"MY TESTIMONY"
The first time someone ever told me about Jesus, I was in the first grade. I was on a church bus and it was in the evening. I was on my way to an evening service. My next door neighbor, Pam, was sitting with me on the church bus. She was in the 6th grade. She began to tell me about heaven and what a wonderful place it was. Then she began to tell me about Hell and scared the life out of me. I had never heard something as frightening as what her story of Hell was. When I got to church that evening, I spoke with a teacher about what Pam had told me. She told me the salvation story. I was really too young to understand and too afraid to pay much attention to what she was saying. I just knew I wanted to be in Heaven with Jesus and as far away from Hell as I could get. So for the next three years I would say my prayers and talk to God, because I wanted Him to know I didn’t want to go to Hell…I wanted to be in Heaven with Him. I didn’t think much more of the situation.
I attended my first Vacation Bible School during the summer after I finished fourth grade. My two teachers were Mrs. Sanders and Mrs. Hyatt. They began to talk about Jesus. They told us how He loved us and how He died for us. Mrs. Hyatt asked if there was anyone in the class that was not saved. I was the only child in the room to raise my hand. Mrs. Kay Sanders took me out of the room. There in the hallway, she told me just what Jesus had did for me. She explained why I needed Him, and why I needed this free gift of salvation. I was able to understand every word she said. Everything seemed so clear. I knew I wanted Jesus to forgive me and I wanted Him to come into my heart. So there in the hallway, in July of 1979, I asked Jesus to save me.
I continued to attend church and my faith in the Lord grew tremendously. I grew closer to the Lord. I had wonderful youth leaders and teachers that taught me so much about prayer and trusting in the Lord. I was never afraid to pray and ask the Lord for anything I thought I needed. I loved God and wanted to serve Him with all I had. When I became a senior in High School, things began to change. I slowly started drifting away. I began to live for myself. I did what I wanted and didn’t give God much thought. I graduated in June of 1987. Then in October of 1987 I married my husband, Ron. Before long I had my first child. Married life with a baby was really tough for an eighteen year old. Then in the summer of 1988, we moved to North Carolina and my life began to change. God had things planned for me and it wouldn’t take me long to figure that out.
My husband’s grandparents lived in North Carolina. The first time I visited them, there was something strange about being in their house. I didn’t know exactly what it was, but there was this most unusual peace that I had never felt before. (Later on I would realize that this peace I felt was actually the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives.) Before long, they were inviting Ron and I to church. We began attending church with them. It felt so good and so right to be back. However, I still didn’t give my life back to Jesus. I wasn’t ready for that. I still wanted to do things on my own. I wasn’t ready to commit my heart to Jesus.
God wasn’t through with me yet. In July of 1989, we bought a mobile home from a friend of my husband’s grandparents. After we get settled in, we discover he is a preacher. As you may guess, he invited us to church and was pretty persistent. How could we say no? So off we went to church. Before long, I wasn’t able to resist any longer. I gave my heart back to Jesus. I wanted Him in control of my life again. I had made lots of mistakes and I am sure I disappointed Him greatly. But, the whole time He was standing there with His hand outstretched, waiting for me to put my hand in His so I could walk with Him. He never stopped loving me. Oh, we serve such a wonderful God, who is so full of love and mercy, more than we could ever possibly understand.
Twelve years have gone by since then and I can’t tell you that everything has been wonderful. There have been some really tough times that I didn’t think I would make it through. However, God’s Word is true. He says He will never leave us or forsake us. During the hard times, even though I felt I was alone, Jesus never left me. He was there through it all. He held my hand and walked me through all the hard times. He never let go of me. Praise God!!! Jesus is truly my best friend. He has never disappointed me or let me down. I will continue to walk with Him, trust Him and follow Him wherever He leads me.
Thanks Wendy for my beautiful graphics!
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