I`ve been away from my computer for almost a week, I`m feeling the need to chat and share. Guess, I really need the laptop that my husband just ordered! A year ago, if someone had told me that I would be in need of a laptop to write a blog, I would have laughed in their face! I guess God had a different plan!
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man`s heart, but it the Lord`s purpose that prevail.
Over the weekend I helped my friend, Lisa conduct a training seminar for evangelism, she asked if I would be willing to share my testimony for training purposes. What is a testimony?
Deuteronomy 8:2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart.
Where have I walked, how did I come into a personal relationship with God, and what is the difference since developing that relationship?
I believe with all of my heart, not just my head....but my HEART that Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of my sins, and that someday I will live eternally in heaven.
Coming to faith for many is a slow natural process; they were born into a family of believers; that was not the case for me. My mom and dad did not bring their five children up in the church. However, thanks to friends and neighbors, I did occasionally attend church. I know now, that there were seeds of faith planted during those childhood years.
My parents were good honest, hardworking people, we knew about God but had no intimacy or personal relationship with Him. God desires an up close personal relationship. Genesis 2:7 "The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." If God breathed life into our nostrils, I believe that He wants an in your face relationship!
It wasn`t until later in my life that I FINALLY heard and BELIEVED how much GOD loved ME. I truly opened my heart to receive His grace; allowing the seeds of my childhood to take root and blossom.
For nearly 50 years I lived, believing that I was in total control of MY life. I was a good loving, hardworking person with many friends. But the one friend that I didn`t have was Jesus. I had no idea what it felt like to be loved unconditionally by a loving, forgiving God. I JUST DIDN`T KNOW!
For years, I carried guilt and shame because of poor choices and decisions. Often weighed down, stumbling through life, nurturing an addiction to alcohol to pacify SOMETHING that was missing in my life!
I was married to a wonderful husband, had great step-children, grandchildren, and ran a successful business, we had a good life. Still there was SOMETHING missing and I had no clue what it was!
My alcoholism camouflaged the pain and empty feelings of my soul. I could put on the happy face, induced by alcohol and fool the world....life was great! Or was I merely hiding that GOD-SHAPED hole in my HEART?
Along with aging comes the wealth of personal history. We are blessed by events of our lives, the good and the bad. God uses our tests, trails and struggles to teach, nurture and instruct; directing our path of desire for JESUS!
I must admit that in my ignorance of His love; I required several good whacks in the head with His divine baseball bat before the scales were finally removed from my eyes. Eventually allowing my heart and soul to be healed by His unconditional love; HE LOVES ME JUST THE WAY THAT I AM!
On my hands and knees, I surrender my life to GOD begging Him to remove the burdens that I could no longer carry, I invited and received Jesus into my HEART. GOD heard my prayers!
I`m a working in progress and will be until the day that I die; slowly but surely He is peeling through the layers of my very being, restoring me to the daughter that He has ALWAYS loved and adored. I am the daughter of a KING; I am heir to the throne through Christ Jesus.
Psalms 116:1-6 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the LORD; "Oh LORD, save me!" The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simple hearted; when I was in need, he save me. AMEN
Sounds like, Psalm 116:1-6 is MY testimony, written centuries before my birth! Thank you, God!!!!!!!!!!
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