Reality hits...Heaven paid the price with Calvary's Blood

Merry Christmas everyone! As I have been thinking about it this year I have been overwhelmed that Jesus, God's only begotten Son, came to die for me.

I was teaching at the elementary school two weeks ago about this and I was able to share the gospel VERY clearly. I was telling them of how Jesus came because He loves me, He loves you. I went on to explain...

Imagine... if you were riding your bike on the street. (In our little town, it isn't uncommon) You were having a fun time and you were trying not to hit the bumps in the road. Unknown to you there was a BIG truck coming, it was coming fast. I just happen to be on a walk and I saw that you were in danger. I ran out and pushed you out of the way. But while I was, I tripped on one of those bumps. I was hit and later you saw me in the hospital. I was DYING, but there you were, ALIVE. "What would you tell me?" I asked. "THANK YOU", "I will do anything you want me to do", "I love you"...

Then I DIED. The kids were horrified.

I told them that Jesus DIED for them. I looked at them in the eye and said "Someone died for YOU." But while I was doing this, I got "tinglies" all over. I knew that it was the same for ME! But praise the Lord that MY Saviour is ALIVE. He has victory over DEATH. Where was my reverence, my thankfulness? Why do I complain? Why?

I told them how we could have our sins FORGIVEN. How we can receive God's GIFT of salvation. How we can know FOR SURE if we are going to heaven.

"So once your saved and then you sin again, can you still go to heaven?" I asked. "No" was the loud reply. But HALLELUJAH, that isn't the truth. God has covered my sin and I am FORGIVEN. I have ETERNAL life.

As I taught in such a simple SIMPLE way so they could understand, I was hit with the GREATNESS of God's love.

And it was all because He came to earth as a baby.

Ellie says please!

I was wondering....

since I like to write better than type, could you be so kind as to email me

your house address?

I have no clever title, the one I had was too long.

It's true. I had a clever title in mind, and then I realized that it was too long. Anyways, kids, I thought I might share some awesome news from the Hester fambily! For an introduction, I shall give you my original "clever" title.

"I thought, 'I think I just met my future husband,' and then I forgot about him the next week."

My sister said that. About her future husband. About three years ago. Yes, friends, my sister's engaged!! It took them long enough....

Rebekah and Ben had been courting for about three years, though their relationship has been called off two or three times (I think it's more two, then three). It's kind of ridonculous, and really, they need to write a book - it'll be a best seller.

I have no smooth transition line...so, I'll just give you the engagement story: They were studying at Ben's house (the go to college together), when he asked if she wanted to go and have dinner, and then asked if she preferred fast food, or a sit down restaurant.

Rebekah said sit down restaurant, so Ben took her to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, a very expensive restaurant in Louisville, all the while teasing her into thinking it was her idea to go to such an expensive place. Afterwards, they went to a park behind our Baptist Hospital East.

Ben's father died years earlier, when Ben was just a kid, and, as they were walking (this stopping and walking about apparently wasn't unusual for them), he told her that this was where he spent a lot of time while his dad was sick. Then, he got down on one knee, and asked.

At this, Rebekah gaped/sneered (it really depends on how you look at it, and it's hard to explain), and Ben told us later that if he didn't know she'd say yes, he would've had a heart attack.

Um. The End.

Hooray for awkward transitions and endings!!

Also, I think about you guys every day. I miss everyone. :)

-Joanna