Please let me share the wonderful day that Heaven Came Down for me! It was 24 years ago today, on July 7, 1985. I was 27 years old…a young minister’s wife and stay-at-home-mother to two little boys who were not quite one year old, and not quite four years old, and the absolute joys of my heart. Here is my story… It was a Sunday morning and our routine was the same. As was his custom, my early-bird husband was already long gone to the church, and I was home getting myself and my two little fellas ready for church. 
Another “sameness” to the routine was the nagging doubt that had filled my heart for quite some time. I knew deep inside that something was just not right. My heart was heavy and unsettled. I was lacking peace…but I had lots of pride. After years of being a church member and A.G.G. (Always Good Girl), the realization that I was trusting my goodness and not His grace were ever before me. For you see – I had never seen myself as lost. To be found you must first be lost. I was a card-carrying, rule-following, obedient hypocrite. But on that hot summer day of July 7th as the Sunday morning service was nearing an end, I could take it no more! The plagues of doubt were destroying me…but the Holy Spirit of God reached down that morning and brought the deliverance I was desperate for. I quickly slipped out of the choir and made my way to the front of the church. I took the Pastor by the hand. I told him that I had been going through the motions – and that I had never truly accepted the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross as payment for my sins. I had lots of “cranial” knowledge but no “cardio” knowledge. My head was full – my heart was empty! The surprised Pastor told me to have a seat on the pew and fill out a card to “join the church!” I gently told him that was what had gotten me off track years before…and this time I wasn’t joining the church, I was joining with Jesus! I turned aside and knelt down at the altar of that precious church and for the first time in my life realized my lost soul needed a Savior – a Redeemer – not a religious experience. I remember praying and asking Jesus to forgive me and come into my heart. My heavy heart was lightened, and the pride in “what would the church members say when they discovered the Music & Youth Pastor’s wife wasn’t even a Christian?” would worry me no more! Heaven came down and glory filled my soul! There’s an old hymn of the same title by J.W. Peterson that I absolutely love. Go here Heaven Came Down to listen to the festive melody that reminds me of a carousel at the fair!
1. Oh what a wonderful, wonderful day, day I will never forget.
After I’d wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender, compassionate friend, He met the need of my heart. Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart.
Chorus: Heaven came down and glory filled my soul! When at the cross the Savior made me whole. My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day. Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!
2. Born of the Spirit with life from above into God’s family divine.
Justified fully thru Calvary’s love, O what a standing is mine!
And the transaction so quickly was made, when as a sinner I came.
Took of the offer, of grace He did proffer,
He saved me, O praise His dear name!
3. Now I’ve a hope that will surely endure after the passing of time.
I have a future in heaven for sure there in those mansions sublime.
And it’s because of that wonderful day, when at the cross I believed.
Riches eternal and blessings supernal, from His precious hand I received.
So on this my Spiritual Birthday, I wanted to share my joy with you. The joy of knowing Jesus and the blessed assurance that it isn’t about what I do – but about what He did! It isn’t about my works, but the wondrous exchange of His death for my life! Born on November 16…Born Again on July 7! (Pastor’s wives make such better church members when they get saved!) 🙂
Because He Lives,
Hi Georgia Jan! I’m a “siesta” too… fairly new to the blog, but your reply about your “perfume ministry” captured my attention– so neat!! :)– and I’m so excited that I was able to come over to your blog and read about the day Heaven Came Down in your life! What wonderful encouragement to read about on this day! Many blessings to you!
A Sister (and Siesta) in Christ,
Angela
Was reading your “sweet” advice to Melissa on perfume an decided to pop over and check out your blog. It’s amazing how similiar our salvation testimonies are! I too had been raised in church and was a “good girl”….the church pianist and wife of a deacon….but as lost as I could be. I think I was under conviction for over a year! Finally one night while my husband was working the midnight shift, I fell out of bed and onto my knees and finally “gave up” and let God do the work that I had tried to do myself for so long. Happy Day! Happy Day! When Jesus washed, my sins away!
May God bless you!
Marilyn….in Mississippi
That took a lot of courage, Jan! I’m sure you never regretted that one step you took. That’s the most important thing about doing something courageous, taking that first step. I’ll bet you floated down to that altar!
I love you, siesta.
Ms Jan…I love hearing this and I thank you for sharing your story. I absolutely LOVE that song!! I miss singing it…and all the old hymns really. I have more hymn compliation cds than anything else in my collection. Just love ’em! And I love you! I’m so grateful to have had the chance to get to know you and am so glad to call you friend…and to have actually met you in real life!! Lol!
Thanks again for sharing and for being your awesome, sweet self!
Love you!
Nikki
I am weeping happy tears reading about you “joining with Jesus” and remembering how He rescued me too. Your story is so sweet. And so real.
The tune “Heaven Came Down” will be stuck in my head all day long. What awesome lyrics!! Thank you.
Nancy
What a beautiful story! I am SO thrilled I checked in today! You have blessed me as always! : )
My Mom has a similar story a Preachers WIfe… but she had no clue!
I was a PK and had no clue till I was 30! I am so thankful He comes for us!
I hope one day we can sit down somewhere in Georgia and share stories heart to heart in person… I would love that!
Hope you have a blessed evening Georgia Jan! Thank you for sharing your heart!
Emmy : )
How wonderful! No matter who we are, who we are married to, what we do, etc, we ALL need to have a landmark experience with Christ.
I remember mine very well. I was only 6 yrs. old, but I saw myself that day as the biggest sinner ever! It was in VBS and my Mom told the story of Lucifer’s fall (not a normal salvation message). She had “practiced” the story on me all week and I knew it well. That Friday afternoon at VBS the Holy Sprit did His job and drew me to Christ. There were about 5 or 6 of us who accepted Christ as our personal Savior that day!
I teach the young adult Sunday School class (young married couples). We are studying the “History of Christianity”, and one Sunday morning I asked each one of them if they remember the moment they accepted Christ. I was disappointed to have a few say that there wasn’t any particular memory, but they had always been in church . . . . Oh, how they are missing out!
I am so glad that God gave you the strength you needed to bravely walk down to the front, accept Christ as Lord the of your life and begin a relationship with Him. Relgion and relationship are not the same. I don’t believe your Pastor really got it that day. Joining the church no more makes us a Christian that sitting in the garage makes us a car.
Thank your for sharing your story!
Blessings,
Sherry
Sang the whole song with tears in my eyes…thankful when Heaven came down and glory filled your soul, Jan, and mine. That’s what matters a whole hill o’beans.
Sister (Siesta) Jan, shew….what a great testimony my Friend. I love ya so and He loves ya even more and your love just pours forth.
Lovingly,
Yolanda