Occasionally during our Sunday worship time, members of our congregation will share how God has been at work in their lives. We have included some of these testimonies here so that others might be able to witness how God is working and changing the lives of our members as He does for people all over the world each and every day.
We pray that God's Spirit will not only touch your life through these testimonies, but that they might also encourage you to share your own story if you already know Jesus. If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and would like to learn more about how God can change your own life, we encourage you to join us for worship on Sunday mornings. Also, feel free to email us at the link to the left or call us at (816) 452-0212 where somebody would be happy to talk to you about inviting Jesus to be a part of your life.
Today in Sunday school we talked a little about moderation and I have always struggled with that in my life. Most of you know me as a joker and a bowler, but this is who I really am:
I was sexually abused as a child. I grew up in a family with an alcoholic dad. We would sit on Friday nights at 5:30, waiting to see if the 68 Chevy wagon was going to pull up with him in it with a paycheck. My mom was an enabler who did the best she could to raise six kids, keep a roof over our heads and never went on welfare.
In high school I was a very good football player. I began making bad decisions then. I went to practice drunk and was benched for two games. I was reinstated only because the two guys who replaced me blew out their knees. I never received a scholarship offer because of that incident.
Most of us grew up in the "just say no" era. Well, the only time I would say no to drugs was when they asked me if I had done enough- then of course I would say "NO, let's do more."
And recently I've attempted to live a champagne life on a beer budget. I had a little success at gambling at first, but in the end I was doing nothing more but making the boats successful.
I know I've tested God's patience on several occasions--It seems like the more I walk away from God in my life the closer he comes back into it.
A song we sang in the choir said that we live by faith and not by sight - I'm shameful of the road I've traveled to get me where I'm at in my life today. It seems that whenever I tried to see things my way, I managed to stumble all over the place.
I've been blessed with a loving and forgiving wife. I been given a daughter to love and to be loved by - I am very proud of the way she has grown as a Christian and a person. I have a church family who has been tolerant of me. And I have a pastor who is a friend.
I have found that since I've permitted myself to live more by faith, an enormous weight was lifted from my wounded spirit. This allowed peace and contentment to grow again through the love and forgiveness that is shared from Jesus Christ.
My testimony today is about what has been happening to me and my Christian development this past year. As you all know, I fractured my leg last New Year. That event forced me to stop and think things over. One conclusion forced on me during this time of reflection was that I needed to do something about my "extra baggage." Working those crutches was harder because of my "extra baggage." Getting up and down stairs was harder because of it as well.
God made me aware of a faith-based weight loss program, but He also provided someone to say something that clicked in my brain about foods. Those two events caused me to ask if others at Grace wanted to change something about themselves - especially in terms of weight management. Even though I have led therapeutic groups, I have never been inclined to join one as a participant. However, when I came to believe that my "extra baggage" was more about spiritual discipline than it was about food, I was then willing to place myself in a group with others who were interested in working together to foster accountability and discipline in relation to food - and to rely on others in prayer for a specific and very personal battle. I've learned some very important lessons so far:
"I do better when I don't go it alone."
"I do better when I have someone to whom I am accountable."
The last 9 months of working together with those in the 3D (Diet, Discipline, and Discipleship) group has been a time of deepening my understanding of the Scriptures as well as considering what they had to say in terms of management of my body. It has been a revelation, a support, and blessing to share on a weekly basis about what is happening - and how God is with me in this personal struggle. You see, it had never occurred to me to ask God to help me conqueror this particular battle. As a group, we have contributed over $90 to Heifer International (hunger relief) as a gratitude offering for the pounds we have lost. We have more to give and will do that soon. I won't pretend that some of those dollars weren't for pounds lost several times over! God has blessed us with good fellowship and the blessed assurance that He is with us every step of the way.
The second experience that has been significant this year began when I led and attended a Retreat for Parish Nurses in October. Before leaving for the retreat, Ethlyn asked me to consider taking on the responsibility of being church moderator of our congregation. I was sure that this was not something I was prepared to do. I was not inclined to say "yes," but I agreed to think about it - and more importantly, to pray about it.
The keynote speaker led us in thinking about personal spiritual development. Right up my alley! I have studied about this subject and have taught classes related to it! The speaker talked about rivers we cross and those we just think about. She used the story of the Israelites at the shore of the Jordan River. She talked about the thinking processes that might have occurred such as being afraid of drowning, being afraid of the unknown, feelings of being unprepared, etc.
You can see where this is going, right? I sat there considering personal rivers I have crossed, and suddenly, I realized that this was not a history lesson. This was about "here and now,." and I had to decide if the invitation to take the role of Church Moderator represented a new river for me. The more I listened, the more powerful the idea became.
I was busy because of responsibilities for the retreat, but thoughts about obedience and crossing rivers presented themselves throughout the day. I waited, prayed, thought for a week or so after I got home, and finally decided that this indeed was something God wanted me to do regardless of my feelings about being overwhelmed, my lack of preparedness, and my inadequacies. Since then, some snatches of relevant thoughts have arrived via Internet, conversations, etc. They included the following:
"If God has brought you to it, He will be with you through it!!!
After so many years of Youth Sundays it is bittersweet to say that today will be my last youth Sunday here at Grace. It has been one heck of a ride and I though it’s only best to end with a little glimpse into my life. I know many of you know me because I’ve been at Grace since before I could talk but the depth of my faith is something far more passionate then seen on just one Sunday morning.
This brings me back to last year. As I was on the long drive to Green Lake Wisconsin, for the yearly gathering of American Baptist, which happens to also be the highlight of my summer, I found my mom and I searching for a bible verse I had heard in a Mercy Me song that would not get out of my head. Using our resources, in no time at all, we were able to find Psalms 139:14. Even since then, that verse has been my saving-grace.
As a senior in high school, I quickly discovered how difficult choosing a college could be. I spent countless nights thinking, stressing and crying over my decision. I was so wrapped up in MY decision that I had forgotten about the one person who I could turn to for guidance. At that moment, I began praying and I did not stop for a week. At the end of that week, I was much calmer and able to grasp the idea of college. Still completely undecided I popped in my Mercy Me CD, pulled out my bible, and opened to Psalms 139:14. As I read the familiar verse I felt as thought the weight was immediately lifted from my shoulders and my answer was clear as day. I know God made me in his eyes and I am wonderful. In addition, I know that no matter where I decided to go to college, there too, I will be wonderful because I have God on my side.
Growing up with my family has been a blessing itself. I am blessed with the best, most amazing parents I could ever ask for. My sister who is my best friend is only a room away and even when she is not here, I know she is only a phone call away.
My dad is my twin. We look alike, act alike, and even argue the same. He is the man usually standing in the back of church desperately trying to embarrass my mom, Ashley and me. Some of my favorite memories are watching America’s Funniest Home Videos with my family and hearing my dad’s distinct yet rarely heard laugh.
My mom is the most reserved and refined one in the family. She keeps us all organized and in check but don’t get me wrong she is no “all work and no play” kind of lady, she can always keep up with Ashley and I. I guess that is where you could say Ashley and I get our “unique” characteristics.
My sister is two years older then me but you wouldn’t guess that by looking at us. She looks 12 and acts 12 but only when appropriate. Even though she might be older, she still relates to my problems because she was there not to long ago. Her advice is truly helpful and not to mention she can always make me laugh.
And certainly, the best blessing about my family is the recent addition of 2 to our usual 4. Our new growing family is something I love with all my heart. My two new brothers keep me on my toes and on the edge of my seat. So to my family of six, I love you all very very much.
With all that said, it is easy to see why the support from my family is what keeps all of us, myself included, going. Nevertheless, there comes a time when even the strongest families fall weak.
This past year my family experienced the worst most difficult time of our lives. My aunt lost her long battle to cancer and was taken up to Heaven. It was very difficult for all of us to stand strong but thankfully, our family here at Grace was there to catch us before we fell. As Tuesday marks the one-year of my aunt's death, I know I am a stronger Christian because of the love and support I feel on a daily basis from my family at home and here at Grace. I’ve grown up in this church and many of you have seen me from diapers, to dresses to driving. I truly believe I am who I am today because of my two families.
My faith is now the cornerstone of my life and I feel so lucky and so loved that my family raised me in a church and that Grace is my home. I couldn’t have gotten through this year with out my families and even though I don’t say it enough, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
I would like to tell you how God has changed my life by giving you this testimony. When I was a child, I was mentally and physically abused by a family member. We had a dysfunctional family, and there was a lot going on in our lives. This went on for many years. I didn't know quite how to deal with the situation, so I turned to alcohol and drugs to escape my problems when I got older. They did not help much, in fact, they made matters worse. I did a lot of things that I am ashamed of. I always felt like something was wrong with me, and I had low self-esteem.
I always felt like something was missing in my life, but I didn't know what it was. I had no direction, and didn't care what happened to me or anyone else. I tried to go to college, but would always drop out. I didn't do much for myself at all; I just tried to make it through life the best that I could. I had a daughter that I supported for most of her life, and I believe that she is what got me through all the hard times, but there was still something missing.
Then something happened. In 1990, I met my husband. He treated me like a real person and brought me back to life. About a year after we met, he suggested that we attend Grace Baptist Church where his family had attended for years. He wanted me to see how his family was brought up. We started attending as visitors for awhile, and I was skeptical at first. It didn't take very long to realized that this was my home, God's house. God was opening his doors to me to come into His life. I surrendered and was saved, and my life has been changed ever since. When I was saved, an inner peace came over me that has never left me. God had laid his hands on me. I started praying consistently, not jut for my concerns, but how thankful I am for everything He has done. He started answering my prayers.
I started having a direction in my life. I went back to college and got a business degree. I completed something! I love to sing, and started listening to the choir; I wanted to be a part of it - singing to the Lord. I was asked to lead the children's choir and did that for several years also. I believe this was my calling. I taught Vacation Bible School and decided that I wanted to be a teacher. I am a substitute teacher and am still going to school to obtain my teaching degree. I believe that God has taught me my purpose for living, and led me to my calling. I have a loving family and a miracle child.
Now I care about people. I try to help them out in any way that I can; it is my fulfillment. The void in my life has now been filled. I feel a lot better about myself, and I don't feel like anything is wrong with me anymore. I have been tempted many times, but I don't go back. I thank the church family for their support. I owe this all to God, and I thank Him everyday for it. Praise the Lord!