Something that has been a large part of my story is my family. I am one of eight children. I used to be embarrassed because none of my friends had to get into a youth group van to get around as a family, but we did. Thankfully I got over that :), and am grateful for this group of people I get to share life with.. As far back as I can remember my family has gone to church.
I never really though much about Jesus until I was in the 2nd or 3rd grade. My parents got really involved in a church once we moved to Georgia, and so of course we all did as well. I accepted Jesus as my Savior at a summer camp when I was 12. From there on I started talking to the Lord a lot, and being sure to read my Bible. I remember feeling really sure He wanted me to talk to Him, about whatever. We moved to SC when I was in the 6th grade and my relationship with the Lord got brushed aside. I started attending a Christian school and quickly believed a lot of lies about the Lord. I started to see Him as a distant, and disappointed Father who was quick to get mad, and slow to forgive. Only wealthy Baptists earned His love. I didn’t believe that He liked me anymore. I knew there was something wrong with the way the Lord was portrayed at this school, but I didn’t take the time to seek the Truth. I believed a lot of lies and I looked for life in friends, boys, approval, and once I was on my own, in partying. I was desperately searching for life.
The summer before my sophomore year of college I started seeing an old boyfriend again. This ended pretty quickly once I went back to school, but I was crushed. Everything I’d put my identity in, and looked for satisfaction in began to let me down, one by one. Around this time my brother gave me a book he was really excited about. It was a collection of essays written by a Christian. I read it slowly, sometimes in disbelief. When I read that Jesus liked me, I sat for a long time letting
that disarm me. A lot of what I believed about God was exposed for what it was, lies planted by the enemy, who seeks to steal, kill an destroy. By the Lords grace my heart realized the truth, that this Jesus is exactly who He says He is. He saved me, gave His life, all the seconds and hours and years, for me. This began a long season in the desert with the Lord. He lured me into the wilderness, and spoke kindly to me (Hosea 2:14).
It’s hard to write out life since then. The Lord hemmed me in, He’s led me with bonds of love. Through the mountains and valleys He’s shown Himself to be a lot of things to me; an attentive father, a faithful friend, a gentle healer, provider, and merciful savior. I transferred to Clemson to finish college, and the Lord provided a community of faith for me to experience more of Him through. He began to throw things around in my heart, to get rid of the old and the dead and to bring LIFE. He’s been revealing His heart to me, especially His heart for orphans and outcasts. He brought me back to Isaiah 58 over and over again. He lead me to India twice and to Nicaragua, and now towards the world race!
