I grew up in a small mountain town in Colorado. Raised by two agnostic parents, ambition, success, and status were fundamental values in our household. However, in 4th grade my parents enrolled me in a small Catholic school as they were concerned that I wasn’t getting a quality education in the elementary school I was attending.
It was here that I heard the Gospel for the first time. The Nun at my school shared with me the truth that Jesus was Lord and he loved me so much that he willingly died in my place – I believed her. In 5th grade, I asked my parents if I could be initiated into the church. They supported me, but often challenged my new faith with questions that I was not prepared to answer at that age. Without the support and encouragement of believing friends and family, as I grew up, my faith did not.
During my high school and college years, I maintained my belief in God and in Christ, but my personal life did not reflect my public witness. My friends and family knew I was a Christian, and yet I was indulging in sex, alcohol, foul language, and many other things that did not glorify God. I believed in Jesus for salvation, but not for provision in my earthly life. Immediately after graduation, I married my then boyfriend and two years later life really started to fall apart. Within one year I was divorced, my parents were divorced, and my much loved family home was gone.
All the while, God was planning his rescue mission. A friend from work invited me to participate in her bible study and in parallel I started attending an evangelical church that was within walking distance from my home. As I attended both the bible study and Sunday services, God began to do a work on my heart. I grew in knowledge and understanding of the truth and began to surrender each area of my life to God. I had nothing to lose as I had already lost everything in doing life my own way.
I have now completely surrendered my life to God. Money, relationships, career, time… ALL of it. I say with confidence, my life has never been more fulfilling, exciting, and meaningful. I have hope for this life and the next! Jesus has redeemed me and set me free!
Psalm 100:1-5
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast loves endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”