My Testimony

I, as many others say, can look back on my life and see where God has had His hand on me from day one, literally. My mother once told me that when she found out I was coming that her Aunt advised her to abort me. God didn't let that happen. I am the youngest of 5, all girls. No, dad never had a chance. Back to the story. I almost died at birth. My umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck, twice. Thankfully God was guiding the doctors hand and he was able to unwrap it from my neck and I came into this world on January 9, 1974. When I was 2, my family went to a local mall for an RV show. Well, as we were touring the campers noone knew the back door was unlocked. I soon found out. Face first, at 2, onto the blacktop parking lot. God had His hand on me that day. The only thing that came of it was that for the next 11 years I had many many nose bleeds. And really they helped me later in my life, 2 of our kids get them alot, so it is helpful to them that mom has had experience with it.
I was not raised in church. We seldom went. I could count on one hand the number of times we went to church during my childhood. Our Sundays were spent sleeping in & reading the goodie papers. We celebrated all the Christian holidays, Christmas & Easter, we called ourselves Christians. Well, my dad always would tell us that we were Protestant. I never knew what that meant. I thought it was like Methodist, or Lutheran. I know what it means now. My dad had some knowledge of the Bible. Not the Word itself, but why it was called the King James Version, stuff like that. As I said, we said we were Christians. I have come to find there are so many that use that word. Yes, use it. They assume they are Christian because they are not Jewish.
Fast forward a few years. At the age of 15 I met a guy. He was older & had a car. Two qualities that were very important when you were 15, right? I ended up pregnant, & miscarried. Now you would think I would learn from this, but OH no, not me. I got pregnant again. This time I told the guy to take a hike. You know what, he did. So, at the age of 17 I had my first child, a boy. OK, OK I'm up. I'm Up!!!! When reality hits, it hits hard.Around that time, I started feeling a tug. I didn't know why or from where. I only knew I wanted to pray.
Another 2 years went by & I met this other guy. I started dating a friend of his. Once again, older & had a car. Boy, do I have a thick skull.... During this time the other guy went to his parents & told them that he had met the woman he was going to marry. He would constantly tease his friend that he was going to steal me away. Funny thing, he did. We became really good friends, then much more. Now, when we met he was a pot-head. After I broke off the relationship with the one guy, he was there. He asked me to go out with him to a movie. I said yes. From that day he never touched the stuff again. We started dating in August, he asked me to marry him in October, & we were married in December. WE weren't playing around. It has been 12 years, & everyday our love grows. By the way, from the first day my son has called my husband daddy. And he has never referred to him by anything other than his son.
Throughout our marriage we didn't go to church. Even though he was raised in church. After a few years his parents started taking our kids to church with them. Yes, they used my own children against me. Then our kids started asking us why we didn't go to church. Well, instead of having to answer, we started going too. Now, I was one who felt that yes, I believe in God, I know Jesus died for my sins, isn't that enough? No, it's not. I found that out. But, I didn't really get the whole church, Christian walk, thing. I didn't get what the big deal was. I had alot of reservations about church, this one inpaticular. It was what I referred to as "tent revival, bring out the snakes, Bible beaters, kind of church." And quite honestly it bothered me. I always felt & would emphatically state, that I was too smart for all this. I eventually came around.
During this time my husband was an over the road truck driver. Now he was really getting into this church thing. It scared me because I felt like he was going to not want to be with me anymore. I explained to him that I was afraid that we were going in different directions. Him to God, & me nowhere. He reassured me that he wasn't going anywhere without me. He helped me see where I was going, to Christ. It didn't happen over night, but it did happen.
Here is the story of how I came to Christ. One night (Friday the 13th) we went to bed & I was awakened by a horrible, hideous sound. My husband was growling, yes growling. He had gone to sleep angry & that was just the opportunity for the enemy to get in & try to get him back. Well, I jumped out of bed, called my in-laws & told them that there was something wrong with Gary. They told me to dial 911. After asking me what I thought it was. This is my FIL. He knew, he just wanted me to say it. I hate it when he does that. Anyway, the paramedics came, my FIL comes & Gary is fine. Up & talking like nothing happened. Then the paramedics leave, & it returns. After a while of nothing much happening, my MIL comes over. She takes one look at her son & starts praying, rebuking, & the next thing you know, it is gone. Gary is filled with the Holy Spirit, & I am a believer. No questions asked. I look back now & think of what it took for me to come to Christ. But, I have learned that nothing happens that God hasn't given His OK on. So, I have to believe that He knew what it would take for me to come to Him. That is what is so awesome about Him.
Since then we have been faithful attenders of church. OH, this was February 14, 2004 that I was born again. We have had our good times & our not so good one's. But through it all God is good. He has helped us to lean on Him by taking some things away. He has taught us humility by needing to ask for help. He has prospered us by giving my husband a great job, and the ability to buy our first home together. We continue through our test & trials, and we know He is there. They are all for our good. Our Pastor has a saying, "God is more concerned about you character than your comfort." It is so true. That is why we go through what we do. I am glad for every one. It means He is shaping & molding me to be prepared to do His work. To be His spotless, blameless bride, to be able & ready to spread His message. I can't help anyone if I don't go through things. Then one day I realized that He only is perfecting me. Why would He want me perfected if He didn't love me? He does, & I Him.