Musing – My Testimony

Hebraic Musing – My Testimony    JIC you haven’t heard it.   

Some 70+ years ago I grew up in Cicero, Illinois, as the oldest of eight children.  We were poor but didn’t know it.  After college, my career started as a CPA.  My wife and I raised six children which has now multiplied to a family of 35 and still growing.  BUT, during the first 37 years of my life I had a limited understanding of God and never tried to figure out God’s purpose for my life despite these three questions and answers I had never forgotten from my first grade catechism class:

Q. – Who made me?                          A. – God made me.
Q. – Who is God?                              A. – God is the Supreme Being who created all things.
Q. – Why did God make me?           A. – God created me to worship and praise Him forever.

During those years my selfish ways, my anger, my habits, my unclean thoughts plagued me; and in desperation I agreed to go on a Marriage Encounter weekend designed to enrich our marriage, which desperately needed enrichment.  After that I became a curious seeker of the God I had known as a child. 

I enjoyed the fellowship in our monthly meetings with couples like Bill and Mary, who I especially admired and respected.  They had something I wanted!  And they frequently referred to their “Cursillo” weekend experience.  I so desperately wanted to experience that event that I bypassed the invitation process and had Bill sponsor me even though they were to be on vacation that week-end.

Friends of Bill & Mary gave me an 80 mile ride on a Thursday evening for my three day retreat.  As I got out of the car I asked, “Aren’t you coming in?”  They answered, “No, we were just giving you a ride” and they drove off.  That act of sacrificial love was just the beginning of a week-end of loving experiences.

On the second day Father Tony Tascheta spoke and his presentation and style had me spell-bound.  I kept thinking he missed his calling; he should have been a VP of Sales!  When we started discussing his topic I was in a daze, so the table leader suggested we go to the “Palanca” Chapel.  “Palanca” is Spanish for lever – the power of prayer.  As we walked into the Chapel, I saw Father Tony Tascheta on his knees praying and thanking Jesus for all the words Jesus had given to him for “the men out there.”   Here was the man whose skill I so admired, down on his knees thanking Jesus for those skills! 

My knees gave out and I found myself on my knees, crying crocodile tears and saying almost out loud “Jesus Christ, you are real.  I need to learn more about you.”  At that moment I knew I would never be the same.  The peace in my inner being was unimaginable; my world was now in technicolor.  I no longer had the feelings of desperation resulting from knowing I was a sinner and, most of all, that I had been trying to hide my sins from God, my Creator.

At the closing ceremony of the week-end we entered a big hall and there I saw Bill and Mary; they cut their vacation short just to be there for me.  I fell apart!  As part of the closing ceremony we were asked to tell what the week-end meant to each of us.  Eventually I went to the podium, froze, fell apart and finally blurted out “I talked to Jesus!”  That’s all I could say; it wasn’t much of a speech but it meant volumes.  I was never so choked up in my life.

Very late Sunday night after Bill and Mary gave me a ride home, I immediately woke my wife and said, “Peggy, guess what happened to me this week-end?”   She said, “What?”   I told her, “I talked to Jesus.”  
She said, “Do you mean you are born again?”   To that I answered “I don’t know what you call it.  All I know is that I talked to Jesus.  And I want you and all our kids to experience what I experienced.”  
She replied, “Too late Joe; we already have.  We’ve all been praying for you.”  …She could have added “…for the last 10 years!”

Points to ponder

That was in August 1977 when I was 39 years old. 
So I know how blind a man, a husband and a sinner can be. 
So blind that I didn’t even understand why Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3
“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

Who is praying for you to know Jesus as your Lord?
Don’t underestimate the power of prayer.

Would your testimony encourage someone to seek Jesus as their Lord?
Please share your testimony with me, please!

♫   I love to tell the story Of unseen things above; Of Jesus and his glory, Of Jesus and his love…  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                           April 3, 2018

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Where are you in your Spiritual walk?   Do you want the peace of knowing your sins are forgiven, your past is forgotten and your future will be a walk with Jesus for the rest of your life here on earth and forever in heaven?  You can use the power of prayer to talk to your Creator and His Son, Jesus Christ.   How to pray?

1. Admit to Him truthfully, “I am a sinner and I need your forgiveness.”
(That is why Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood as a sacrifice for your sins.)

2. Tell Him “Jesus, I want to make you the Lord of my life.  
(That means giving your life to Him, making Him your Lord, Master, King of your life.)

3. Go tell other Christians about your decision so they can celebrate with you.  
(They will help you understand your decision so you can truly “Know Him.”)