My Story

Yesterday after church I had pretty much decided that I should post my story on here because the sermon just convicted me to respond in that way.  This morning as I was reading I came across this verse, which altogether confirmed that I should write out my story for this post:


"And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."  Revelation 12:11


*Sidenote - Even if the sermon hadn't been about telling my story to the people around me, I still would have loved that verse because of the ending phrase - 'for they loved not their lives even unto death' - and I would have posted about it anyway.  I would have talked about sacrifice of my own life for Christ, even if it led to death.  "I may live and I may die, either way You're glorified."


But today I want to - no, I must write my story.


My parents became Christ followers when I was two, so I basically grew up in a Christian home.  I have been in church ever since I can remember and I learned about Jesus from a very young age.  Since I found Christ at the age of seven, it is hard for me to remember what my life was like before Christ.  I wasn't old enough to get into much trouble, but I remember doing things that I knew were wrong.


When I was seven, after hearing about Jesus many times at church, I went to my parents and asked them what it was all about.  They pulled out the Bible and explained very simply that we are all sinners and that Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we wouldn't have to go to hell.  That was a simple explanation, but it was more than enough for me.  My Dad asked me if I wanted to pray with them and ask Jesus to come into my heart, but I said that I wasn't ready to do that yet.


I was ready though.  Very ready.  I only said I wasn't ready because I think I was scared of being vulnerable and admitting my sins in front of Mom and Dad.


I went back into my room and climbed into bed, but I couldn't sleep.  I knew that I wouldn't be able to sleep unless I took care of business with God.  So, I knelt down beside my bed and started telling God every sin that I had committed that I could think of and how sorry I was for doing them.  Then I told God that I knew I needed Jesus in my heart and would He please come in and be my Lord and my Savior.


It is one of the earliest and clearest memories that I have.


About two weeks later I went down the aisle to tell the pastor that I had found Christ and a week after that I was baptized.


Now here I am, seventeen years later.  What a long way I have come!  I know that I have had my ups and downs, I have made choices that were far from correct, but I am most definitely closer to the Lord now that when I started.  God is teaching me more and more every day about what it means to rely on Him for the strength I need, how to lead my family in a Godly way, what my place is in serving His kingdom, and how best to glorify Him with my life.  There are so many verses that I keep going back to, learning something new from them every time, but two things really stand out for me over my life so far.


First is a quote from Oswald Chambers, "Grow where you are planted."  I need reminding all the time that my purpose is to do what God has called me to do, wherever He has called me to do it - no complaining!


Second is Psalm 46:10, "Cease striving and know that I am God.  I will be exalted amond the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  What a great command for me because I have trouble with sitting still.  I want to run around all the time doing stuff for the Lord, but God wants me sitting still sometimes, waiting on Him and His perfect timing.


I will never be the same.