Alter Call

photo from Flickr

Last night I was at a concert where our home church was the message and entertainment. One of our pastors was giving his testimony. I turned around to see the sound booth above and a projector giving the order of service.

The projection read thank you and alter call.

I turned again. Alter call? Isn't it altar call?

Or is it alter call?

Listening to the testimony I realized perhaps the correct spelling is altar, but the application is alter. I know when I step forward with that "burn in my belly" it's because I know God has something for me. It's going to transform me into a closer image of Him. It might not be that moment or that week, but it will happen.

And it will be altering.

Think about the next altar call you experience. Do you go forward? Do you respond in your seat? Do you respond at all? If you do, do you go forward in faith your life will change?

Do you ever respond to an alter call?



Julie Arduini is a wife, mom and surrendering writer. Her personal blog, The Surrendered Scribe, shows her writing resume. A graduate of the Christian Writers Guild, she is also a columnist with Take Root and Write. She has a tentative story to contribute to the Jeanette Littleton book, GodSightings. Her verse for 2009 is Deuteronomy 11:11-12. She's a new columnist with the daily online newspaper, The Cypress Times.

Always

Well, it’s been over a week since I’ve entered the gate.

Please forgive my absence.

As a wife, mother, and a support to many families of children with special needs, I have been literally exhausted.

Thank you for your patience.

God has been showing me many signs and signals of what’s ahead in my journey here on earth. I have been in prayer and have felt His presence more than ever recently—because I’m finally allowing myself to receive—completely receive His promises.

He really is who He says He is.

He really is here with me always.

And He is with you always.

Always.

The facts never cease to amaze me.

He has shown me His goodness and mercy over and over again, and I often hear Him telling me, “How much more do I have to show you? What do you need from me to completely receive my love—totally and completely?”

Over the next few weeks I would like to take you on my journey that the Lord has been guiding.

Through His love and His promises, He has saved me through my circumstances.

At times it may get lengthy, but hang in there with me—because just as He has saved me He can save you.

My prayer is that you will find at least one word of encouragement from my testimony.

I will pray that the Lord will guide the exact sets of eyes that were meant to read my gate entries.

I look forward to sharing the facts surrounding my salvation, and how God’s grace continues to overwhelm me…

Maria and her family reside in NE Ohio. She and her husband are the parents of two. Their daughter is a person with hemipelegic cerebral palsy. Because of her experiences, Maria provides parent-to-parent support for families involved in her local early intervention program. Her gift for writing has come directly from the Lord since her daughter’s diagnosis. She writes a monthly column entitled, “Special Parents, Special Kids” for the Mahoning Valley Parent magazine in Ohio; and has expanded into Parent magazines in parts of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. She is also a contributing author at www.mommiesmagazine.com. Maria is very passionate about getting the word out to special parents that they are not alone in their journey of raising their special child; and that they were chosen by God to parent their children. Maria welcomes comments and communication.