My parents got divored when I was 8 years old. My mother remarried a good man and we started going to church. I joined the church and was baptized at 9 yrs old. We moved across town and quit going to church when I was in High School. I got married and had a daughter while also working outside the home. My husband and I never got involved in church; I was not happy in our marriage and we divorced. I then met a man who asked me to go into business with him. We became friends and fell in love. We had a great business together, good relations with his daughter and mine, traveled often, had nice cars and were enjoying the “good life”, but I knew there was more… something was missing….
My mother had started going to FBNS while my step dad was attending church with his elderly father. My Mother asked us to visit FBNS with her. She really enjoyed going there and I could see the difference it was making in her life. I started visiting with her and began to hear about God’s love and what He did for me through Jesus Christ. I saw how I had made wrong choices in my life while I had been in control. I saw my sin for what it was and what it cost God’s Son, Jesus. I saw that God had a plan and a purpose for my life. I confessed my sin and asked Jesus to come into my life, forgive my sins and be my Lord and Savior, and I wanted to live the rest of my life for Him. I married my business partner and he also made Jesus his Lord.
My husband and I sought to teach and lead our daughters to Jesus. We began to serve Him in His church. I found what I had been searching for, meaning and purpose for this life. God has been faithful in teaching and guiding me through His Word and Church family. There have been challenges in my life since with family, Â business and finances; but God is faithful and I know He is working in all situations for good and for His glory. I seek to serve Him, and I want my life to make a difference for Him.
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I was raised by both of my parents, and we would go to church every Christmas and Easter and maybe a few times in between. I was raised Methodist and believed in God and knew that Jesus had died on the Cross and rose 3 days later. We celebrated Advent every Christmas and recited the Lord’s Prayer every Church Service. As a teenager I remember going to a youth event with my best friend at her church and hearing that I needed to be saved and needed to ask Jesus in my heart. I also remember not wanting to do that because I thought being a Christian wasn’t fun and it was boring. So…I rejected God. I had chosen a party lifestyle and experimented with things I have later regretted. The road I went down led me to my adult life. I got married at 19, and we continued to party until God got my attention at age 24 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I went through 5 surgeries in one year. During this time my faith in God grew but once I got well and was healed of cancer I continued to live a life without God.
But God had a plan for me because when I was pregnant with my 2nd child He moved us right beside a Baptist preacher. He and his wife started inviting us to their church. We did start visiting and I realized that if I were to die I wouldn’t go to Heaven because the only way to get to Heaven is by asking Jesus to come into my heart and live for Him, and I had never done that. I heard of God’s forgiveness and love and I knew that I needed a Savior! I probably said the sinner’s prayer 3 or 4 times just to make sure I was saved. I remember asking God to show me who Jesus is because I didn’t know Him. I only knew of Him. I realized that if I had died when I had cancer I would not have gone to Heaven. Even though I had faith in God and thought I would have - I didn’t know Jesus. My life started changing and God changed my desires. I had a very strong desire to study God’s word and pray. But…as I mentioned a life without Jesus and bad choices has consequences.
I went through a divorce 12 years later due my husband’s addictions. This was the hardest thing that I had ever been through…the emotional pain was much harder than even the physical pain I had experienced from cancer. But God gave me many promises and was so very faithful to me and carried me through this. And He has used my pain and tears to minister to many others. God gave me a verse many years ago - Jer. 29:11: “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. ” He just wants us to seek Him first with all of our heart! I am now married again to a wonderful, godly, humble, selfless man. I have great kids and loving godly friends. My life is full of joy and peace! God is faithfuil!! Do YOU trust Him? I do!!!
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I was born in Spartanburg. I am the oldest of 2 children. My mother took me to church when I was young and I made a profession of faith at the age of six. As a teenager, I never felt I was good enough. I had very low self esteem. I often compensated by trying to please, over achieving and being a perfectionsit. In college, I would party too much and then feel guilty the next day. My life was an emotional roller coaster most of the time.
For Christmas 1992, my sister gave me a Rainbow Bible. On New Year’s Eve, I was alone in my apartment thinking about how messed up my life was and I picked up that Bible. I started to read. Now, I knew that Jesus had died on the cross to save me from my sins. I know that He rose again on the third day so that I could live with Him forever. But for the first time I believed that even though I didn’t deserve that gift, it was mine. Not because of anything I had achieved or done, but because God loved me. My knees hit the floor and I praised God for His love and really accepted His gift.
Since that moment my life has changed. I still made dumb choices, but God is so faithful. When I turned back to Him, He was right there and still loved me. I have had to deal with the consequences of my poor decisions. But the Lord has taught me that when I turn to Him, He is always there and can even take the consequences and turn them into blessings. Now, I am single again with a beautiful son and God loves me ALL the time  just as I am. I don’t have to be perfect, I just have to be faithful.
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Although I was baptized at 9, I didn’t understand what it meant to be saved. I only remember walking down the isle because I was supposed to. As I grew into my late teens I began to live two very different lives. I had my church life where everyone thought I was a good person and I had my other life where I thought I could do whatever I wanted and still be OK. I looked for fulfillment in friends and sports and did not think there was anything wrong with going to nightclubs and drinking. When I would get home and lay in my bed, wondering how I got there, it never occurred to me that God had a plan for my life.
One night at a party, I passed out and woke up in a very bad place. It was then I realized that the double life I had been living was sinful. I realized that I needed God to help me turn away from the sinful life I had been living. I asked Jesus to come into my heart and immediately I felt like a great weight had been lifted off of me. I finally understood what my parents had been trying to teach me, that Jesus was God’s Son who came to earth to live a sinless life and die on a cross for me, and so believing, I can have eternal life after death and a rewarding life while on earth.
After I gave my heart to Jesus I was able to stop living that double life. God has blessed me with a beautiful family, a good job and many opportunities to serve Him through worship, teaching, coaching and missions. God even gave me the courage to go through Believers Baptism. I still struggle with sin but now I find my fulfillment in Him and my family and I no longer have to hide a different life.
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At 8 years of age Jesus came to me in a dream. He was a man in a white robe. All I can remember is that this man was loving and compassionate. Confused, I told my Mother about it and we talked with our minister.  He prayed with me. I asked Jesus to come into my heart, and I was baptized.  My childhood was unhappy.  Alcohol impacted us greatly.  My parents argued alot. We attended church as a family only for short intervals. My sister & I often went with our grandparents to church. As teens we went with our friends.  I was a backslider. I wanted a way out. Pregnant & married at 16, a mother at 17, my life took a different path.Â
Sin continued to affect me. I wanted to do the right thing.  I went to church.  I believed in the Gospel. My marriage ended after 20 years by my choice. Sex, alcohol, & drugs were the culprits.  I had an 8 year relationship which was emotionally & physically abusive. I got out, sought counseling, and began attending a small church where my aunt and uncle served.  During this time I reached a point where I knew I had to do things God’s way, and I prayed for Jesus to help me. He had been in my heart. I had chosen to ignore Him.  Through my counseling, family, friends, church and precious pastor I was able to heal and by God’s grace I was forgiven.Â
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Praise God He is the God of second chances.  I am not perfect, just forgiven.  I am the happiest I have ever been in my life.  I have a wonderful relationship & a new grandson which I truly prayed for.  I have found a great church family here at FBNS.  Many doors have opened for me especially through my nursing career for me to share and pray with others.  I know God answers prayer because He’s answered many of mine, and I don’t know where I would be today if I didn’t have my faith.
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