What were they thinking?

What were they thinking?  Well, here is a bit of what they were thinking:

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not shouting "I'm clean living.'"

I'm whispering "I was lost,

Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble

and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak

And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not bragging of success...

I'm admitting I have failed

And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not claiming to be perfect,

My flaws are far too visible

But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I still feel the sting of pain.

I have my share of heartaches

So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not holier than thou,

I'm just a simple sinner

Who received God's good grace, somehow!

And...

My only comfort, both in life and in death, is that

That I am not my own,

But that I belong

To my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,

And has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.

He also watches over me in such a way

That not a hair can fall from my head

Without the will of my Father in heaven;:

In fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

Because I belong to him,

Christ, by his Holy Spirit,

Assures me of eternal life

And makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready

From now on to live for him.

And...

That God has used so many people in my life to draw me closer to him. 

My parents raising me in a Christian home and teaching me how to pray, the importance of attending church, going to youth group, and doing personal devotions.

My grandparents, a Christian family, my friends--all have helped my faith to grow.

Those are some of the things that Derek DeGelder, Philip Zuidema, Sierra Bassie, Jacob Wonder and Summer Bassie were thinking when they made public profession of their faith yesterday.  May God  bless each of you richly, as you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).