My Testimony

When I was in second grade, I stayed overnight at a friend’s house and went to church with her family to the Baptist church they regularly attended. During the altar call, I went forward and devoted my life to Christ. . . a pretty amazing thing for a relatively shy 7 year old child in the midst of strangers to do – but his ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8)


Fast forward 17 years. I am now a divorced mom of a three year old and I’m struggling. I am disillusioned by my career, depressed over my divorce and plain scared at the prospect of raising a boy all alone. His dad stayed involved all along, but when my son was with me it was just the two of us. I wanted to raise him with good values – “morals” I termed it.

“So, how do I do that?” I wondered. “I know! I’ll take him to church. Those people have morals – or at least they try to. Sure, they’re a little deluded and maybe weak – using religion as a crutch – and they can’t be very bright – any educated person knows there can’t be only ONE way to God – if there even IS a God – or if he even cares . . . but still, it would be good for my son.”

I found a church that accepted us, no, embraced us and was shocked to discover that many of the members were highly educated- very smart people in fact. They weren’t delusional at all – and they weren’t weak. In fact, they were some of the strongest people I’d ever known. They all had struggles of one kind or another, but they still took time to love and care for others – even me and my boy.

The more I saw God working through these people, and the more I studied His word, the more I honestly searched for Him, the more REAL He became to me.

I went looking for a God for my son, and was found by God and His Son.

On my 25th birthday I gave myself a present – I accepted the greatest present ever given. Jesus Christ became my Lord and Savior. I was baptized a few months later on Palm Sunday and wanted to shout out like the rocks along the road to Jerusalem. (Luke 19:40)

God made a covenant with me when I was 7 – and even though I didn’t keep my end of the bargain, He did. He is so faithful. (Exodus 34:6)

I have been on an adventure with Him ever since.

I am now married to a Christian man and we have two more children – we have decided to raise them with “morals” too. I pray God and His Son find them like they found me 15 years ago. I pray God and His Son find you too.

“Repent then and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the LORD and that He may send the Christ who has been appointed for you – even Jesus.” Acts 3:19

gratitude

15. a God who provides - (a sacrifice of praise)

16. Healthy children

17. Healthy me

18. Healthy hardworking husband

19. complimentary relatives

20. a dependable, generous sister-in-law

1000 things to be grateful for

11. A successful graduation! And a boy to be sooooo proud of.

12. Knowing God loves him even more than I do, and being able to trust Him with him.

13. A baby GIRL on the way! Yippee!! A dose of estrogen for my testosterone-laden household!

14. Pink. Frills. Lace. French braids. Tights with ruffles on the butt. Socks with ruffles on the cuffs. Shiny shoes with bows and buckles.

1000 things to be grateful for

8. A husband who is not only willing, but anxious to have God's will for our lives, whatever that means.

9. A week of preparation that goes smoothly!

10. The joy of looking forward to a trip. . .  even if it is to Amarillo :)!

1000 things to be grateful for

6. Big opportunities and a future left entirely in God's hands.

7. My baby (big) boy's last day of school . . . .ever (high school, anyhow) and mostly how wonderfully he has turned out - and the evidence that prayer really gets answered. Even the desperate prayers of a confused, barely saved, single mom.

1000 things to be grateful for

4. a day where the wind only gusts to 20 mph

5. a smiley, snuggly boy to wake up to. . .

1000 things to be grateful for (cont)

2. A day spent mostly in the company of my boys.

3. An evening spent entirely in the company of my boys.

1000 things to be grateful for

1. My gracious, loving, merciful, glorious God

That's enough for today - for each today - but I'm so blessed, I'll be more than able to add more tomorrow.

Up and Dressed by 8 AM! ! !

All right, there's a great challenge at likeawarmcupofcoffee.com (tho I'm more of a tea girl, myself) and I DO usually get dolled up every day - understanding that my husband doesn't work in a world of women in sweats with no makeup on and bed head even at 4 pm. . . . . . but sometimes it takes me UNTIL 4 pm to get that dollin' up done.
I've been wanting an excuse to get my act together earlier than my 18 month old does, so I can get a jump on the day. I DO feel better when I'm cleaned up first thing in the morning . . . .
It's Monday now, and I'm just reading about the challenge, so I'm a day late, but perhaps I'll go a day longer! ;)