Faith Journey

I grew up in a Christian home, on a farm, near a rural town as the youngest of four girls with amazing parents. Our family attended church and Sunday school each week. I went through confirmation classes with the rest of my grade could recite almost the entire service responses by heart, 10 commandments, and other bits of information when asked. However, at that time I did not think about salvation or having a relationship with God.

Everything changed for me in high school when I attended summer bible camp. I had been to camps before but not one like this. It was the first time I had heard that you need to ask God for salvation (a gift that is freely given) and you have to invite God in. As it turned out God wanted to have a relationship with me. That was the summer that I gave my life to Christ. I came home on fire for the Lord, sharing his love and reading the bible.

Over time, I did not keep this discipline of scripture reading up and fell into my own selfish sinful nature. Over the course of the following few years, I would have said that I was a Christian, but didn't not show that by the way I lived as well as the lack of time seeking God. Don't get me wrong, I still considered myself a "good" person, but just wanted to do things my own way.

I had a boss that told me one day that she did not believe in God, just a higher power and if you live a good life you will go to heaven or a better place. She started asking questions and challenging me on what I believe. The alarms were going off in my head. Of course there is a God. This was a wake-up call for me to once again seek God in my life, beg for forgiveness, and help her and others see that they need Him in theirs as well. God was calling me. I had spent to much time conforming to this world. Romans 12:1-2 says "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." I was done conforming. It was time to make a change.

Chris and I have 3 energetic boys, Noah, Jacob and Jonah. Noah and Jacob are in swimming lessons. A couple weeks ago one of the other moms who has 2 boys in the same classes as 2 of our boys asked about homeschool. She stated matter of fact, "I cannot believe you homeschool. They seem normal."  I got home to tell Chris about the conversation and we both got a good laugh out of it. But the more I thought about it and let is settle in my heart the more I am reminded that I don't want to be "normal" I don't want our boys or family to conform to this world. I want our hearts and minds to be focused on things that are not of this world. And if that makes us seems different, Lord I want to be different!

I think about my faith journey and see that the times I am closest to God are the times when I am in the bible daily. The times when I can hear God are the times that I am still and listening. The better you know God the better you can hear God. I can feel his presence and peace every day.

When we were asked as deacons to share our faith journey, my first thought was, "I don't have a great story like some of the others." I am broken and a sinner. I feel overwhelmed and inadequate many days. Those are the times when God speaks to the quiet place in my heart and says, "Jesus died for you. He died for you." My story is not awesome, but God is. I fail him time and time again. I am a sinner and still he loves me and wants to have a relationship with me. AWESOME! The Assurance of Salvation is found in 1John 5:11-12, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.  Friends, He died for you as well. Invite Him in.
Audio version from church spring 2012