Post by countrymama on Mar 13, 2006 12:40:17 GMT -5
Hello Sisters,
I was born to a Pentecostal mother and unbelieving father. Mom is a genuine Christian, but a weak one; and Dad knew "Christian-ese" because he was raised by truly Christian Pentecostal grandparents, and taken to church. But his heart was/is far from God.
My sailor father kicked up such a fuss whenever Mama spoke of going to church, that we rarely did. Mom did not read the Bible to my brother (2 years older) and me, but she did speak of Jesus to us sometimes and prayed for us at our bedsides each night. Those prayers kept us from an awful lot we otherwise would have gotten into, I am certain; because I can remember being very convicted as a young teenager if I was still awake and she came in to pray.
I learned some basic Bible stories from the occasional times I got to Sunday School and also after-school Bible class. In the tiny Minnesota town where I lived for 2+ years, once a week the public school would dismiss early all children who desired to go to after-school church education programs. There was Roman Catholic CCC, and the Presbyterian church offered a Bible story & crafts hour. I attended the latter with a friend, and loved making paper mache Daniel and lions to match the story. At that point in my life (ages 7-9) God seemed very real and close to me, and I had a realization that He walked with me to school, etc.
When we moved (again--we moved about every 2 years through out my growing up years), it was back to California (where I'd been born; and lived off and on, as Dad received orders back there).
By the time I was 11, I was in a very different world than my time in Minnesota. We lived in Alameda during the Vietnam war. There were bomb threats on the Navy base where we lived; protesters blocking the gates at times so we couldn't leave/get home. There were also gangs--even in the middle school I attended. I got beat up by a gang of black young people, and became very angry and wild. I joined a loosely-formed gang while I was there for protection; but my antics got me removed to another school--where I began to form my own gang.
By the time I was 12, I could/did pass for much older. I had sailor boyfriends who thought I was 16; and I lived a sordid life that year.
In His loving sovereignty, God arranged for my Dad to get orders out of there, up to Washington state.
The first couple of years I retained my "hood" persona, and various boyfriends. No one else could see it, but the Lord was dealing with me, and I was very much under conviction.
When I was 14, I knew I had to get right with God. The Holy Spirit was convicting and drawing me. I began to read the KJV Bible my parents had given me many years before, and read it straight through within a year. I was amazed and excited at what I read. I would run into the room where my mother was ironing and ask, "Did you know that Jesus did this?" and I would excitedly tell her. My mother was thrilled, but said little. Both of my parents were astounded at what was happening, but afraid to say anything. They were both very influenced by Dr. Spock and all of that worldly psychological rubbish.
I began attending church with friends, so I could understand more about Jesus. I went to many different churches--Southern Baptist, Church of Christ, and various Pentecostal churches. I didn't quite understand it all, but kept reading the Bible and visiting churches.
Finally I went to a little church, where the people were kind and friendly. The young pastor preached a powerful sermon that day: warning that if we did not repent we would go to hell, telling of the beauties and joys of heaven, explaining what Jesus did on the cross to take away our sins. I was enthralled. I didn't even take notice of my friends who sat next to me, trying to get me to horse around with them.
When the invitation came to come forward to pray, I knew I had to go forward. I realized how my sins separated me from God, that I was filthy and needed to be cleansed--and that Jesus could cleanse me. I knelt down and began to weep, "Jesus, forgive me". All of my rebellion and sin marched past me in my mind, and I kept saying as I remembered each instance, "Jesus, forgive me." When the young pastor asked me about 10-15 minutes later, "Sister, are you saved?" I looked up with certainty at him and said, "Yes!" because I knew the Lord had cleansed me and made me new.
The change was remarkable. So much that my teachers asked me within a week or two, "What happened to you?!"
One of the first things the Lord did was cleanse me of prejudice by giving me a black girlfriend at church! Olive and I latched onto one another right away. Gone was my hatred toward black people, which had been nurtured because of all the racial violence during my time in Alameda.
The young pastor and his wife discipled me in the Lord. How to read my Bible, memorize Scripture, basic Bible doctrines, modest dress. If they had remained at that church, so would I. But when they left for the mission field, a hierling took their place and I had to leave there because I couldn't grow under his perverse teaching.
That began many years of confusion and wandering. I met my husband when I was nearly 17, and he and I were married in a Charismatic cult when I was 19.
He too was in the Navy, but nothing like my Dad otherwise. Though unwise about Scripture at that time, he loved the Lord, and was gentle and kind to me. He's the best man I've ever known; and I thank God for him!
About 13 years ago the Lord pulled us out of the confusion and began to set our feet solidly upon Christ and His all-sufficient Word. My DH began to study the Word for the first time in his life; and it renovated our lives and marriage. We loved each other very much, but I tended to be domineering and he tended to refuse to lead; so our family was out of order in many ways.
We lost most of our friends as we began to realize the truth of God's Word, but found that Christ is the greatest Friend one can have.
When we later veered off the course and headed into the wrong direction in a legalistic group, the Lord faithfully showed us His grace and removed us from there. Especially over the last 6 years we have been able to rejoice in the liberating work of Jesus Christ--who sets His people free from the bonds of both mysticism and legalism; who guides us continually by His Word, giving us joy and peace in Him for life and service.
We have home schooled all 3 of our children since 1986, and intend that our daughters should graduate from our school, as well.
God gave us a nation-wide prison about 8 years ago, that has changed and grown with us. Our ministry website is www.christiskingministries.org.
We write/edit/publish a bi-monthly newsletter "Free Indeed!", and also Starting Point Bible study booklets.
Our big desire and goal is to return to the Midwest, to be able to care for my aging mother and have a more desirable area to finish raising our daughters.
How I praise God that He saved me--and keeps me!--by His grace.
I was born to a Pentecostal mother and unbelieving father. Mom is a genuine Christian, but a weak one; and Dad knew "Christian-ese" because he was raised by truly Christian Pentecostal grandparents, and taken to church. But his heart was/is far from God.
My sailor father kicked up such a fuss whenever Mama spoke of going to church, that we rarely did. Mom did not read the Bible to my brother (2 years older) and me, but she did speak of Jesus to us sometimes and prayed for us at our bedsides each night. Those prayers kept us from an awful lot we otherwise would have gotten into, I am certain; because I can remember being very convicted as a young teenager if I was still awake and she came in to pray.
I learned some basic Bible stories from the occasional times I got to Sunday School and also after-school Bible class. In the tiny Minnesota town where I lived for 2+ years, once a week the public school would dismiss early all children who desired to go to after-school church education programs. There was Roman Catholic CCC, and the Presbyterian church offered a Bible story & crafts hour. I attended the latter with a friend, and loved making paper mache Daniel and lions to match the story. At that point in my life (ages 7-9) God seemed very real and close to me, and I had a realization that He walked with me to school, etc.
When we moved (again--we moved about every 2 years through out my growing up years), it was back to California (where I'd been born; and lived off and on, as Dad received orders back there).
By the time I was 11, I was in a very different world than my time in Minnesota. We lived in Alameda during the Vietnam war. There were bomb threats on the Navy base where we lived; protesters blocking the gates at times so we couldn't leave/get home. There were also gangs--even in the middle school I attended. I got beat up by a gang of black young people, and became very angry and wild. I joined a loosely-formed gang while I was there for protection; but my antics got me removed to another school--where I began to form my own gang.
By the time I was 12, I could/did pass for much older. I had sailor boyfriends who thought I was 16; and I lived a sordid life that year.
In His loving sovereignty, God arranged for my Dad to get orders out of there, up to Washington state.
The first couple of years I retained my "hood" persona, and various boyfriends. No one else could see it, but the Lord was dealing with me, and I was very much under conviction.
When I was 14, I knew I had to get right with God. The Holy Spirit was convicting and drawing me. I began to read the KJV Bible my parents had given me many years before, and read it straight through within a year. I was amazed and excited at what I read. I would run into the room where my mother was ironing and ask, "Did you know that Jesus did this?" and I would excitedly tell her. My mother was thrilled, but said little. Both of my parents were astounded at what was happening, but afraid to say anything. They were both very influenced by Dr. Spock and all of that worldly psychological rubbish.
I began attending church with friends, so I could understand more about Jesus. I went to many different churches--Southern Baptist, Church of Christ, and various Pentecostal churches. I didn't quite understand it all, but kept reading the Bible and visiting churches.
Finally I went to a little church, where the people were kind and friendly. The young pastor preached a powerful sermon that day: warning that if we did not repent we would go to hell, telling of the beauties and joys of heaven, explaining what Jesus did on the cross to take away our sins. I was enthralled. I didn't even take notice of my friends who sat next to me, trying to get me to horse around with them.
When the invitation came to come forward to pray, I knew I had to go forward. I realized how my sins separated me from God, that I was filthy and needed to be cleansed--and that Jesus could cleanse me. I knelt down and began to weep, "Jesus, forgive me". All of my rebellion and sin marched past me in my mind, and I kept saying as I remembered each instance, "Jesus, forgive me." When the young pastor asked me about 10-15 minutes later, "Sister, are you saved?" I looked up with certainty at him and said, "Yes!" because I knew the Lord had cleansed me and made me new.
The change was remarkable. So much that my teachers asked me within a week or two, "What happened to you?!"
One of the first things the Lord did was cleanse me of prejudice by giving me a black girlfriend at church! Olive and I latched onto one another right away. Gone was my hatred toward black people, which had been nurtured because of all the racial violence during my time in Alameda.
The young pastor and his wife discipled me in the Lord. How to read my Bible, memorize Scripture, basic Bible doctrines, modest dress. If they had remained at that church, so would I. But when they left for the mission field, a hierling took their place and I had to leave there because I couldn't grow under his perverse teaching.
That began many years of confusion and wandering. I met my husband when I was nearly 17, and he and I were married in a Charismatic cult when I was 19.
He too was in the Navy, but nothing like my Dad otherwise. Though unwise about Scripture at that time, he loved the Lord, and was gentle and kind to me. He's the best man I've ever known; and I thank God for him!
About 13 years ago the Lord pulled us out of the confusion and began to set our feet solidly upon Christ and His all-sufficient Word. My DH began to study the Word for the first time in his life; and it renovated our lives and marriage. We loved each other very much, but I tended to be domineering and he tended to refuse to lead; so our family was out of order in many ways.
We lost most of our friends as we began to realize the truth of God's Word, but found that Christ is the greatest Friend one can have.
When we later veered off the course and headed into the wrong direction in a legalistic group, the Lord faithfully showed us His grace and removed us from there. Especially over the last 6 years we have been able to rejoice in the liberating work of Jesus Christ--who sets His people free from the bonds of both mysticism and legalism; who guides us continually by His Word, giving us joy and peace in Him for life and service.
We have home schooled all 3 of our children since 1986, and intend that our daughters should graduate from our school, as well.
God gave us a nation-wide prison about 8 years ago, that has changed and grown with us. Our ministry website is www.christiskingministries.org.
We write/edit/publish a bi-monthly newsletter "Free Indeed!", and also Starting Point Bible study booklets.
Our big desire and goal is to return to the Midwest, to be able to care for my aging mother and have a more desirable area to finish raising our daughters.
How I praise God that He saved me--and keeps me!--by His grace.