I grew up under some difficult circumstances.It was fun when I was small but as I got older things got scarey. My parents started having marital problems and divorced when I was in 5th grade or maybe younger. Mom kept things together by working a lot, and my brother and sisters and I took advantage of that. By the time I was 15 I got into drugs, alcohol and skipping school. I didn’t know how to speak up for myself. so I followed the crowd.I was the skinny boyish girl with two younger sisters who were always called cute.So I did whatever to get attention. I thought I had to have a boyfriend and was mistreated by them. By age 24 I was living with a guy and got pregnant, so I married him. By age 27 I knew I wanted a change - what it was I didn’t know. I wanted to keep my family together and teach my children the right way to go.
I was home one night with just my children and me - my husband was out with his friends. I put the children to bed, went to my bedroom and started watching t.v. I saw Billy Graham on, so I watched. I don’t remember every word, but that night my life was changed.What he talked about helped me to understand that I do things that are wrong according to God. I’m a sinner. I understood that Jesus died for my sins,was buried,but came back to life. I understood that I had to admit that I’m a sinner, had to ask God to forgive me and believe Jesus died for me. I had to ask Him into my heart, my life.
It was that simple.I prayed, believed and my life was changed.Istill have struggles but because I have faith in Jesus, I have hope and direction. I have been able to help my children understand Gods’ love. Drugs and alcohol are not a part of my life or my husband’s. My family is together. When I find myself comparing to others I know that all I have to do is LIVE FOR GOD. God is my hope- power-strength-direction-peace. He will and wants to change your life.
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I, like most Christians, grew up in a Christian home. My family consisted of my grandparents, my sister, and myself. We were there practically every time the doors were open, Sunday mornings and nights and on Wednesdays. I loved going to church. As a small child, I loved to learn about Jesus, but I knew there was still something missing, an emptiness that seemed like it couldn’t be filled. While growing up, I had to learn a lot of hard lessons. My father was killed before I was born and my mom didn’t want my sister or myself. For me, at times, I felt as if no one really wanted me. At the time, I didn’t know that God had done all this for a reason.
I realized my need for something more when I was in the first grade. I was six years old. It was during the AWANA program at Westgate Baptist Church that I realized that there was something missing. That night they had talked about what Heaven and Hell were like. I knew I didn’t want to go to the place called Hell so when they gave the invitation, another girl and myself raised our hands. Mrs. Johnson took us to another room and shared with us how we can know for sure we that we would be in Heaven with God forever when we die. She told us that Jesus came to this earth to die for our sins. That I was on His mind the entire time. And then she explained that He did not stay dead. He rose in three days and is as alive as you or me. That night, I accepted Christ in my heart and He now and forever will live in me.
My life has not been perfect by any means. When I was a teenager, I became rebellious and bitter. I blamed God for the things that were happening to me. I found out that my father was killed by a drunk driver, and then I found out the truth about my mom. I thought to myself, “Why would God allow this to happen to me?” I was not exactly depressed, but I think I came pretty close to it. It took one preacher in chapel, during my junior of highshool to really catch my attention. I was living a double life. I was living one way at school and one way at home. I knew that this was not the way God wanted me to live. He wanted all of me, not just part. That day, I dedicated my life to God and since that time, I haven’t been happier. I’ve been on three mission trips (which include New Hampshire and Nicaragua), I attend a wonderful church, I have the best friends anyone could ever ask for who encourage me all the time, and so much more. God has really blessed me to be in the position I am in. He’s given me my talents and abilities to glorify Him and that’s all I want to do. No more do I think that I’m alone. Knowing that God is on my side makes living worth-while. No longer will I ever have to walk the road or fight my battles alone.
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As a youngster we had many trials in our family. My younger brother was born with a rare form of eye cancer. He was always called the miracle baby because out of the 12 cases 9 died, 2 were blind and he survived with his sight. My older brother was always in trouble and eventually committed suicide while in prison. I was taken to church every Sunday by my Christian mother. My father refused to go and still does to this day.
I accepted Christ when I was nine years old. It was at a mission church from Kempsville Meadows Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, Va. I remember standing in the worship service during the invitation and the next thing I remember I was up with the pastor telling him I was a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe I was saved at this time but it was more head knowledge than heart knowledge.
I continued being faithful until I reached age 15. Then I started to rebel against everything including God. God protected me during those years for a reason even though I did STUPID things. I became a very hard and calloused person, not loving anything or anybody including myself. I finished school, got married, had a child and was on a fast career track. This was when God started working, although I was not aware of it at the time. My wife and I were headed for a separation when a job offer came that was not in the fast track. We moved to Enoree SC from Raleigh NC. We started back to church and I made the statement that I would go to preaching but not all that other stuff! If we had not made this move, I am sure we would have been divorced. This was the hand of God working in my life. The greatest miracle occurred later however. God started to work on my heart and changed it from cold and hard to one filled with love. This was a dramatic night and day difference. I began to have a real relationship with Jesus based on my heart condition. I began to understand why God saved and protected me all that time I was rebelling; it was to show and tell others about Jesus. I want everyone to have what I have in Jesus.
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I grew up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. My mother and father divorced when I was in 4th grade and was raised by my father. As a child and young adult, I was very independent, selfish and discourteous. As I started college, my independence and desire to climb the corporate ladder became stronger. I did not have any desire to marry, because I felt that I could live my life alone and take care of myself. Living a lifestyle in the nightlife as a party girl didn’t make my life any easier.
During my sophomore year at Columbia College, I was invited to Campus Crusade for Christ at USC. I felt that I should become a Christian one day, but I had a misconception of the Christian lifestyle viewing Christianity as a form of Amish living. When I visited Campus Crusade, I realized that Christians were normal….they looked, dressed and acted like regular people. For several months, seeds were being planted into my life. During October 1994, when I was home with my father for Fall Break, I went to church with him at Clinton First Pentecostal Church in Clinton, SC. During the altar call, I invited Jesus Christ into my life. It was at that time that I realized that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins, buried and was raised three days later. Immediately, I was convicted of sin and my lifestyle began to change. After finding a church home, I was baptized January 1999 at Northside Baptist Church in Columbia, SC.
Today, as a Christian, my life is altered. I have compassion for other’s and a desire to share God’s love with as many as I can through ministry. There are many decisions that I have made in the past 13 years that were not ‘my’ decisions but God’s decisions, and I have seen His faithfulness by obeying Him. Becoming a stay-at-home mom (6 years ago), moving to Spartanburg (4 years ago) and the complicated health of our oldest child has allowed me to see the power of God, power of prayer and power of the Holy Spirit. The best gift I have ever received is His salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Though life isn’t easy, even as a Christian, I have peace with Him because of my submission (Job 22:21).
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I am so fortunate to have been raised in a Christian home. My mom and Dad loved the Lord and were very active in every arm of our Church. I tell my friends, “I had a drug problem at an early age” because I was drug to church on Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night and every other night if something was going on. When I was a young teenager, we visited a revival service. The evangelist would say, “You have to see yourself lost before you can be saved”. What did he mean? That confused me. But as the week went along, I understood. It didn’t matter how many activities I attended, or how many times I went to church, I saw myself lost because I had sin in my life. Right then, I asked Jesus to come into my heart and save my soul; I am so grateful that I did! I have been a Christian for a long time and one of my favorite songs is, “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.” I have found this to be so true. Even though I have had many crosses to bear, the Lord has been with me through it all. I praise Him for His love and forgiveness and my greatest desire is to hear Him say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” What a glorious day!
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