A Place in His Heart for You

Jan. 20, 2014

by Bob Farrell
His Heart

I became a believer and follower of Jesus on March 13, 1971, but it took over a month for me to take my new faith inside a church. Jayne had been regularly attending First Baptist Houston since her conversion on January 17 that same year, and, of course, she wanted me to share in the growth spurt she was experiencing in that place.

I can’t say what my reluctance really was—though it was no doubt fear-based. Except for attending weddings, funerals, and the occasional Christmas/Easter services, church was extremely foreign to me. I suppose I was afraid of getting a bigger dose of Jesus than I had bargained for. I was no full-blown skeptic, by any means—just a guy not knowing what to expect—afraid he might be transformed into some religious fanatic, that rolled around on the floor and babbled in an unknown language.

That would have been totally un-cool.

But eventually I went with Jayne on a Sunday morning. And what I felt inside FBC was mind-blowing and life-changing. That ancient downtown church was being turned upside-down by good ‘ole fashioned revival—in fact, had been for almost a year. The Spirit of God was so prevalent and powerful that the very air crackled with electricity. I was so overwhelmed I had to leave the service 15 minutes in (something not lost on the ones in the congregation who had been praying for me to show up).

But I was back that night and Pastor John Bisagno preached exactly what I needed to hear—an apologetics message (not that I had a clue what that was) and the importance of making a public profession of faith. When he gave an invitation to come forward and do that—I did that. It was extremely self-affirming and solidified my new walk in a way nothing else could have.

And to my relief there was no rolling around and babbling.

Jayne and I started attending FBC regularly; and in every service everybody sang together: “There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place—And I know that It’s the presence of the Lord."

God began to show me His sweet, sweet heart—and it transformed me.

Over the next months following my public profession of faith, God planted His word in us, watered the seeds, and little plants began to spring up in the fertile soil of our souls. Jayne and I were there every time the doors were open, and we began to witness something so profound its lessons have never left us.

The Jesus Movement of the early 70’s was in full-bloom and nowhere more in evidence than at FBC. Hippies, street people, bikers, the homeless—businessmen, housewives, school teachers, musicians, bank execs—all were showing up in great numbers. Drawn inexorably like moths to a flame.

And the flame was God’s presence—present in the lives of his children. I saw the money-ed and the dignified, the deacons and their wives dressed in their finery, on bended knee, embracing and praying and crying with the penitent, who flocked to the altar dressed in their street-rags and biker gear.

TAKE A TRIP ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

OR NEVER LEAVE YOUR HOME

BE THE LEADER OF A THOUSAND KINGS

OR A SERVANT TO THE THRONE

MOST LOVED BY EVERYONE

OR THE LONELIEST GUY IN TOWN

IT’S ALL THE SAME LIFE

WHEN YOU FINALLY COME ON DOWN

COME ON DOWN

What God was showing me was that we’re all the same in His eyes.

AND TAKE ALL THAT YOU ARE

FROM THE HIGHEST OF HIGHS

TO THE LOWEST BLUES

AND TAKE ALL THAT YOU ARE

FROM THE ONES THAT YOU WIN

TO THE ONES YOU LOSE

IF YOU’RE MIGHTY OR SMALL

WHEN YOU STAND OR YOU FALL

WHEN YOU’VE DONE ALL YOU CAN DO

THERE’S STILL A PLACE IN HIS HEART FOR YOU

His heart and His capacity to love is enormous and universal—absolutely no one is excluded nor takes precedence over another.

TAKE A MILLION-DOLLAR SUPERSTAR

OR A BEGGAR FROM THE STREET

AND DO REMEMBER HOW HE HUNG FOR BOTH

FROM HIS WOUNDED HANDS AND FEET

Jesus would have come to earth and died for your sins if you had been the only one who had fallen and needed redemption.

HE HOLDS THE UNIVERSE

AND THE SPARROW INSIDE HIS HAND

AND HE CAN HOLD YOUR LIFE

HE’S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN

YES, HE CAN

Every single life is singularly important to God—and only by surrendering your will to His will can you discover why He esteems you to be of such great worth.

The ground is level at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ.

And each of His creations has a special place—made only for them—inside His Heart.



(lyrics from “A Place in His Heart For You” by Bob Farrell, circa. 1977)