My Testimony: 1972-1995

I was praying about what to write about next when I thought I heard God say, "Give your testimony."  "Me, Lord?  I don't have a dramatic story."  But again I heard, "Give your testimony."  So, I am believing this voice I may have heard was from God.  Also, I don't think it is any coincidence that the above placard just happened to be on Facebook the day I heard those words!

I was practically born a Christian.  I was a preacher's kid until the age of 14.  I can't say I always loved it as I am very shy and I have never enjoyed being scrutinized at every turn.  I did, however, have a happy childhood with loving parents and an older sister that was also my best friend.  My mother stayed at home with us until we were teenagers and then she went to work as a preschool teacher.  After my father quit preaching full time, he worked very hard to become a licensed counselor.  My sister eventually went off to college, and we never shared a house again; she got married 3 years later in 1990, the same year I graduated from high school.  In spite of financial hardships, seeing my family suffer at the hands of the leaders of various churches, and moving several times, I had a very normal and very sheltered childhood.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  I Corinthians 13:11

Well, this all changed in 1994.  I will not go into details, but, after 26 years of marriage, my parents got a divorce.  I remember very distinctly thinking that things like this didn't happen in Christian families.  I was disillusioned with all I had been taught.  My parents pulled me in two very painful directions, and no matter whom I chose to give aid to, the other made me feel as if  my act of kindness toward the other was a betrayal.  My sister had married a navy man and was living in Hawaii at the time and very busy with a toddler and a second baby on the way. I could not, would not burden her with my hurts, so I allowed myself to be in it all alone.  I didn't have any close friends, and even if I had, my faith in humanity had been so severely shaken that I would have pushed friends away. 

I need to pause here and add that, though this was one of the most painful times of my life, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I have been able to heal my heart and forgive all involved in the divorce.  I put the past behind me and continued to have wonderful relationships with both of my parents.

So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.  Matthew 17:20

What I did have was a small grain of faith.  But it was enough to keep me from sinking into a dark depression.  It was enough to keep my head and chin up while encouraging my family to do the same.  It was enough to look for a new church where I found the strength to cry out to God to restore my broken heart.  It was not that I was so strong that I held on to my faith, it was that God loved me so much that he refused to let me go!

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3      

About a year and five months after the divorce, I was injured in a physical way.  I was working at our local newspaper and one of my many job duties was picking up ad copy.  I was driving in very busy downtown Boise (Idaho) Friday night traffic.  I was lost and angry that I had to do this job...  Wait, let me back up.  I had been demoted about three months earlier due to the fact that my new supervisor was interested in dating me, but I refused to go partying with him because of my morals.  He later admitted to me he took his anger out on me because I was a Christian, and made sure I got demoted.  After I quit this job, he became a Christian and apologized to me and even bought me a Christian devotional!  Now, let me go forward again...  I was driving in November and it was already dark at 6:00 p.m.  I was supposed to be back to the office by 5:00 and I was growing more and more anxious and more and more furious.  I took my seat belt off.  Suddenly, I had a very strong feeling to put my seat belt back on, and less than a minute later, I found myself going through a red light at one of the busiest intersections in Boise.  I remember saying, "Oh no!" and was hit full on the left side.  My little Tracker spun around and flipped onto its side, sliding down the street.  The canvas top was damaged, but strangers quickly came to my aid and helped ripped the top open before the police or ambulance arrived.  The first thing the officer asked me was if I had been drinking, and I said I didn't drink and explained that I was simply lost and hadn't noticed the red light.  The next thing he asked me was if I had been wearing my seat belt.  I said I had and he looked me right in the eyes and said, "I know you were because if you hadn't, I wouldn't be talking to you right now.  You would either be dead or very seriously injured."  I was pretty badly banged up and had three months of chiropractic care and three months of physical therapy, but, thank God, I put that seat belt on!  I still suffer pain today from time to time since I now have crooked hips and my neck doesn't curve right, and have some arthritis in my back & shoulders, but, overall, I really can't complain!  God was looking out for me, and the day I saw my totaled Tracker in the tow yard smashed in on the passenger side, the entire right side scraped up, and the roof torn off, I knew angels had been with me that day.  And thank God also that the other driver was not hurt at all! 

For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.  Psalm 91:11

Well, this short story is growing and growing, so I will save the rest for later...

Week 56: Seven Abominations (From my Other Blog)

This is a post from my other blog, "The ABCs of a Joyful Marriage" https://abcsofajoyfulmarriage.blogspot.com/ but I thought this advice could apply to this blog as well.

Fun Activity This Week: Choose 7 bible verses this week to memorize.  I know that sounds like a lot, but they can be short verses such as John 11:35, which is only two words, "Jesus wept." But make sure you focus on the significance of those words and don't just choose them because they are brief.  Since all my activity suggestions are to be done as a couple, you can split the 7 verses so you do not both have to learn all 7. I realize this means one of you will have to memorize 4 verses and the other 3, but I'm sure you can find a way to make that work for you! At the end of the week, recite your verses to one another and discuss why you chose those verses. Do so over coffee or tea and an optional dessert.

Week 56: Seven Abominations

I realize I last left off with the number 3, but I am jumping ahead to focus on subject matter that better fits the issues I believe are important.

These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

¹⁷ A proud look,

A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,

¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that are swift in running to evil,

¹⁹ A false witness who speaks lies,

And one who sows discord among brethren.

Proverbs 6:16-19

I am not sure why Solomon (who wrote Proverbs) writes, "six," then "seven," but since there are 7 items listed, I will use these verses for the number 7.

All of these issues can absolutely apply to marriage. Let me briefly break them down.

A proud look: How often have you acted superior to your mate in a prideful manner?  You may even have made fun of the other when you think he/she is wrong and laughed and ridiculed the other when you were proved right.  Next time you are tempted to act this way, remember how much God hates pride. Psalm 51:17 says that the Lord will never despise a broken and contrite heart. It is essential to your walk with the Lord to be humble before Him, but also vital to your marriage to be gentle with one another. Do not ever think yourself better than others (read Philippians 2:3), and that includes your spouse. As I always say, yes, the husband is the head of the home, but you are equal partners in every way. Remember to act in love the next time you have a disagreement and know that God hates pride.

A lying tongue & a false witness who speaks lies: I'm including these together because they are both reminding us to always be honest. The second part of that statement probably also has to do with making up stories about another person as well as lying about something. So do not lie to your mate, and do not lie about him or her either. Although not as harmful, even exaggerating good qualities is the same as lying. God does not want us to lie even if we are falsely trying to build up someone else's reputation.  Honesty is absolutely always is the best policy.  

Hands that shed innocent blood: Murder is not the only way to shed blood. Physical abuse can also bring such harm. You do not have to put up with an abusive spouse! It is not wrong to send him/her to jail. If he/she adamantly refuses to get help, I do not believe divorce is wrong is such a case. Also, do not keep silent when someone else is the victim, related or not. God expects us to speak up for the innocent, and I will even add that this includes violence towards animals. 

A heart that devises wicked plans: Notice that one does not even have to carry out wicked plans, but just dreaming them up is an abomination to God.  The Lord knows all your thoughts and if you are considering harming someone or breaking the law, you will be held accountable for your thoughts. Matthew 5:28 says we commit adultery just by thinking about having sex with someone not our spouse.  Proverbs 23:7 says that we are what we think.  The Bible also says that whatever we sow in our hearts we will reap in our actions.  Remember that song, "Be careful little mind what you think? For the Father up above is looking down in love."  Well, sing that to yourself every time you are devising wicked thoughts. Repent, and change your thought process!

Feet that are swift in running to evil: Do not be quick to jump on the band wagon with everyone else doing wrong. That wagon is headed straight to hell!  Be swift to run away from evil. If your first instinct is to run toward the sinful things of this world, you need to repent of your ways and get back to living for Christ! Running to evil includes cheating on your mate and pornography. You do not have to participate if your spouse wants you to do something you know is sinful. It is okay to say no and encourage him/her to repent and walk away from sin.  Pray together that you will be strong enough to flee temptations in your marriage individually and as a couple.

And one who sows discord among brethren: There are so many, many ways we can sow discord. Gossip is the biggest thing that comes to my mind. Remember the above verse speaking against lying? Gossip is rarely truthful or at the most half-truths.  I cannot stand to be around a gossip as many people have harmed me and/or my precious husband with false gossip (I am including from before we knew each other as well). Again, do not talk about your spouse behind his/her back. Also, sowing discord in your home could mean simply being antagonistic and argumentative. Be kind to each other and sow peace and joy. Those are things God loves!

Marriage enhancing idea for the week: Carefully go over the seven things that are abominations. Be honest with yourselves and repent of any of these acts of which you are guilty.  If you need to also ask your mate's forgiveness, do so and be quick to forgive if he/she needs to ask it if you as well.