The Introduction

I would like to introduce someone to you!

Now, before you stop reading or lose focus and click this page away, I ask that you read on, since you are already here, taking time out of your busy day. Maybe you read my blog for the fun and crazy adventures that just seem to find me causing you to nearly roll out of your seat in laughter, or maybe your heart has been stirred by some of my more poignant posts. Then it is my prayer, that this one, which I would like to share with you will also impact your life. Since I care so much about you, my readers, I would be remiss as a writer to not share my testimony with you. This post is by no means all of my testimony, only a small portion. (I don’t want to overwhelm you, just to share a bit!)

As you probably know by now, I am a preacher’s kid who grew up in the church! As a baby, I took my naps and as a little girl, I played quietly under the pews!! I have grown up singing with the youth group, attending church camp, conferences and revivals! I listened to the preacher and was involved in the Sunday School Classes. I read my Bible and believe it was the inspired Word of God, memorizing Scriptures upon Scriptures. I knew what I needed to do to be saved. I believed Jesus is God and that he came to earth to redeem us, to die in our place so that one day, we can live with him! I prayed to the Lord and he answered my prayers – maybe because of my child-like faith. I’m sure I probably repented many times asking the Lord to forgive me of my sins and turn my life around. I guess I thought everything was just peachy – in fact, I never gave the possibility of not going to heaven a thought.


Until I was a young fifth grader!



Our church was in revival and during the first night of service, the Lord must have decided it was time for me to commit my life to him and receive all he had for me – which was more than I ever imagined. All that evening, the Spirit of the Lord dealt with me, drawing me to the altar, it was like a physical ache, a war going on inside me. I had never felt anything like this – what was going on? I was a very shy kid and there was this mental argument going on inside of me with God! Couldn’t he understand that although I longed to go to the altar, I was afraid – I couldn’t be the first one at the altar! What if no one else came up? What if the evangelist made a scene? (I realize now that these were lies from the devil because he didn’t want me to make that life-changing trip down to the altar!) No one else went up during the altar call service that night so I left church miserable!

All the next day at school, I worried that I had missed my opportunity or that the evangelist wouldn’t have an altar call. I made up my mind that I would be the first one at the altar somehow and someway. And I was! The Lord met me there! His presence just swept over the church and all of a sudden, everyone there was praising the Lord! It was so awesome!

This is the night when the Lord filled me with the Holy Ghost, complete with the evidence of speaking in tongues, a heavenly language I didn’t know and had never spoken before! Maybe you don’t know what the Holy Ghost is or maybe you don’t think it’s for us today – only for those Apostles and saints in Jesus’ time. Believe me when I say it is real and available to you!

I was so excited but now I knew I had to be baptized in the name of Jesus! And that very night! Even though it was a school/work night and getting late, there was no persuading me to wait until the weekend or at the very least until daylight! So we went to Berea, waking up the pastor, so I could be baptized in a neighboring church. Normally, I would have been baptized at Lake Linville or in Buckeye Creek, but it was dark and I was afraid of what was in the water. (Hey, I was a kid!) Finally, the preparations were all made, and the evangelist baptized me in the Precious Name of Jesus Christ! I was so excited that I couldn’t stand still so when I came up out of the water, everyone was praising the Lord, but I was out of the baptismal tank in a flash! (So fast…the evangelist thought he had lost me in the tank!)

I wanted to tell it! Tell it! Tell it!! Who could I tell of my experience this late at night? I called my Grandma Maggie in Ohio to share the good news. The next day I told my friends at school although most of them didn’t understand. But the peace that comes in knowing you are forgiven, the joy of knowing the Lord has called, chosen you, and has plans for you…well, it still overwhelms me to this day!

Do you ever feel unfilled? Like something isn’t quite right inside? Or do you ever question if there is something more out there for you? Jesus is what you are long for – a real and lasting relationship with the King of Kigns! Is it easy to serve the Lord? To allow him to turn your life around? To live a wholly dedicated life? To be a light in the darkness? To be an ambassador of truth and freedom? To be real?

Honestly, Easy – Definitely No! No – you say? There are days when you might feel let down, or forgotten, or when bad things happen, and you begin to wonder why and question “Where are you God?” Or maybe you’ve let something come between you and God so you’re not talking with him like you used to or not reading his Word to hear what he would speak to your heart. A million and one things can happen!

But He is Here with us! He is strength when we are weak. He is our comfort when we are hurting. He is wisdom and answers to our questions. He is Joy and Peace when we abide under His Shelter! Dig into the Word. Meditate, memorize and study the Scriptures – the answers are there! Lay a solid foundation of remembrances of answered prayers! Spend time with Jesus in prayer, talking with him, telling him about your life, listening to His sweet voice, just like a conversation with a dear friend! Praise Him for all He has done, for who He is, and for all He is going to do! He loved you first but love Him back! Learn more of Him every day and share Him and what He is doing with those around you! All of these things make it easier because it’s not about us – It’s All About Him!

Maybe you think – this gal is a preacher’s kid, what has she ever done that is so bad? She doesn’t know what it’s like to really sin, to ruin a life, to be unforgiveable, to mess up so badly. Listen, your sin makes no difference to Jesus! Jesus went to Calvary and died for you and your sins – all of them – there are no white, black or gray areas to sin. He suffered in agony for you. He took the stripes on his back for you. He bore the piercing of his hands and his feet for you! For you and for me, for all us! What an unconditional, uncomprehensible act of love! He is also the healer and repairer of broken lives! Won’t you give him a chance? What have you got to lose? Oh, but you do have so much to gain!

If He is speaking to you, drawing you to him, please, do not turn him away!I pray you will not wait another day but choose life! Abundant Life!

Praying for you….”C”