ponder on the marvels of creation
and my thoughts were always brought back to God.
I came to realise the wonder of Him, how marvellous He
must be, that there was none like Him, and in my childish mind I
knew only He held the answers to all my questions. I feared God
and wondered what would become of me when I died.
Then as time went on, like so
many young people, I gave myself to partying and a busy social
life. All thought of
God was put to the back of my mind.
The ‘Troubles’ had erupted in Belfast and in 1970 our
family moved to the Ballysillan area.
It was here I was to meet my husband, Robert.
I thank God for blessing me all these years with a very
happy marriage and two lovely children, but as the years passed
by I knew something was missing in my life.
In spite of the happiness I had in my personal life,
there was still a nagging emptiness in my heart which I could
not understand.
Robert and I always enjoyed our busy social life; we had an
interest in Country & Western music and made many good friends
whilst pursuing our interest.
I also enjoyed a ‘wee drink,’ but I could see that every
social occasion was becoming more and more drink centred.
Around this time Braehill
Baptist Church opened its doors.
My home was just a stone’s throw away from the church
building and each Sunday morning (as I would be hanging out my
washing) I could hear church singing and wonder how these people
could be so happy.
Although I had always a great respect for Christians, I still
couldn’t help thinking that they were missing out on life!
One evening, whilst I was
sitting at home, two ladies from the church called to my door
and invited me to the services.
I began attending on a regular basis and soon that
feeling of inner emptiness returned.
Also the preaching was beginning to annoy me and I
stopped attending altogether.
I didn’t know it then but I know now, that the preaching
of God’s Word was bringing me under conviction of my sin.
All of this was in 1987, a year
which was to bring much sadness to our community.
Three dear people whom we knew, one a child, met with
early deaths. It
really brought home the Scripture: “Boast not thyself of
tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
(Proverbs 27:1). The
truth of life’s brevity was brought forcefully home to me….on
Monday 7th September I attended the funeral of that
little boy and it broke my heart.
The following Sunday I was back
in church. I had
known all along the truthfulness of the messages which were
preached. I agreed
that Jesus was God’s Son, that He had died on the cross for the
sins of the world but I didn’t realise that He had died for each
and every individual person; for you and me!
On Sunday 13 September 1987 I finally said “Yes” to
Jesus. I wanted to
be saved, and so I asked Him into my heart and life as Lord and
Saviour. There and
then the burden of my heart was lifted, the void filled.
It’s now over 23 years since I
gave my heart to Jesus and my life has been blessed and enriched
so much. I thank God
that my two children accepted Jesus as their own personal
Saviour the same year as me, and over the years I have seen many
of my beloved family members also giving their hearts to Jesus.
Some of these dear loved ones are now in glory and I know
that one glorious day I will see them all again.
In the years since I was saved,
my family has been touched by some terrible tragedies and
heartaches, as so have many other families in our troubled
province, but I can honestly say that but for the grace and love
of God in my life I don’t know what I would have done, how I
would have coped. My
Lord is a constant source of love and guidance and it was His
strength that carried us through the sad times.
God has blessed not only in my
personal life but also He has blessed us at Braehill Baptist
with a beautiful new building, and I believe He is far from
finished in our area of town and that His Spirit continues to
work in people’s hearts.
I
pray
God will work in your heart and life and that you too might know
the joy of knowing Jesus!
Wilma 1/2011
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