So often people talk about or ask, “what is your testimony?”, like what happened, and when did it happen, that brought me to a knowledge, trust, faith, belief, surrender, etc. in Christ? I have written a basic testimony before, but lately it’s been greatly on my mind and so I wonder…. Was it when:

Was it when my friend Lisa invited me to C.Y.C. and then to church…repeatedly, in 3rd grade? Or when my friend Jenette started inviting me to her house and I discovered that her mom had a “Good news” book ministry in their sun room?… in 4th grade….that triggered questions. Or was it when in 7th grade, my Granny was very sick and I asked God to “take her home” and He did!!! immediately! He became “real” and feared that day…I realized the power of prayer that day as well…and avoided it for many years to follow. Or could it have been when He protected my little 2 1/2 year old daughter from major harm after falling into a sandpit campfire? Or maybe each time my son ‘survived’ suffocation from severe asthma and then to see him “grow out of it” and become a United States soldier?

Or was it when I was sitting alone and stranded 13 miles north of no where and felt the urge to call my friend Jennifer and ask some deep questions? At which time she suggested I read the book of John. When we hung up, I pulled out the only bible I had, which was a tiny pocket new testament that had a “sinners prayer” in the front of it…. I tearfully read it and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior that day!! Just to turtle crawl my way through the next 2 plus years basically doing my own selfish horrible things. Then again, it may have been when I laid praying on my friends sofa, 2 hours away from my 4th husband of one year, for God to give me a legit reason for a divorce…but instead, as I drifted off to sleep, I was awoken by a very audible voice saying “go home”? I immediately called my husband and told him I would be home in the morning. Or a few months after that when I was burned over 27 percent of my body in a weed burning accident and I praised and thanked God all the way to the hospital. And was given the opportunity both during the flight for life to the burn unit, and while in the burn unit to share God’s love with the medical staff?

Was it when I found myself a Pastor’s wife and being used in women’s ministry even though I was terrified (still am terrified)? Or when I witnessed Him work mightily in the heart of my mother-in-law as she was in the final lap of battling cancer? Or when He blessed me with grand-kids? Or when He took away a couple of my sister’s grand-kids and I saw no anger toward Him?

Or was it when I snapped at my husband last week and God protected him from hearing me (since I wasn’t even mad …at anyone). Or was it last night?…..when I sat having coffee with a couple of friends, talking about kids, grandchildren, husbands, work, pain, ministry, sharing opportunities, God’s grace, and so on ~ and at the end of it all, feeling so incredibly blessed and humbled to be able to serve such an amazing God!

Every Season, Every year, Every “life event”, even Every day ~ my testimony unfolds more and more as God reveals more of Himself through people and events and even by revealing more of me- to me. I can tell you “major moments” in my life, and God knows there are many more than I can write, but I believe the “major moments” are only glimpses into my actual “testimony”. EVERY DAY IS A CHOICE…. a choice to accept Jesus’ sacrifice, to believe He died and rose for me! Every day is a choice to love Him. To serve Him. To love others. To forgive, and seek and accept forgiveness. To die to self and show others the same grace and mercy that He shows me EVERY DAY!

Romans 12:2        And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Corinthians 1:3        Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.