I had the privilege of accepting Jesus as my friend and Savior at the tender age of seven in the First Baptist Church of Dinuba, California. I had been told He would guide and protect me, showing me the path my life should take from then on. Even as a little boy I knew God loved me and I wanted to do what I should do to serve God.
I had attended public school up through freshman year of high school, but, in a miraculous turn of events I ended up at Monterey Bay Academy (MBA) for my sophomore year. I decided to attend on a Sabbath morning, got accepted that afternoon, and was registering for classes the next day. While there I decided to join the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
One of the messages I remember hearing there was from a lady named Ellen White. She wrote, “There is no limit to the usefulness of the one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God” (The Southern Watchman, August 1, 1905).
By February of that sophomore year both of my parents and myself were baptized into the Adventist faith. While I was on home leave, my parents and I were honored to have a guest in our home after church. I was enthralled with Josephine Cunnington Edwards’ mission stories and determined to become a missionary doctor to serve God as best as I could.
After graduation from MBA I enrolled at La Sierra University as a pre-med student. One day, I came into the church sanctuary early for chapel, and while sitting there I felt the distinct impression that God wanted me in pastoral ministry, not the medical profession. I was troubled to say the least, and sought out the men’s dean, Bud Dickerson, to get some advice. He counseled me to follow my heart and so I changed my major to Theology.
God has called me to many things in my life, and I’ve even done some of them. Who knows where I would have been had I allowed God to take charge completely, following God’s will versus chasing after my own? But God is good, and I know God has protected me, even in the bad choices I’ve made.
As I reflect upon today’s prayer (“May I have the courage to follow meaning and significance wherever they lead”), I pray that I might have the courage to lay my will upon the altar and follow God’s will for my life.
Looking at the graphic for today in our book I see a staircase leading to somewhere hidden in the heart. No one knows where that staircase is leading, but I like the idea that it is going up, towards heaven and communion with God.
It is my prayer that we can find meaning and significance in each of our life’s passages.
Don Stacy is a graduate of La Sierra University (1972) and Cal State Dominguez Hills (1980). He has been a tax professional since 1984, specializing in helping taxpayers in trouble and those who would like to pay less taxes.
These reflections stand alone, but if you want to enjoy the prayers from May It Be So that they’re based on, please click here to request a copy of the book.