Christian Living

I accepted Jesus when I was 15 years old. Here's how it happened. I was raised in a Christian home by parents who loved the Lord. From an early age I was taught about Jesus, and knew that my parents wanted me to ask Him into my heart. I wanted to please them, so I lied and said I had. I even got baptized when a bunch of my little friends did. But I was not saved.

When I became a teenager, the hormones kicked in and the usual teenage angst became a thing. I began to feel the Holy Spirit pulling at me, but I was afraid to give in, afraid He would send me to Africa to be a missionary. I didn't want to go to Africa. By then we were attending Shades Mountain Bible Church, with Mickey Park at the helm. The pull became stronger as time went on, and I dug in my heels.

Then the church youth group went on a retreat, perhaps to Cheaha. I don't remember anything about what was taught or said or done throughout the entire retreat. There was just one moment, when I was sitting in the main room of the lodge, alone with my thoughts, and didn't have anything to read, which was a strange occurrence for me, since I carried a book with me at all times. A sense came over me, almost like a stasis bubble, and it seemed that everything stood still around me, as if nothing would happen until I answered a Question that was being asked. I knew what He wanted and I knew that nothing would happen until I answered. My entire prayer consisted of one word, "Okay." Jesus knew what I meant and that was the moment my life changed forever. I looked up at the sunlight streaming into the huge windows of the lodge and the light seemed brighter and the colors more vibrant all around me.

I went home and told my parents what had happened but they didn't believe me, so firmly entrenched in their minds was it that I had converted as a child. I set in motion joining the church (SMBC) and got re-baptized, now that it truly meant something to me.

I would like to say that my spiritual life was an unbroken road of growth from that time on, but I won't lie. It was more like a long hike up into the mountains, sometimes into dark valleys where sin waited to pounce, and then onto upward slopes back into the sunlight and a higher altitude. But my Lord has been faithful, and His Holy Spirit has walked every step of the way with me, even at those times when I'm sure my soul is not the most pleasant place to live.

He led me to Bryan College where I met Eddie, and we married after we had graduated (him from Bryan, me from Samford - long story). God gave us 2 sons and now, 5 grandchildren.

As I get older, I find my soul craving more and more of God and His Word, so I am enjoying sitting under the teaching of our main shepherd, Thaddeus Blount and the other teachers at our beloved church, Grace Community Church @ Deerfoot. It was very satisfying to learn what my spiritual gifts are, and now I have the fulfillment of exercising them for the benefit of my church family, the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit is growing me day by day, and I can hardly wait for Jesus to come and take me home. I find my mind constantly wondering what Heaven is like, what job God will have for me during the Millennium, and what the New Heavens and New Earth will be. I'm loving the journey.