I am living the same life you live, pretty much...
I'm living the same life you live...pretty much...as a wife, mother of four busy kids, an author and in helping my husband to pastor a growing church - and as a person who majors on cultivating important friendships - it’s a major juggling act! You know the drill...
And like you, I’m going through the normal life changes...a new teen driver that is embarrassed to have me ride in the front seat when she is driving – hello?, aging parents 1500 miles away, and being a 40-something with hormones that float somewhere between pms and menopause.
My point is this...we’re living the same life. Spinning plates. Raising kids. Growing in marriage. Drinking cappuccino’s. Being a friend. Doing embarrassing things. Influencing those around us one-way or other. There are highs and there are some lows.
I have found that the strong current in my life is my faith. Faith to believe. Faith to laugh. Faith to forgive. I’ve found in this busy, uncertain world in which we live that the foundation from which everything in my life stems is personal faith in a personal God and His unchanging Word. Here's my story...
Faith Journey - I was raised as a Roman Catholic and I loved my church - the incense, stained-glass, the "feeling" and the awe. I had always assumed that I was a Christian. I didn't know what I didn't know! When I was 19 years old my personal faith was challenged, thanks to Andi - my roommate in college and close friend since 3rd grade. Andi and I had been through girl scouts, toilet papering neighborhoods, getting drunk, getting high and stealing cigs from our parents for most of our childhood, but during our senior year in high school she made the decision to become a born-again Christian and her life changed. We all thought she dropped off the deep end.
We were roommates in college and her faith, lifestyle and commitment to Jesus Christ was irritating, challenging and bringing me face-to-face with my own lukewarm faith. My own religious pride was confronted with her genuine relationship with God. After "kicking and screaming" for a while - I was finally able to humble myself and ask honest questions to know what was true about God, Jesus Christ and my relationship with Him.
I began reading the Bible for myself and discovered God "talks" through His Word. For the first time in my life God was "talking" to my heart and I realized that I was definitely a sinner and in need of a Savior. I discovered that God loved me and would forgive me completely when I invited Jesus to be the Lord of my life. In 1978, I finally made the choice and invited Jesus Christ to come into my life to be my Lord. He did. He has.
In 1981, I was thirsty for more of God and His plan in my life and that's when I discovered the reality of being filled with the Holy Spirit and the power of yielding to Him and praying in a spiritual language.
The end of the story ... knowing Jesus Christ personally and being filled with the Spirit has changed my life in every way for the better. His reality in my life is the single most important and most fulfilling thing in my world. The result ... it's my passion to introduce Him to everyone, everywhere.
Family Status – I am married to Jeff - he's tall, handsome and very funny. Our marriage has been a fun, exciting and every now and then challenging - 22 year adventure! The result? Four of the most gorgeous kids in the world...(Of course, I'm partial!)...Meghan, Annie, Luke and Eric! They keep us hooked in to reality.
Spiritual Background – My spiritual life was highly influenced by two great ministries and men of God: Bill Bright and
Campus Crusade for Christ and Kenneth Hagin and
Rhema Bible Training Center. Through Campus Crusade, God put a heart for evangelism, discipleship and reaching the lost in my core and through Rhema, God put the Word and spirit of faith and power of the Holy Spirit in my spiritual DNA. I am eternally grateful to the Lord for the profound impact those ministries have had on my life.
I have to say, a third major influence in my spiritual life were many of the pioneers of contemporary Christian music - Keith Green, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Randy Stonehill, Honeytree...and a few other groups that no one remembers! The music from back-in-the-day had a way of "discipling" many of us that came to Christ in that era.
Ministry Involvment - Jeff and I consider it a privilege to have pioneered and serve as the senior pastors of Valley Family Church , a growing church of over 2500 people, in Southwest Michigan.
In addition, I find some of the greatest personal joy in my life has come through being an author and Bible teacher. I endeavor to share God's Word in a relevant and inspiring way by sharing down-to-earth insights. I have found that practical illustrations, simple humor, a little bit of laughter and doing my best to employ the God-given abilities to teach God's Word seems to make learning biblical principles effective and enjoyable.
I've had the joy of teaching God's Word for many years and writing numerous books that God is using to touch people; if you're interested in obtaining any of these books just click on Harrison House Publishers, the BJM Store and if you'd like to hear any of the audio or video messages, Click Here. I write a bi-weekly newspaper column called, "Just Us Girls" for the Kalamazoo Gazette, as well.
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