Dear Friend,

I grew up in rural Colorado, USA. I went to Sunday School for a couple years (age 6 to 8) and attended Vacation Bible School a few times after that. When I was about 12, the teacher held a Bible drill to see who could find the verses the fastest. She called out John 3:16. I opened the Bible I had been given and quickly discovered that it wasn't in alphabetical order. I was at a total loss. A classmate graciously coached me, but I was so embarrassed that I decided never to go again.

That's called pride (which is a sin). Pride and fear kept me from the Lord for many years.

Although not perfect, I lived a rather moral life. I was in high school in the days when the motto was “Sex, booze, and LSD.” I refused to be part of that scene, BUT I was as much on the road to hell as those who were openly rebellious. And, I was probably in greater danger. Because of my good behavior, most people told me I was doing great - that I didn't need to change anything. But inside, where it matters, I had rejected God.

At junior college, I met Mike. We married, and several years later our daughter was born.

A few months after our daughter's birth, when I feared for Mike's life one night, I made a deal with God: If He would bring Mike home safe, I would go to church on Sunday - for the first time in many years. God brought Mike home, and I kept my end of the bargain.

That morning the pastor shared a message where Jesus speaks of the love of His Father: “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11) As a new parent, I saw God in a whole new light that morning - a loving, caring Father.

Well, I had kept my promise. Now back to normal life - I thought.

When my daughter was born, I was laid off from my job. A few months later, I found a new job. A couple weeks later, my boss came in and said something about preaching the day before. Did what?!!! It turned out that my new boss was a bi-vocational preacher. He worked at the college during the week and preached on Sundays. I was horrified! I had spent years avoiding church, especially preachers, and here I was working for one!

I really needed the job and decided I could put up with almost anything for a few weeks - 'til Christmas break. Strangely, this man didn't preach to me. But he often told me what a wonderful Savior and Lord he had. The stories were interesting. After a while I even began to look forward to them.

I wouldn't go to church, so God brought the church - or at least the preacher - to me!

That job ended. I found another and the pressure in my life mounted. The headaches that I had suffered from for years intensified. And a couple of my new co-workers told me about their Lord. God just wouldn't give up!

One day in the fall of 1987, my head hurt so intensely, I couldn't stand it. Where could I find help? “Jesus is the Great Physician.” Where had I heard that? Was it true? In desperation I prayed, “God, if You're still there, and if You still have the power, take the pain away.” Instantly, I was pain free from head to toe. I sat in shock. What had happened? Well, I had asked, hadn't I? But I thought it would take longer for a prayer to get to heaven and back. And, I had been referring to my headache. I didn't know how bad the rest of my body hurt - until God removed the pain. But I had my answer - He was still there and He certainly had the power.

Slowly the pain returned. A few weeks later, I was begging God to take it away. I knew He could. Why wouldn't He? As I begged that day, I kept hearing a message, “Trust Jesus as your Savior.” I argued. I knew somehow that that would change my life - forever. I asked God to take the pain away - then we'd talk about Jesus being my Savior. Each time I asked, the answer was the same, “Trust Jesus as your Savior.” I began to wonder if God wasn't so much trying to force me into a “deal,” as He telling me me that trusting Jesus IS the answer. Finally, I said, “OK.” I waited for something to happen. Nothing did - no lightning bolts, no music, nothing. Then I heard another voice saying, “You messed up. You tried to get saved, but it didn't work. Now you're lost forever. You can't ever be saved.” But I felt peace. I didn't know much Scripture or doctrine, but I had done what God asked. The peace remained and the lying voice left.

I started going to church and to Bible study. My health worsened and I had to quit my job. I was depressed and severely exhausted. The effort to attend church on Sunday and to go to Bible study and pastoral counseling on Monday took such a toll that I would have to spend the next two or three days in bed recovering.

I finally realized what great sin I had committed. Remember that I considered myself a rather moral person. I knew I wasn't perfect, but I didn't think I had done any really bad things. My biggest sin was that of not desiring to know God. I had broken the first and greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) I had rejected the One Who created me, the One Who gave me life, the One Who loved me so much He died for me. I had rebelled against Him. I repented, and immediately felt the chains that had bound me for so long fall at my feet.

The Lord gradually brought healing to my life and then provided me with a job where I could serve Him.

In January, 1989, I was baptized in a church which normally practices sprinkling. I insisted on immersion because I wanted to be totally immersed in God - not just sprinkled with Him. We borrowed a horse tank for the occasion. I invited family and friends for the celebration which included a singspiration after a potluck lunch.

I began to stake my life on Proverbs 3:5-6 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”

Over the years, the Lord called me to teach a Youth Sunday School Class and a Ladies Class. He gave me the privilege of working with a wonderful group of Christians in the formation of a Pregnancy Center. The Lord has allowed me to serve Him in some ballot initiative campaigns - one against pornography and a couple to restrict abortion. I helped with the Youth Group for a time. In the spring of 2002, I began serving the Lord on the internet. Remember I said that fear also kept me from the Lord? One of the things I was afraid of is that He might call me to be a missionary on a far-away continent. These days I serve Him in Africa, Asia, and other places I was so afraid He would ask me to go. No, I've never been out of the U.S., but via the internet, God has blessed me with friends on several continents. And what a joy it is!

A few years ago I heard a song by Wayne Watson titled “For Such a Time as This.” Although I originally thought of "such a time as this" in the context of what I was doing at that time, the words have since taken on more of a daily meaning for me - being ready to fulfill God's purpose for me each day. “Such a time as this” may be sharing a Scripture with a friend, working in the office or at home, or sharing my testimony here. I know I fall far short of meeting the goal, but the words to the chorus express the desire of my heart.

Are you still running from Him, my friend? God is so good, so kind, so loving. Won't you trust Him today? He loves you and He has promised that “anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame” (Romans 10:11).

May God bless you,

P.S. You are welcome to contact me.

* Complete lyrics available at Today's Christian Music.