Saved on the 4th

                                                              Saved on the Forth

  

 "The Fourth of July had always been a day of celebration, but for me, it was a day of reckoning. As a soldier, I'd seen my fair share of battles, but none had tested my mettle like the one I'd just survived. The fire had been intense, bullets whizzing past my head, explosions rocking the earth beneath my feet. I thought for sure I'd meet my maker that day. But God had other plans. As I lay wounded on the battlefield, a sense of desperation washed over me. I'd lived a life far from Him, ignoring the whispers of my conscience, pushing aside the conviction that something more waited for me beyond the trenches of war. But in that moment, with death staring me in the face, I cried out to Him. "Lord, if You're real, save me! I've lived a life of sin and selfishness, but I'm willing to surrender it all to You. Please, don't let me die here." In the midst of battle, a strange calm enveloped me. I felt a presence around me, a warmth that seemed to seep into my very bones. The fire ceased, and an eerie silence fell over the battlefield. When medics reached me, they were amazed I'd survived. I knew then that God had indeed answered my plea. As I lay in the hospital, recovering from my wounds, I couldn't shake the feeling that God had saved me for a purpose. The words of Psalm 91:14-15 echoed in my mind: "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name." The Fourth of July, once a day of patriotic fervor, had become a day of personal liberation. I'd been set free from the bondage of sin, and a new life in Christ had begun. The fire that had threatened to consume me had instead refined me, purified me, and prepared me for the mission ahead. From that day forward, I knew I'd follow Him, no matter the cost. The battlefield may have been scarred, but my soul was redeemed. And as I looked up at the stars on that Independence Day night, I whispered a prayer of gratitude: 'Thank You, Lord, for saving me. I'll follow You, wherever You lead.'" I hope this testimony blesses and encourages you because you may be the reason I'm telling this story today. Have a happy 4th, of July. 

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2025© FbAnnaBenSavedNMRMPMPBKBJULYMES

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

A Crumbled-Up Paper

I was cleaning my office organizing papers and I came across something I crumbled up and wanted to throw away but didn't.  I often draw in my sketchbook and think I did a bad job. I ignore it and go to my next drawing. I have found out, that if I leave it alone for a while and forget it, I run into it again and learn that it was not a bad sketch. Instead, I see in it what I didn't see the first time and sometimes it turns out to be one of my best drawings. 

The sketch that I crumbled I saw something in the sketch that I hadn't seen before, I believed it was trash and I was going to throw it away. I looked at it and right away, I saw a picture of what could happen. I've drawn all my life mostly women's pictures and before AI happened, I had improved and was able to draw both men and children. Drawing old people is something I haven't been able to do yet.  I really haven't tried. In the crumbled sketch I saw a biblical soldier; he had on his armor.

It was trash and God's still using it.  For me to see a picture in a crumbled-up piece of paper intended for the trash is a miracle. I didn't take a picture of it I just started working on it right away. 

God is going to use this picture; it was thought to be a piece of trash and not worth anything.  Just like I saw something in it that could be of value most of all spiritually.  When God uses us he makes us usable. We may not be the best, we might not be the most popular, and no one may see our value, but God our creator, and Father sees our value because his Son's blood was shed for our sins.  It's our job to keep our hearts and our minds where God wants them to be and he will be the one who helps us keep them there.

Susan Y Nikitenko 2025© - Part 1

 Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.