Earth Day!

A couple months ago, Joel's brother made a comment about how Earth Day is one of those holidays that no one really has the date memorized for.  I quickly spoke up.  "Oh yes, I do!  It's April 22nd!"  He was impressed by my strange knowledge.  I don't have it memorized because I love the earth...although I do!  I was looking at pictures of it today on the internet, and I was truly amazed!   But the real reason I have the date of Earth Day memorized is because it happens to be the same day that I became a christian.  April 22, 1991.  To remember, I always say, "Save the Earth, and Save Jennifer!"  But all joking aside, I am so incredibly filled with thanks today.  I have been following Christ for 20 years.  20 years!!!  I remember the day that my sister Jessica led me to the Lord.  We were in our bedroom at our camp house in Dayton.  I remember standing beside our bed and listening to Jessica explain everything to me.  I'm not sure what sparked the conversation, and I don't remember much of it, but I sure am thankful for it!  Either Jessica or I (not sure) wrote the date in the front of my Bible.  I was 5...about to turn 6.  2 days ago, at school, I was playing Easter Bingo with some of my 4th grade ESL students.  It had all kinds of pictures and words related to Easter on the bingo card....rabbit, carrot, egg, dress, a cross, etc.  The picture of the cross started a conversation about the real reason we celebrate Easter.  I explained the whole story to him.  He had never heard ANY of it.  It was all brand new, and he was having a hard time understanding.  What is sin?  Why would He do that?  How do you get to heaven?  He seemed interested, concerned, curious.  I know I'm not really supposed to be talking about Jesus at school, but he was asking the questions.  I did my best to explain, but I'm afraid it just left him confused.  This incident left me heart broken, and it made me realize how thankful I should be! 

I am thankful for my parents.
I am thankful for the way I was raised.
I am thankful for my sisters.
I am thankful for Cumblerand Springs Bible camp.
I am thankful for the churches I was raised in.
I am thankful for the Bible.
I am thankful for my college friends.
I am thankful for my whole college experience.
I am thankful for being challenged.
I am thankful for my husband.

All of these people and things have guided me and drawn me closer to my Savior!
I am so thankful!

One more thing!  Today is not only Earth Day and the day of my salvation.  Much more importantly, it is Good Friday!  How neat that this year I can celebrate the day I gave my life to the Lord on the day I celebrate Him giving his life for me!

I was trying to think of a verse to put here, but this song just kept popping into my head.  It was one of the songs we sang at our wedding.
Praise to the Lord!  He is my salvation!!!

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.