At age 10 I asked Jesus to come into my heart and was baptized, believing He had saved me and that I would go to heaven when I died. I went to church and professed to be a Christian from that point on. It wasn’t until many years later that I realized there was so much more to being a Christian than I had practiced, or even realized. Life went on through high school and two years of college. I was married, and I worked while my husband was in college for four years, during which time we started our family. Only after our boys were in school did I complete my edcation and start a teaching career.

I found teaching to be more fulfilling than I had ever anti-cipated; but, after a while, I began to realize my husband was not happy with the priority I was giving to my career… going to school early in the mornings and writing lesson plans and grading papers in the evening. I began to be convicted that I was enjoying my students and my teaching to the detriment of my family; but I didn’t know how I could endure the void left without it. However, God was already working in that and I began to feel led to re-commit my life to Him. Soon after that I was invited to participate in my first Bible study: and the lights of understanding began to come on as I spent time in His Word.

As my love for God and His Word grew, so did my desire to seek HIS plan for my life.
(In Jeremiah 29:11, He tells me He knows the plans HE has for me.) He moved me very smoothly from one teaching “career” to another; and I began to teach Sunday School and lead discipleship groups with great joy. The years since that full commit-ment have had their share of joy and trials; but, through them all, God has been “my “Rock and my Fortress, my Deliverer in whom I take refuge.” (Psalm 18:2) He has a fulfilling purpose for every believer which will satisfy the longing in that soul; and I find such joy in Him and in knowing I will live with Him for eternity.